Science in the Stream Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hydrogen and Oxygen

Each little unit (molecule) of water contains two atoms of hydrogen, each attached to a single, central oxygen atom. Water comes in three forms depending on the temperature: as solid ice (very cold), as liquid water (cool to very warm temperatures) and as steam, a gas (very hot).

Answer: Oxygen

Oxygen gas makes up one fifth (actually 21%) of the gas in the air we breathe. Almost all of the rest is nitrogen (78%). A gas like oxygen will also dissolve in the water, where fish and insects can use it too.

Answer: Predator and Prey

Bigger fish (the predators) eat the smaller fish (the prey), but what do these small fish eat? They eat even smaller fish or insects or sometimes the plants. This is known as the food chain.

Answer: Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis occurring in water plants creates oxygen in the water, just as trees and other plants use photosynthesis to create oxygen in the air. In this word, the 'photo' refers to sunlight and the 'synthesis' means creating matter, and oxygen as a byproduct.

Answer: Nutrients

Plants need sunlight and a source of nutrients - or plant food - to grow. The most common nutrients are phosphate and two forms of nitrogen called nitrate and ammonia. Plants get these nutrients from the surrounding environment.

Answer: No

You should never drink water from a stream without treating it first as this water may contain bacteria and perhaps viruses which can make you ill but are much too small to be seen. Boiling the water, then letting it cool before drinking, is a very common and usually effective treatment.

Answer: Sediment

The size of the sediment particles depends on the local geology (rock types). Clays give very soft and fine sediments whereas rocks such as granites can produce sandy sediments. The sediment is also the home to a wide range of small plants, animals and microbes.

Answer: They break down dead animal and plant material

Decomposers are bacteria and fungi which break down organic matter (dead plants and animals) and regenerate the nutrients needed for new plants and animals to grow. They are nature's own recyclers!

Answer: Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide from respiration is then used by plants in photosynthesis to build new cells, which we call 'plant growth'. This new growth provides food for plant-eating insects and animals as well as a place to live (habitat) for other organisms.

Answer: Yes

When the rain runs off our gardens, it can pick up and carry chemicals and small pieces of rubbish and transport them to the nearest drain. These drains then empty into our streams and other waterways, where some of these chemicals might harm the plants and animals. Hence we always need to be very careful about how and when we put these chemicals on the garden.