What might indicate a watershed's overall health?

Prepare for the APES Aquatic Pollution Test. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Get detailed hints and explanations for each question to ace your exam!

High levels of biodiversity and clean water are strong indicators of a watershed's overall health. Biodiversity reflects the variety of life forms present in an ecosystem, which suggests a balanced and functioning environment. In healthy watersheds, diverse plant and animal communities can thrive, supporting each other and contributing to ecosystem resilience.

Clean water is crucial for the survival of aquatic species and serves as a sign of good water quality. If the water is free from excessive pollutants, toxins, and nutrients, it can support a rich diversity of organisms, both flora and fauna. In this context, the combination of high biodiversity and clean water typically signifies that the ecosystem is functioning well and can provide the necessary services for wildlife and human populations.

Other choices, while they may touch on aspects of environmental conditions, do not provide a complete picture of watershed health. Low levels of human activity could indicate a pristine area, but it doesn't guarantee that the ecosystem is healthy if other factors, like water quality, biodiversity, and pollution levels, are not also accounted for. Excessive algae blooms are typically a sign of nutrient pollution that can lead to hypoxia and harm aquatic life, indicating poor water quality. The presence of invasive species can disrupt ecosystem balance and diminish biodiversity, pointing to potential ecological issues rather than

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