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Water Quality & Management Flashcards

7 cards from real CFP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. Which form of nitrogen is most directly toxic to fish at elevated concentrations?

    Answer: Un-ionized ammonia (NH3)

    Un-ionized ammonia (NH3) is the primary toxic form because it readily crosses gill membranes, unlike the ionized ammonium form.

  2. A fisheries manager measures a total alkalinity of 15 mg/L CaCO3 in a pond. This value indicates the water is:

    Answer: Poorly buffered and susceptible to pH crashes

    Total alkalinity below 20 mg/L CaCO3 is considered poorly buffered, making the system vulnerable to rapid pH fluctuations.

  3. During a fish kill investigation, you find DO = 0 mg/L at dawn and water temperature = 28°C. The most likely cause is:

    Answer: Overnight algal and bacterial respiration depleting oxygen

    Dense algal blooms and microbial respiration consume dissolved oxygen throughout the night, commonly causing pre-dawn DO crashes in warm, eutrophic systems.

  4. What is the primary function of a constructed wetland used as a fish farm effluent treatment system?

    Answer: Removing suspended solids, nutrients, and BOD through biological and physical processes

    Constructed wetlands use substrate filtration, plant uptake, and microbial activity to reduce suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorus, and oxygen demand in effluent.

  5. Which chemical is most commonly applied to raise pond pH and total alkalinity in acidic aquaculture ponds?

    Answer: Agricultural limestone (CaCO3)

    Agricultural limestone (calcium carbonate) dissolves slowly to neutralize acidity and raise both pH and total alkalinity in pond waters.

  6. The term 'chemical oxygen demand' (COD) in water quality analysis measures:

    Answer: The oxygen consumed when all oxidizable organic and inorganic matter is chemically oxidized

    COD measures the total oxygen demand of a water sample using a strong chemical oxidant, capturing both biodegradable and non-biodegradable organic compounds.

  7. Secchi disk depth is used in fisheries management primarily as a proxy for:

    Answer: Water clarity and phytoplankton biomass (turbidity)

    Secchi disk depth provides a simple field estimate of water transparency, which reflects phytoplankton density and suspended sediment loads.