Identifying Environmental Hazards
Autor: Shahn • July 24, 2015 • Lab Report • 864 Words (4 Pages) • 3,467 Views
- Why do you see increases and decreases in the invasive species population?
The increase of these invasive species is due to the fact that these species are not constrained by natural factors as much as they were in their native habitat. In fact, because of their filtered feeding habits, they are able to consume Phytoplankton, which is the primary organism of the food web. Adversely, as the Phytoplankton population starts to decrease, so does the Zebra and Quagga mussels who rely on them to survive.
- What are the implications associated with these alterations to the ecosystem as a whole?
As a whole, these alterations to the ecosystem have both environmental and economic implications. Environmentally, this invasive species is causing other organism populations of the ecosystem to diminish and is killing off other native mussels. The buildup of these mussels is also polluting beaches and the ocean floor, while their filter feeding habits is bioaccumulation organic pollutants killing off other aquatic and wildlife organisms. Economically, the maintenance and treatment of these invasive organisms is proving to be costly as they accumulate on beaches, docks, boats, and anchors disturbing recreational activities and clogging water intakes structures.
Part I:
Years | Zebra and Quagga Mussel (density/m2) | Phytoplankton (µg/ml) | Zooplankton (µg/ml) | Cladophora Biomass (g/m2) | Foraging Fish (kilotons) | Lake Trout (kilotons) |
0 | 100 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 150 | 15 |
4 | 1,000 | 2.5 | 1 | 100 | 100 | 10 |
7 | 2,500 | 2 | 0.5 | 200 | 80 | 8 |
10 | 7,500 | 1.5 | 0.25 | 600 | 50 | 5 |
13 | 15,000 | 1 | 0.1 | 700 | 25 | 2.5 |
16 | 7,500 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 243 | 40 | 4 |
20 | 5,000 | 1.75 | 0.4 | 136 | 60 | 6 |
Part II:
Zebra and Quagga Mussels vs. Freshwater Ecosystems
Purpose
To study the impact of invasive species, such as the Zebra and Quagga Mussel, on freshwater ecosystems.
Introduction
Zebra and Quagga mussels are small mussels about the size of a fingernail that are native to Eastern Europe and Western Asia. During the 1980s, however, Zebra and Quagga mussels were inadvertently transported to the North American fresh waterways in ballast water tanks of commercial ships. Since being introduced into North American waters, these invasive species have colonized by the thousands per square meter and have had catastrophic impacts on the ecosystems. This is due to the fact that these species are not constrained by natural factors as much as they were in their native habitat. As a result they have the potential to harm their new environments.
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