Introduction
Ecology, the study of reoccurring interactions between non-living and living organisms in a specific environment, (Coleman, 2017). That being said, fresh water habitats and all the related ecosystem services would be considered fresh water ecology. To figure out how those systems function and to be able to predict certain interactions with abiotic factors for benefit is something many ecologists seek, (Coleman 2017) Ecologists are expanding their effort after figuring out the monumental role in fresh water biodiversity, these smaller water bodies have mostly remained unstudied in the past. Recently though, it was recommended that policy be put in place for the management of these small waterbody habitats (Biggs et al, 2017). These small waterbodies, such as lakes, ponds and streams, have been left unstudied and unmaintained around the world. Small waterbodies are home to a large variety of species that only really stay in this type of habitat. These small waterbodies are also including ditches that while they are considered to be man made are very important to the diversity of those small waterbodies, as well as springs. Studies have shown that out of the thousands of species that live in the small waterbodies, several of them are being threatened if not already extinct(Thomsen el al, 2012). As these species decline and disappear at a frightening rate, there is research being done to help with conservation efforts by predicting trends and solutions. Looking at and trying to figure out the effect that humans have on this particular epidemic is something that ecologists are looking at. A specific thing that ecologists would be studying would be patterns of animal or plant life found in various small waterbodies.(Coleman, 2017). While conservationists are not at the point of being able to save and conserve all of the species in a freshwater ecosystem, the study of these small waterbodies can lead to ways of helping and aiding in the conservation.(Myers el al, 2000) The upper and lower ponds on the University of Texas at Tyler campus are two waterbodies that are of much interest. These waterbodies are the two that will be looked at for the basic ecology lab. Out of these two ponds, the Upper pond and the Lower pond, it is my prediction that the pond with the least amount of human interaction will contain the greater biodiversity compared to the other pond that has quite a bit more of human interaction. I believe that because of the interaction of humans will decrease the amount of fish, insects, mammals and amphibians. Materials and Methods In this Lab, the upper and lower ponds of the UT Tyler campus were surveyed and recorded. The data was broken up and retrieved in two sections, the upper pond and the lower pond. To retrieve the data certain tools were used, such as seine nets, dip nets, butterfly nets, and large buckets to put specimens in while counting out of the seine nets. Some other things that were needed and used were, waders, used for getting out into both ponds with the seine nets, rubber boots to be able to walk the banks of the ponds, as well as spreadsheets and pencils to record data that was found. The first thing that was done was that the class was split into two groups to record data. There had to be at least two people with the seine net, and one record keeper to know what was found, and to help hold the bucket when needed after everything was pulled out of the net. The second group of people worked with the dip nets. And then the third group used the butterfly net to catch and count any insects flying around the pond, this group also visually surveyed the area for bird, reptile and amphibian life within 2 meters of the ponds. Looking at the first group, the group using the seine nets, this group started at one side of the pond and used the seine net to gather and count any fish or other creatures that might be in the ponds. Being in wader pants allowed the collectors to get out into the pond and start in the deeper part of things. Using the seine net to gather an area pull the net up and use the gallon bucket to count out what fish or other specimens they found in that pull. The record keeper would be keeping a tally to use in the data part of this experiment. This would be done across the whole pond. The second group, the group using the dip nets would, while having on rubber boots and the appropriate equipment, go along the bank of the pond and dip down deep every couple of feet and see what they bring out and keep a tally of the specimens that were found. The third group would walk along the outer edges of the ponds as well as looking visually to see what birds, amphibians and, using the butterfly nets, insects that were cohabitating the area and count and record those. Walking about 10 feet stop and gather information then walk another 10 feet to see what could be found. After all the data is collected and then compiled, that data is used to create a T-Test and use that information for this lab.
Literature Cited
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