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FT - 17 Inland Water Bodies Their Physical and Chemical Characterist
FT - 17 Inland Water Bodies Their Physical and Chemical Characterist
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with existing factors. Respiration, decomposition of organic materials (stagnent pond) and pollution all tend
to reduce the amount of available oxygen loss.
The deepest layers of water will usually have a very low oxygen concentration in deeper lakes
because the continuous decomposition of organic debris, the respiration of organisms inhabiting this deeper
layer and the complete absence of photosynthetic activity will tend to deplete the oxygen concentration. In
the lake, the deep stratum is entirely depends upon the slow transport of oxygen from the overlaying
intermediate layer.
Because oxygen is needed for the respiration of all hetetrophs, it tends to be taken out of solution
contiguously by organisms. The only means by which it can enter the water are via,
1. Solution at the air water interface or
2. through the photosynthesis by aquatic plant.
The rate of oxygen solution at the surface is lightly variable depending mainly on the turbulence /
water circulation.
Carbon dioxide :
The decomposition of organic matter and the respiratory activity of aquatic plants and animal
produce carbon-d-oxide. This gas is one of the essential raw-materials necessary for photosynthesis activity
by green plant. It may occur in free state (CO2), half-bound-state (HCO3) or fixed state (CO3).
CO2 combines chemically with water to produced carbonic acid (H2CO3) which influences the
Hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of water, carbonic acid disassociated to produce H+ and CHO3 ions. The
bicarbonate radical may undergo further disassociation forming more H+ and carbonate as following
reaction.
CO2 + H2O = CO2 + H2O = H2CO3 = H+ + HCO3-
The amount of free or uncombined carbon-di-oxide in water is of ecological importance; it governs
the precipitation of calcium when temperature and salinity are high and the amount of uncombined carbon-
di-oxide is low. This means more carbonate (CO3-) is present to combine with the calcium cation (Ca++).
This conditions exist in shallow tropical waters, where evaporation is high. This raises the salinity and
photosynthetic activity of plants and reduces the quantity of free carbondi-di-oxide in water. The
precipitation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in tropical areas. The preponderance of thick calcareous shells
of shallow water tropical molluscs, plankton and algae.
Other gasses :
Beside of these two main dissolves gasses there, are several other gasses present in water as a
dissolved stats these are Marsh gas, hydrogen sulphide, Nitrogen, Ammonia etc. Amongst these four, the
H2S and NH3 are the toxic in effect.
Biogenic Salts :
The dissolved salts which are vital to life are called biogenic salts. Nitrogen and phosphorous salts
are of major importance. Both of them may become limiting factor in freshwater areas. The growth of
phytoplanktonic organism particularly the Blue-Green Algae, depends directly on nitrogen of the water. Fish
population is also directly affected by the nitrogen and phosphorous concentration of the water. The Ca
content of fresh water regions may vary from 9 mg/lit in soft water to 26 mg/lit in hard water. Hard water
ponds and lakes are more productive areas because of high amount of carbonates. Molluscs are far more
numerous in hard water than in soft water. Calcium is also of almost importance, as it regulate shell
formation essential for plant and animal metabolism; it regulates the permeability of cell membrane and
control the hydrogen ion concentration of aquatic environment. Other minerals of variable importance are
silicon required by freshwater diatoms and sponges, and such minerals as iron, manganese and copper that
are required in tress and are important for certain vital physiological activities of many organisms.
Other important features of freshwater habitat is osmoregulation in the body of animals. Since the
fluids inside the body have higher concentration of salts then in freshwater environment, water tends to enter
the body by osmosis. The fresh water organisms have / developed the adoptive power to regulate it.
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Salinity : In the inland water body, salinity plays an important role in regulation to aquatic organisms.
In freshwater bodies its limited to 0.0 to 5.0 ppt. Its concentration varies typically in lentic system or lotic
system.
Hydrogen ion concentration ;
One property of natural water is their acidity or alkalinity. The water molecule due to split into
hydrogen ion (H+) and a hydroxyl ion (OH-).
In pure water, there are equal number of H+ and OH- ions in therefore, has a neutral reaction. Some
neutral waters, however, acquire an excess of H+ ion and are acidic, while others, with an excess of OH- are
alkaline. In a freshwater medium pH (antilog of H+ ion concentration) become determining factor by
becoming a limiting factor.
The pH may shows variation between surface water and deeper water, as for example, waters in
sandynulla reservoir in the Nilgiris shows a different of 2.2.
The fresh water habitat such as acid bags, swamps and drivers streams carrying water form these
areas are acidic, contain pH value as low as 1.4. Despite the high acidity, rich population of acidophilic flora
and fauna thin under such condition. On the other hand, certain lake water may be quite alkaline, particularly
in lime-stone areas, where the pH may range form 1 to 12. Basophilic plants and animals are found in this
area.
In a vast majority of freshwater localities pH values ranges between 5.5 and 8.5; however, the O 2
dissolved in water has on inverse relationship with the hydrogen ion-concentration.
Inflow and outflow of CO2 from water alters the pH the fluctuation of pH is predominant in soft
waters with small amount of CO3 or HCO3.
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