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Myriophyllum aquaticum
This photo was taken at Randall Pond which is part of the Burnst Mill Creek Watershed in Wilmington, NC. The green aquatic organism located throughout this photo is known as Myriophyllum aquaticum also known by its common name, Parrotfeather (deq.nc.gov/aquatic-weeds-found-north-carolina). Initial observations regarding this organism are that much of its structure is located beneath the surface of the water while the very top flower-like portion of the plant protrudes from the surface of the water. From an ecological perspective this type of orientation by the plant is interesting because it differs from many terrestrial plants and changes the possible resources and conditions that the organism will come in contact with. Parrotfeather is an important organism for ecological studies because it is not native to the United States and is considered to be an invasive species. This organism has spread throughout much of the United States and displays a wide range of habitable locations (Wersal, et al., 195). Wilmington, NC happens to be one of the many locations that the plant has been able to spread to and survive in. The organism has been able to fulfill its realized niche by satisfying its necessary survival and reproduction requirements in many parts of North America. One reason that this organism is highly capable of successfully surviving in various locations is that it uses seasonal allocation to vary its biomass, nitrogen, and phosphorus based on the changing seasonal weather patterns that occur in its many habitats. This organism has evolved to use this method of allocation in order to conserve energy and resources throughout the year to account for changing temperatures in seasonal climates (Sytsma and Anderson, 244). Invasive species become an issue ecologically when they begin to influence the other organisms or the environment that they become locally surrounded by. Myriophyllum aquaticum can become problematic in certain locations due to its invasive nature. One problem caused by this organism is that it can increase mosquito populations by providing larvae with an escape from predators. This in turn can affect human populations as well as others that are susceptible to disease by mosquitoes (Sytsma and Anderson, 244). In this case this plant is enhancing the niche of one organism while hurting that of others. Other negative effects that this organism can have on its environment is that it can block adequate flow of water resulting in increased flood waters (Wersal et al., 195). Overall this photo displays many ecological concepts such as niche, evolutionary adaptations, resource/condition tolerance, climate/temperature variation, and relationships among organisms. All these concepts are equally important in determining the organism's relationship to its physical, chemical, and biological surroundings.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. Aquatic Weeds found in North Carolina.
deq.nc.gov/aquatic-weeds-found-north-carolina.
Sytsma, Mark D., L. W. Anderson. "Biomass, Nitrogen, and Phosphorous Allocation in
Parrotfeather (Mryiophyllum aquaticum)." Plant Manage, vol. 31, pp. 244-248, 1993.
Accessed 22 Jan. 2018.
Wersal, Ryan M., Joshua C. Cheshier, John D. Madsen, Patrick D. Gerard. "Phenology, Starch
Allocation, and Environmental Effects on Myriophyllum acquaticum." Aquatic Botany,
vol. 95, pp. 194-199, 2011. Accessed 22 Jan. 2018.
Myriophyllum aquaticum
This photo was taken at Randall Pond which is part of the Burnst Mill Creek Watershed in Wilmington, NC. The green aquatic organism located throughout this photo is known as Myriophyllum aquaticum also known by its common name, Parrotfeather (deq.nc.gov/aquatic-weeds-found-north-carolina). Initial observations regarding this organism are that much of its structure is located beneath the surface of the water while the very top flower-like portion of the plant protrudes from the surface of the water. From an ecological perspective this type of orientation by the plant is interesting because it differs from many terrestrial plants and changes the possible resources and conditions that the organism will come in contact with. Parrotfeather is an important organism for ecological studies because it is not native to the United States and is considered to be an invasive species. This organism has spread throughout much of the United States and displays a wide range of habitable locations (Wersal, et al., 195). Wilmington, NC happens to be one of the many locations that the plant has been able to spread to and survive in. The organism has been able to fulfill its realized niche by satisfying its necessary survival and reproduction requirements in many parts of North America. One reason that this organism is highly capable of successfully surviving in various locations is that it uses seasonal allocation to vary its biomass, nitrogen, and phosphorus based on the changing seasonal weather patterns that occur in its many habitats. This organism has evolved to use this method of allocation in order to conserve energy and resources throughout the year to account for changing temperatures in seasonal climates (Sytsma and Anderson, 244). Invasive species become an issue ecologically when they begin to influence the other organisms or the environment that they become locally surrounded by. Myriophyllum aquaticum can become problematic in certain locations due to its invasive nature. One problem caused by this organism is that it can increase mosquito populations by providing larvae with an escape from predators. This in turn can affect human populations as well as others that are susceptible to disease by mosquitoes (Sytsma and Anderson, 244). In this case this plant is enhancing the niche of one organism while hurting that of others. Other negative effects that this organism can have on its environment is that it can block adequate flow of water resulting in increased flood waters (Wersal et al., 195). Overall this photo displays many ecological concepts such as niche, evolutionary adaptations, resource/condition tolerance, climate/temperature variation, and relationships among organisms. All these concepts are equally important in determining the organism's relationship to its physical, chemical, and biological surroundings.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. Aquatic Weeds found in North Carolina.
deq.nc.gov/aquatic-weeds-found-north-carolina.
Sytsma, Mark D., L. W. Anderson. "Biomass, Nitrogen, and Phosphorous Allocation in
Parrotfeather (Mryiophyllum aquaticum)." Plant Manage, vol. 31, pp. 244-248, 1993.
Accessed 22 Jan. 2018.
Wersal, Ryan M., Joshua C. Cheshier, John D. Madsen, Patrick D. Gerard. "Phenology, Starch
Allocation, and Environmental Effects on Myriophyllum acquaticum." Aquatic Botany,
vol. 95, pp. 194-199, 2011. Accessed 22 Jan. 2018.