Activity 1 – Aquatic habitats of Loons

Hydrogen bonding between water molecules gives water its properties of cohesion and adhesion as
well as surface tension. The same hydrogen bonds, pulling the water molecules together with greater
force, also give intersting properties to water as an aquatic habitat, a place for organisms to live.

While watching this video we will consider how the physical

properties of water have beneficial and challenging
consequences for a type of diving bird call a Loon in its aquatic
habitat. The properties are:

Buoyancy
o the ability of a fluid to exert an upward force on an object.
Viscosity
o a fluid’s resistance to objects passing through it.
Thermal conductivity
o a material’s ability to conduct heat.
Specific heat capacity
o the energy needed to raise one kilogram of a material by 1°C.

Video 1 - It was Loon magic.

Watch the video “It was Loon Magic” by Ross Kuepper and answer the following questions.

1. Where do the Loons build their nest?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. How easily do the Loons move on land, to get into and out of the nest?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Compare the movement of the Loons on land with their swimming on the surface of the lake.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Outline how buoyancy and viscosity of the water help the Loons with their swimming?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Think about the behaviour of the adult Loons towards the chick and the unhatched egg. They both
take care to find food and to feed the older chick. They also give encouragement support and
protection.

5. What two behaviours might the chick be doing do to keep warm?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

© David Faure, InThinking http://www.thinkib.net/biology 1

 6. Why does the thermal conductivity of the water, which is great than thermal conductivity in
air, pose a challenge to the small chicks?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
7. Suggest how the adult Loons are adapted to withstand the cooling effect of water?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Video 2 - Hunting fish like torpedoes.

Watch the video “Loons hunting fish like torpedoes” by Kevin Biskaborn and answer the following
questions.

8. Which property of water makes it important for the Loon to have a streamline shape?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
9. The high viscosity of water resists the forward movement of the Loon. Look carefully at the
webbed feet. How does the Loon change the shape of its feet to reduce resistance of the
forward movement of its feet, and maximise the push when the feet move backwards?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Properties of water as an aquatic habitat are:

• Water provides buoyancy, helping Loons to float.

• It has a high thermal conductivity and causes cooling.
• It has a higher viscosity than air, which affects swimming.
• It has a high specific heat capacity, which slow down the rate of any
changes in temperature.
• Water is adhesive and cohesive, it forms droplets and would stick
to the birds if their feathers didn’t contain oil.
• Water is an excellent solvent providing nutrients and oxygen for
organisms in the lake, that are food for the Loons.