Biological Water Quality

The presence, condition and numbers of types of fish, insects, algae, plants, and other organisms provide important information about the health of aquatic ecosystems.

Studying these Biological Indicators are ways of evaluating the health of a body of water. These are biological assessments.

Aquatic Plants and Animals are living with the effects of biological water quality. The production of living material, both plant and animal, effects the quality and beneficial uses of water. These organisms may become primary pollutants or secondary pollutants.

Primary Pollutants comprise biota that are added directly to water as a result of man’s activities such as bacteria and fungus from sewage.

Secondary Pollutants represent indigenous biota such as algae and aquatic weeds. this can interfere with beneficial uses of the water either by natural processes or stimulation of aquatic growths.

Secondary pollutants have not been added to the water by man’s activities like the primary pollutants, but their presence and interference may be attributable to man’s management activities.

More about Biological Water Quality…
Importance of Aquatic Communities
Stream River Ecology
Flowing Water (Lotic)
Still Water (Lentic)
Bacteria
Algae
Fungi
Liverworts and Mosses
Vascular Plants

Go Back to:
Physical Water Quality
Chemical Water Quality
Biological Water Quality
Water Basics 101

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