Tips on taking temperature
Most modules require taking the temperature, so it is important to understand the standard procedure for doing this.Temperature is very important to aquatic life. Most aquatic organisms are cold blooded, so their body temperatures are the same as the water temperature. table 1 describes the kinds of stream life at various temperatures. Water temperature increases when the sun shines directly on a stream. Shading from trees, water surface area and volume, turbidity, stream bed colour, and orientation to the sun all affect the amount of sunlight absorbed by water. Table 2 has photos showing how to (and how not to) take temperature.
Table 1 Optimal Stream Life At Various Temperatures |
|
TEMPERATURE RANGE |
TYPES OF STREAM LIFE |
20-25 C warm | lots of plant life; high fish disease risk; warm water fish (bass, carp, crappie, catfish, bluegill); caddisflies, dragonflies |
13-20 C (cool) | plant life; moderate fish disease risk; trout, salmon, sculpins; stoneflies, mayflies, caddisflies, water beetles, water striders |
5-13 C (cold) | plant life; low fish disease risk; trout, salmon, sculpins: stoneflies, mayflies, caddisflies |