Welcome to Clearwater Pond, a wetland ecosystem home to a variety of diverse plant and animal species. You have been called to the pond because of your knowledge of ecosystems. Two weeks ago Clearwater Pond was an idyllic fishing spot for local residents. Now it has been overtaken by water lilies.
According to local residents, the problems began two weeks ago with a beetle infestation near some popular fishing sites. Insecticide was sprayed near the pond to kill the beetles. Read the statements from locals below to learn more about what happened after the beetles were killed.
“All seemed peaceful until the lily pads began to overpopulate uncontrollably! They covered the entire surface of the pond!” - Local Resident.
“I usually catch dozens of crayfish when I set out my traps. My traps have been empty all week, not a crayfish in sight.” - Trapper.
“I fish early in the morning and saw dozens of dead fish floating in the pond.” - Fishermen.
"The osprey are my favorite birds to watch, but I haven’t seen any osprey near the pond in over a week. - Bird Watcher.
How could we find out if the dead fish, empty crayfish traps, and disappearing osprey are related to the water lilies? What kind of information could we collect or look at?
To determine if the water lilies are related to the dead fish, empty crayfish traps, and disappearing osprey, we could gather the following information:
1. Water Quality: Conduct water quality tests to determine if the presence of the water lilies has affected the oxygen levels, pH levels, or nutrient levels in the pond. High nutrient levels can lead to rapid growth of aquatic plants like water lilies, which can in turn lead to reduced oxygen levels in the water, potentially causing fish kills.
2. Aquatic Species Counts: Conduct surveys to count the number of fish, crayfish, and other aquatic species present in the pond before and after the water lilies bloomed. Compare the data to see if there has been a significant decrease in the populations of these species.
3. Nesting and Feeding Behavior: Observe the behavior of the osprey and other bird species in the area to see if the presence of the water lilies has impacted their nesting or feeding habits. Water lilies can create dense mats on the water's surface, making it difficult for birds to catch fish or build nests.
4. Study of Food Web: Investigate the food web of the pond ecosystem to see if the presence of the water lilies has disrupted the balance of the ecosystem. Changes in one species population can have cascading effects on other species within the food web.
By gathering and analyzing this information, we can better understand the potential impacts of the water lilies on the pond ecosystem and determine if they are indeed related to the issues reported by the locals.