Water temperature – State

Water temperature – State

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• Pressures
• Management responses
• State
• Vulnerability

Physical-chemical state Water temperature not only has a direct physiological effect on biota but also influences several key processes/pressures such as oxygen solubility (i.e. dissolved oxygen levels), toxicant absorption or the toxicity of some chemical, bacteria/pathogen persistence, conductivity, pH and nutrient cycling (e.g. denitrification and nitrogen fixation rates). Hot or cold water in-flows may result in stratification (thermoclines) and associated declines in water quality (e.g. anoxic/hypoxic areas).

Biological impacts Changes to the water temperature of a wetland can result in a loss of sensitive species.

Water temperature has a direct physiological effect on biota (e.g. affecting basic processes such as growth, mobility, reproduction, photosynthesis and respiration). However, biota have upper and lower tolerable limits. Some species are more susceptible to these limits than others. Susceptible species abundance will decrease while tolerant species may increase (e.g. algal blooms) altering the community structure. Mass mortality may also occur due to anoxic/hypoxic related events.

Last updated: 22 March 2013