5.0 Aquatic & Mosquito Exam 2026
Questions and Answers Graded A+
List the roles plants play in a healthy aquatic ecosystem. - Correct answer--
producing oxygen
-preventing shoreline erosion
-lessening excess nutrients during growing season
-stabilizing lake bottom
-providing food and habitat for fish, waterfowl, and other aquatic animals
List ways that excessive plant growth can adversely affect the ecology and uses of
a water body. - Correct answer--harm ecology of aquatic ecosystem
-curtail or prevent recreational water uses (e.g. fishing, boating, swimming)
-impart tastes or odors to drinking water
-hamper water treatment operations
-adversely affect aesthetics, resort trade, and waterfront property values
-produce toxins that harm animals drinking the water
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,Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential problems
caused by: Emergent aquatic plants - Correct answer--*growth habits*: rooted in
shallow water, most growth above water
-*means of dispersal*: underground root systems
-*potential problems*: very dense and may exclude recreational pursuits like
boating, fishing, and swimming. Purple loosestrife is an example of a problem
species.
Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential problems
caused by: Submergent aquatic plants (both pondweeds and plants with whorled
leaves) - Correct answer--*growth habits*: grow mostly under water surface,
pondweeds sometimes have floating leaves in addition to their submerged leaves;
whorled-leaf plants grow underwater with whorled leaf attachments
-*means of dispersal*: pondweeds have extensive root systems, runners, and can
also reproduce from seeds; plants with whorled leaves can disperse when uprooted
by breaking free and getting moved by the wind
-*potential problems*: most pondweeds not nuisance except for curlyleaf
pondweed and sometimes sago pondweed; whorled leaf plants can uproot and
break free easily and drift with wind to clutter shoreline; Eurasian watermilfoil is
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,an aggressive non-native that can affect habitat and restrict recreation. Raking is
required to remove these clutters.
Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential problems
caused by: Free-floating and rooted floating-leaved aquatic plants - Correct
answer--*growth habits*: occur on water surface and can be free-floating or rooted
with large floating leaves
-*means of dispersal*: free floating plants are easily windblown. rooted ones not
so much
-*potential problems*: free-floating plants accumulate on shorelines and are
difficult to control in large waterbodies; rooted plants are rarely a nuisance.
Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential problems
caused by: Free-floating, filamentous, and "rooted" algae - Correct answer--
*growth habits*: found free-floating (planktonic) or attached to submerged
surfaces (filamentous or "rooted").
-*means of dispersal*: multiply rapidly in warm weather;
-*potential problems*: free-floating algae responsible for many nuisance algal
blooms (release toxin, low DO, blue-green algae); removing rooted algae can allow
worse species to come in so don't mess with them.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, List the advantages and disadvantages of chemical control of aquatic plants and
algae - Correct answer-*Advantages*:
-offer longer-lasting control than some mechanical methods
-less physical labor
-ultimately cost less
-important tool for specific nuisance plants/algae such as Eurasian watermilfoil and
purple loosestrife
*Disadvantages*:
-restrictions on water use
-oxygen depletion and fish kills
-sudden nutrient release into water can lead to other plant or algae problems
-risk to people and nontarget organisms
Describe the beneficial roles of Wisconsin's fish populations. - Correct answer--
maintain balanced communities by feeding on aquatic plants, insects, and other
fish & provide a food source for natural predators
-fishing for food/sport is popular in WI and ddepends on healthy populations
-fish farms and hatcheries raise fish for food, feed, fertilizer, bait, and to release
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
Questions and Answers Graded A+
List the roles plants play in a healthy aquatic ecosystem. - Correct answer--
producing oxygen
-preventing shoreline erosion
-lessening excess nutrients during growing season
-stabilizing lake bottom
-providing food and habitat for fish, waterfowl, and other aquatic animals
List ways that excessive plant growth can adversely affect the ecology and uses of
a water body. - Correct answer--harm ecology of aquatic ecosystem
-curtail or prevent recreational water uses (e.g. fishing, boating, swimming)
-impart tastes or odors to drinking water
-hamper water treatment operations
-adversely affect aesthetics, resort trade, and waterfront property values
-produce toxins that harm animals drinking the water
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential problems
caused by: Emergent aquatic plants - Correct answer--*growth habits*: rooted in
shallow water, most growth above water
-*means of dispersal*: underground root systems
-*potential problems*: very dense and may exclude recreational pursuits like
boating, fishing, and swimming. Purple loosestrife is an example of a problem
species.
Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential problems
caused by: Submergent aquatic plants (both pondweeds and plants with whorled
leaves) - Correct answer--*growth habits*: grow mostly under water surface,
pondweeds sometimes have floating leaves in addition to their submerged leaves;
whorled-leaf plants grow underwater with whorled leaf attachments
-*means of dispersal*: pondweeds have extensive root systems, runners, and can
also reproduce from seeds; plants with whorled leaves can disperse when uprooted
by breaking free and getting moved by the wind
-*potential problems*: most pondweeds not nuisance except for curlyleaf
pondweed and sometimes sago pondweed; whorled leaf plants can uproot and
break free easily and drift with wind to clutter shoreline; Eurasian watermilfoil is
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,an aggressive non-native that can affect habitat and restrict recreation. Raking is
required to remove these clutters.
Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential problems
caused by: Free-floating and rooted floating-leaved aquatic plants - Correct
answer--*growth habits*: occur on water surface and can be free-floating or rooted
with large floating leaves
-*means of dispersal*: free floating plants are easily windblown. rooted ones not
so much
-*potential problems*: free-floating plants accumulate on shorelines and are
difficult to control in large waterbodies; rooted plants are rarely a nuisance.
Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential problems
caused by: Free-floating, filamentous, and "rooted" algae - Correct answer--
*growth habits*: found free-floating (planktonic) or attached to submerged
surfaces (filamentous or "rooted").
-*means of dispersal*: multiply rapidly in warm weather;
-*potential problems*: free-floating algae responsible for many nuisance algal
blooms (release toxin, low DO, blue-green algae); removing rooted algae can allow
worse species to come in so don't mess with them.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, List the advantages and disadvantages of chemical control of aquatic plants and
algae - Correct answer-*Advantages*:
-offer longer-lasting control than some mechanical methods
-less physical labor
-ultimately cost less
-important tool for specific nuisance plants/algae such as Eurasian watermilfoil and
purple loosestrife
*Disadvantages*:
-restrictions on water use
-oxygen depletion and fish kills
-sudden nutrient release into water can lead to other plant or algae problems
-risk to people and nontarget organisms
Describe the beneficial roles of Wisconsin's fish populations. - Correct answer--
maintain balanced communities by feeding on aquatic plants, insects, and other
fish & provide a food source for natural predators
-fishing for food/sport is popular in WI and ddepends on healthy populations
-fish farms and hatcheries raise fish for food, feed, fertilizer, bait, and to release
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
