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Sun, Rocks, and GravelA coldwater stream ecosystem includesabiotic (non-living) resources such ascold water (important for temperaturesensitive species), gravel (used by many
species for spawning beds), sunlight, and plenty ofoxygen. Every ecosystem has abiotic components thatare just as vital to the functioning of the ecosystem asthe biotic components.
Shoreline PlantsShoreline plants provide shelter andfood for fish and wildlife that live in or near a stream. These plants playimportant roles in the health of acoldwater stream by providing shade(to keep water cool) and by stabilizingstream banks. Without these plants,
warmer water and eroded soil could make the stream uninhabitable for many of the species pictured in this poster.
Aquatic VegetationMany different species of plants liveunderwater and provide habitat for fishand wildlife. Aquatic vegetation is oftenrich in minerals, making it an excellentfood source for fish and land-based
animals who will dip down to munch on it. Thisvegetation also helps stabilize the bottom of the riverand provides shelter for many small stream animals.
PhytoplanktonPhytoplankton are microscopic plantsthat live in the water. They obtainenergy by photosynthesis and live near the surface of the water where they can access sunlight. These tinyplants are the base of the streamʼs food
chain. Daphnia and small fish rely on phytoplankton as a food source.
ZooplanktonZooplankton are tiny aquatic animals,almost too small to see. Daphnia areround-shaped zooplankton and use
branched antennae to swim in jerky motions. They eat algae, phytoplankton, microscopic animals, andorganic debris. The tiny size and transparent bodies of daphnia help them hide from hungry insects and fish.
Copepods, another type of zooplankton,are small crustaceans that look like aswimming apostrophe mark (ʻ) with asingle eyespot that reminds people of
the one-eyed Cyclops monster in Greek mythology. A copepod clings onto plants and feeds on algae,bacteria and organic debris that pass its way.
Minnows and Small FishSculpin are one type of small fish foundin coldwater ecosystems. Sculpin arebrownish-colored and spend most oftheir time in rubble or along gravellybottoms. In these rocky environments,
sculpin can feed on insect larvae and zooplanktonwhile being camouflaged. Larger fish and birds like tofeed on these scrumptious little critters.
Insects and InvertebratesMany species of invertebrates spend all or part of their life cycle in or aroundwater. Several of these invertebrates
are very sensitive to pollutants and can only be foundwhere there is good water quality. If you find one of the three species listed below, you are probablynear a healthy stream.
A caddisfly lives only a short time as anadult but may spend several years as alarva. The larvae are unique because,unlike most aquatic insects, they buildtheir own shelters. Some species build
homes of leaves or twigs, others use tiny stones, whileothers are free-living.
Caddisfly larvae feed primarily on algae and otherplants. Once they reach adulthood, caddisflies feed onplants. They are very important food for fish, especiallytrout. Caddisflies cannot survive in water with lowoxygen levels.
For a listing ofother WisconsinDepartment ofNatural Resourceseducationalresources forteachers and kids visit EEK!(EnvironmentalEducation for Kids)http://dnr.wi.gov/eek.
PUB EI-7053 2009ECOSYSTEMRELATIONSHIPS: A CLOSER LOOKPOSTER The Wisconsin Department ofNatural Resources providesequal opportunity in itsemployment, programs,services, and functions, under an Affirmative Action Plan.
If you have any questions, please write to:
Equal Opportunity OfficeDepartment of InteriorWashington, D.C. 20240
This publication is available inalternative format (large print,Braille, audiotape, etc.) uponrequest. Please call 608.267.7494for more information.
The life cycle of a mayfly lasts about ayear. Mayfly larvae are known as the“cows” of the stream because they graze
on the algae growing on the rocks, plants, or woodfound there. As adults, however, mayflies donʼt havefunctioning mouths and only have a few hours to finda mate and lay eggs before running out of energy anddying. Wisconsin has 115 species of mayfly. The adultsof some species emerge all at once and can coverroads and parking lots, making them slippery. Swarmsof adult mayflies can even be seen on radar!
Dragonflies are a spectacular andcolorful group of insects. They spendbetween ninety and ninety-five percentof their lives underwater as aquaticnymphs (immature stage). The nymph
is a ferocious predator, feeding on other aquaticinsects, crustaceans, worms, small fish, and tadpoles.The nymph has a unique adaptation̶its lower lip(called a labium) is long and hinged. The labium isfolded under the head most of the time, but it cansuddenly and rapidly extend like an arm to grabunsuspecting prey.
As adults, dragonflies are extraordinary fliers. Somedragonflies can reach air speeds of thirty-five miles perhour and are able to outmaneuver the best human-designed airplanes! They can fly backwards, changedirections in mid-air, stop, and hover. Mosquitoes,gnats, flies, and other insects are the adultsʼ primarytargets. Frogs and birds will both eat dragonflies, ifthey can catch them.
FrogsMany different species of frog can befound in or near Wisconsinʼs coldwaterstreams waiting to catch their nextmeal, to find a mate, or to seek shelter.
As tadpoles, frogs eat only plants,especially algae. Once they becomeadults (which can take from two weeks
to three years), frogs have diets that include inverte-brates, fish, tadpoles, and even other frogs. Listen forthem next time you are near water. Just like birds, eachspecies of frog has its own call.
HeronsHerons are water-loving, fish-eatingbirds. The largest (up to four feet tall)and most common bird in the heronfamily is the Great Blue Heron. GreatBlue Herons can be seen wadingupstream, stalking fish with theirscissor-like long beaks. Herons oftencreep up behind fish, which are alsofacing the current, and spear them
before flipping them into their mouths. Herons willstand motionless in calm waters for long periods oftime, waiting to spear fish, frogs, salamanders, crayfish,and snakes. Although Great Blue Herons nest in largegroups, they like to feed alone.
TroutSeveral species of trout live incoldwater streams, but brook trout areWisconsinʼs only native stream-dwellingtrout. Brook trout are fast and agile andwill feed on just about anything they
can catch, including zooplankton, crustaceans, worms,smaller fish, frogs, insects, and anglersʼ bait. Brooktrout need cold water, high levels of oxygen, andgravel spawning beds to survive. They can usually be found poised at the head of a pool, under logs oralders, or beneath undercut stream banks, waiting foran insect to drift overhead.
AnglersWisconsin has a long history of angling that continues to this day! In fact, Wisconsin sells over 1.4 millionfishing licenses a year and ranks as the number two fishing destination in the United States! Fishing is great forWisconsinʼs economy, generating over30,000 jobs and 2.75 billion dollars forthe state. Most importantly, however,
angling is a fantastic way for people of all ages toconnect with the life in coldwater streams and withWisconsinʼs fishing history. Coldwater stream anglersare at the top of the coldwater stream food chain andeat lots of tasty trout.
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
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3 Introduction4 Background9 What is Climate?
10 Weather vs. Climate18 Ice Cores: Exploring the History of Climate Change
25 Causes of Climate Change26 The Chemistry of Climate Change30 Power to the People36 How Green Are You?
41 Ecosystem Impacts of Climate Change in Wisconsin42 Ecosystem Phenology46 Ecosystem Relationships
51 Social and Cultural Perspectives on Climate Change52 Climate Change in the News56 Community Conversation
73 What Can I Do?74 Science Inspires Art Inspires Society76 Artsy Activism82 Tree of Pledges
85 Evaluation FormSend us feedback, contribute to excellence, and get fabulous prizes!
The Wisconsin ClimateChange Activity Guide was made possible by a generous Wisconsin
Environmental EducationBoard (WEEB) Grant.
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causes of climate changecauses of climate change
ecosystem impacts
social perspectives
making a difference
weather vs. climate
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Find the e-Appendix atwww.dnr.wi.gov/eek/teacher/climatechangeguide.htm
CONTENTS
P r o j e c t W I L D A q u a t i c K - 1 2 C u r r i c u l u m a n d A c t i v i t y G u i d eC o u n c i l o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l E d u c a t i o n 2 0 0 8
The artwork used in this poster was taken from the “Ecosystem Relationships” activity in the Climate Change: A Wisconsin Activity Guide-Grades 7-12.
To order a FREE copy of this activity guide send an e-mail to [email protected] with your mailing address or view the guide at http://dnr.wi.gov/eek/ teacher/climatechangeguide.htm.
Wisconsin Departm
ent of Natural Resources
CLIMATE CHANGE: A W
isconsin Activity Guide – Grades 7-12
9
causes of climate change
ecosystem impacts
making a difference
wea
ther
vs. climate
so
cial perspectives
CLIMATE CHANGEA Wisconsin Activity Guide – Grades 7-12
“Blue-Ribbon Niche” is an activityfrom Project WILD that hasstudents identify riparian species,describe their ecological roles, andevaluate the effects of changes toriparian zones. This poster can beused to complement the activity by illustrating some of theimportant connections that exist in riparian ecosystems.
If you are interested in receivingmore activities similar to “Blue-Ribbon Niche,” visithttp://dnr.wi.gov/education/pltwildwetand learn how you can attend aWisconsin Project WILD workshopand receive an activity guide forgrades K-12.
For more Project WILD information,please visit the national web site,http://www.projectwild.org.“Blue-Ribbon Niche” reprinted with permission fromProject WILD®, Project WILD Aquatic K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide.
© Copyright 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1992, 1985, and 1983 by the Council forEnvironmental Education.
Species description adapted with permission fromEEK! Environmental Education for Kids web site http://dnr.wi.gov/eek and Wonderful Wacky Water Critters.
CLIMATE CHANGEA Wisconsin Activity Guide – Grades 7-12
Pieces of the Coldwater Ecosystem Puzzle
COLD, CLEAN, STEADY, FLOWING WATER
SHORELINE PLANTS
AQUATICVEGETATION
PHYTOPLANKTON
MINNOWS& SMALL FISH
ROCKS & GRAVEL ROCKS &
GRAVEL
ANGLERS
HERONS
INSECTS &INVERTEBRATES
SHORELINE PLANTS
ZOOPLANKTON
TROUT
SUN
FROGS
A CLOSER LOOKEcosystem Relationships
