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Temperature |
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Water temperature is a very important factor
for aquatic life and is one of the most important parameters we test. It
controls the rate of metabolic and reproductive activities, and determines which
fish species can survive. Temperature also affects the concentration of
dissolved oxygen and can influence the activity of bacteria and toxic chemicals
in water. Respiration of organisms
is temperature-related; respiration rates can increase by 10% or more per 1° C
temperature rise. Therefore, increased temperature not only reduces oxygen
availability, but also increases oxygen demand, which can add to physiological
stress of organisms. Water
temperature is affected by air temperature, amount of riparian vegetation, and
flow rate. The Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation water quality standard for water temperature is 15°C for migration
routes and rearing areas and 13°C for spawning areas and egg and fry
incubation. We measure temperature using an alcohol thermometer and report our results in degrees Celsius.
(Source: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/data/BACT/info/index.html, http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/volunteer/stream/)
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