Lab Exam 3

Shannon-Wiener Index (also how to interpret the numbers you get)

***look at lab 9***

How sediment is being eroded or deposited in relation to beach formation, terrace formation, hurricane size events, and irregular coastlines.

-Coastline: sediment is eroded on coastline where waves are focused. The sediment then is deposited on seafloor/beach underneath it. -Small waves: Deposition on beach area, which was eroded from the seafloor -Big waves: Eroded the beach *

What are delta's and how do the delta's form?

A landform that forms from deposition of sediment carried by a river as the flow leaves its mouth and enters slow moving or standing water.

Limiting factors on organisms (for example, temp)

A species range is limited bed of different factors: precipitation, elevation, competitive species, and climate

Sinuosity

A unitless measure of how curvy the stream is sinuosity (no units) = curvy distance (cm) / straight distance (cm)

Channelization

Commonly used as a catch-all term for channel modification. Channels may be realigned and enlarged. Often channelization means removal of a meander bend.

Relief

Difference in elevation traveled by the stream relief (cm) = highest elevation (cm) - lowest elevation (cm)

Where deposition and erosion occur on a meandering river

Erosion: left side (bend) Deposition: right side (inside of bend) ***look at lab 7***

Biodiversity

Is the biological diversity in a place as indicated by numbers of different species. Biodiversity varies predictably with latitude, where biodiversity decreases with increasing latitude.

PH

Measure of how basic or acidic something is. The scale if from 0-14. 0-6 Acidic 6-8 Neutral 8-14 Basic

Discharge

Measure of how much water flows past a given location on the stream per second discharge = velocity (cm/sec) x cross-sectional area (cm2) cross-sectional area = width of stream (cm) x depth of stream (cm)

Gradient

Measure of the slope of the river over a particular distance rise / run gradient (cm/cm) = relief (cm) / curvy distance (cm)

In-Channel Gravel mining

Mining of sand and gravel from stream channels. *

Interpret a tree-ring width graph

Rainy season - bigger ring Dry season - smaller ring

Stream Power

Rate that energy is dissipated on the bed and banks of a stream ***look at lab 7*** omega=pgQS omega is stream power p is density of water g is gravity Q is discharge S is slope

Velocity

The speed of the water. Measure this using something that will float on the water, such as a small paper boat or leaf. distance travelled (cm) / time for travel (sec)

Biogeography

The study of the spatial and temporal patterns of the distribution of living organisms on Earth (including plants, animals, and microbes). Also includes understanding the biological and physical processes responsible for these patterns.

Eluviation

Transport of soil material from upper layers of soil to lower levels. Smaller particles, such as clay and silt, will move to lower levels.

What we learn by studying trees

Tree rings are a proxy for past events. They can show what the weather patterns were like in the past.

Channel Incision

When the channel bed drops in elevation

Concept of a range limit

Where an organism will be found based on absolute environmental requirements. The basic idea is that an organism will be found only in places where its absolute environmental requirements are met.

How to calculate species density

Number of species / per unit area (m2)

"Hungry Water"

Occurs when there is a shortage of sediment availability. Results in channel incision and bank erosion downstream.

How to determine soil texture using the soil triangle

Percent silt: left and down Percent sand: left and up Percent clay: straight across