kejohnson1987
Trophic interaction
This is a photo of aquatic vegetation in one of the more shallow pools in my area. The interaction here is between the vegetation and the small fish that live in and predate upon the plants.
What do you think is the most influential species in your location (don’t include humans)
explain why you think it is important? The most influential species in my area are likely the underwater plants pictured here. The primary herbivores in the area are waterfowl which depend heavily on this vegetation as their staple food source.
What would happen if you removed it? If these plants were removed, it is likely that the waterfowl would leave the area and there would be less habitat available for fish in the river system. This lack of vegetation would change the chemical make-up of the river system, thus altering the conditions most aquatic organisms require for suitable living and breeding habitat. Without aquatic vegetation, the river system would support far fewer species and lose species richness.
What if you replaced it with an invasive species? If an invasive species were put in it's place, it is likely that the invasive would overtake the environment. As the article concluded, platns are limited by either water, sunlight or herbivory. With no waterfowl to feed upon it and unlimited light and water, the species would explode in the system, further inhibiting occupation by fish and other aquatic organisms.
Choose three of your organisms you took photos of for the first capstone exercise, list what they are and tell what Slobodkin,
Smith, and Hairston’s article says they are ultimately limited by.
SPC 1: mallard - limited by abundance of primary producers and predation
SPC 2: red-winged blackbird - limited by interspecific competition, territoriality and predation
SPC 3: shag-bark hickory - limited by water and sunlight.
Trophic interaction
This is a photo of aquatic vegetation in one of the more shallow pools in my area. The interaction here is between the vegetation and the small fish that live in and predate upon the plants.
What do you think is the most influential species in your location (don’t include humans)
explain why you think it is important? The most influential species in my area are likely the underwater plants pictured here. The primary herbivores in the area are waterfowl which depend heavily on this vegetation as their staple food source.
What would happen if you removed it? If these plants were removed, it is likely that the waterfowl would leave the area and there would be less habitat available for fish in the river system. This lack of vegetation would change the chemical make-up of the river system, thus altering the conditions most aquatic organisms require for suitable living and breeding habitat. Without aquatic vegetation, the river system would support far fewer species and lose species richness.
What if you replaced it with an invasive species? If an invasive species were put in it's place, it is likely that the invasive would overtake the environment. As the article concluded, platns are limited by either water, sunlight or herbivory. With no waterfowl to feed upon it and unlimited light and water, the species would explode in the system, further inhibiting occupation by fish and other aquatic organisms.
Choose three of your organisms you took photos of for the first capstone exercise, list what they are and tell what Slobodkin,
Smith, and Hairston’s article says they are ultimately limited by.
SPC 1: mallard - limited by abundance of primary producers and predation
SPC 2: red-winged blackbird - limited by interspecific competition, territoriality and predation
SPC 3: shag-bark hickory - limited by water and sunlight.