5.0 Aquatic & Mosquito Exam Study Guide – Practice
Questions with Verified Answers. GRADED A+. Latest
2026/2027 Update
List the roles plants play in a healthy aquatic ecosystem. - 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. - 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
,Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential problems
caused by: Emergent aquatic plants - 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) – -
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
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 - 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 - answer- *growth
habits*: found freefloating (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.
List the advantages and disadvantages of chemical control of aquatic plants and
algae - 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. - 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
List 5 types of situations in which fish control may be warranted - answer- -
eliminating undesirable or competing fish from fish rearing ponds
-removing exotic and other undesirable species from a waterbody
-thinning stunted fish to bring a population into balance
-eliminating fish from a hatchery water supply to prevent a potential reservoir of
disease-causing organisms
-treating fish spawning sites to prevent overpopulation of an individual species
Explain why post-treatment management can be important in the long-term
success of a pesticide treatment project. - answer- because when fish populations
are lowered, density-dependent population growth allows the population to
rebound if not managed posttreatment
Know the Law: Who do you need to get approval from to conduct any chemical
treatment for fish control? - answer- -WI DNR Aquatic Plant Management Program
List the 2 main reasons why mosquito control may be warranted. - answer-
nuisance -disease
Questions with Verified Answers. GRADED A+. Latest
2026/2027 Update
List the roles plants play in a healthy aquatic ecosystem. - 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. - 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
,Describe the general growth habits of, means of dispersal and potential problems
caused by: Emergent aquatic plants - 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) – -
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
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 - 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 - answer- *growth
habits*: found freefloating (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.
List the advantages and disadvantages of chemical control of aquatic plants and
algae - 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. - 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
List 5 types of situations in which fish control may be warranted - answer- -
eliminating undesirable or competing fish from fish rearing ponds
-removing exotic and other undesirable species from a waterbody
-thinning stunted fish to bring a population into balance
-eliminating fish from a hatchery water supply to prevent a potential reservoir of
disease-causing organisms
-treating fish spawning sites to prevent overpopulation of an individual species
Explain why post-treatment management can be important in the long-term
success of a pesticide treatment project. - answer- because when fish populations
are lowered, density-dependent population growth allows the population to
rebound if not managed posttreatment
Know the Law: Who do you need to get approval from to conduct any chemical
treatment for fish control? - answer- -WI DNR Aquatic Plant Management Program
List the 2 main reasons why mosquito control may be warranted. - answer-
nuisance -disease
