In this lab, you will determine how an invasive species—the zebra and quagga mus
ID: 254775 • Letter: I
Question
In this lab, you will determine how an invasive species—the zebra and quagga mussel—affects other species in the freshwater lake.
Complete the questions in the attachment
Instructor's Name: Assignment: SCIE211 Phase 5 Lab Report Title: Identifying Environmental Hazards Instructions: You will write a 1-page lab report using the scientific method to answer the following questions: Why do you see increases and decreases in the invasive species population? What are the implications associated with these alterations to the ecosystem as a whole? When your lab report is complete, post it in Submitted Assignment files. Part I: Using the lab animation, fill in the data table below to help you generate your hypothesis, outcomes, and analysis. Zebra and Quagga Mussel ooplankton Biomass Foraing Fish Lake Trout ki kilotons 20 Part II: Write a 1-page lab report using the following scientific method sections: Purpose State the purpose o Introduction This is an investigation of what is currently known about the question being asked. Use background information from credible references to write a short summary about c references in APA style. oncepts in the lab. List and cite Hypothesis/Predicted Outcome o A hypothesis is an educated guess. Based on what you have learned and written about in the Introduction, state what you expect to be the results of the lab procedures. Methods o Summarize the procedures that you used in the lab. The Methods section should also state clearly how data (numbers) were collected during the lab; this will be reported in the Results/Outcome section.Explanation / Answer
Why do you see increases and decreases in the invasive species population?
Speciation is the process by which new ecological species arises. Due to various natural processes including geographical separation and drift, some species are becoming separated. This is due to the, changing environmental and climatic conditions and due to natural selection, new species are established.
Invasive species are most commonly defined as a non-native organisms that dominates the invaded ecosystem and impairs its function and structure. Invasive species displace or damage native species, often posing serious threats to local biodiversity and causing adverse environmental, economic or public health effects.
The lack of a natural competitor in this new ecosystem allows invasive species to be successful and resistant enough to survive in a foreign environment.
The invasive species increases because of they are restricted by natural factors the same way as they were in their native habitat. Due to their restricted feeding habits, invasive species starts to feed Phytoplankton. Consequently, Phytoplankton population begin to decrease and so are the Quagga and Zebra mussels who depend on them for survival.
What are the implications associated with these alterations to the ecosystem as a whole?
Based on the environmental implications, these invasive species are causing other species in the ecosystem to decrease which in turn affect the population of other native mussels.
However, increase on the mussels also pollutes the ocean floors and our beaches, while their feeding habits are leading to accumulation of organic pollutants affecting other aquatic organisms. The treatment and maintenance of invasive species is expensive as they invaded on everywhere such as beaches, anchors, and boats.
PART I
Year
Quagga and Zebra Mussel (density/m2)
Phytoplankton (µg/ml)
Zooplankton (µg/ml)
Cldophora Biomass (g/m2)
0
100.00
3.00
2.00
10.00
4
1000.00
2.50
1.00
100.00
7
2500.00
2.00
0.50
200.0
10
7500.00
1.50
0.25
600.00
13
15000.00
1.00
0.10
700.00
16
7500.00
1.50
0.20
243.00
20
5000.00
1.75
0.40
136.00
PART II
Purpose
The major objective of this lab report is to highlight and assess the environmental hazards brought about by the invasive species, where these species include those that are external natural ecological system and they have potential threat to the environment. These environmental threats to the biological diversity are evaluated in this lab.
Introduction
Most importantly, native species have a vital role they play in the proper existence of a given ecosystem. Quagga and zebra mussels are aquatic invasive species that are native to eastern Europe. The Quagga mussel originated from Dnieper River drainage of Ukraine. The zebra mussel was first described from the lakes of southeast Russia and its natural distribution also includes the Black and Caspian Seas. Quagga and zebra mussels get their common names from the zebra-type striping on the shells. Both mussel species are small and typically grow to the size of a fingernail. The damage brought about by these invasive species can be regarded as multilayer. For instance, Zebra mussels significantly reduce the natural filtration velocity – generating more pseudo-feces. They are prolific breeders and these mussels can attach to both hard and soft surfaces in freshwater ways.
Hypothesis
Invasive species have a negative effect on the ecosystem – posing threat to the native species.
Methods
The inclination of the invasive species to increase population often interrupts the natural order of ecosystem. It is also vital to note that the invasive species negatively affect the vegetation. Based on the table 1, the population of Quagga and Zebra mussel in 1 m2 increases the population of Zooplankton, Phytoplankton, Lake Trout, and Foraging Fish decreases. Therefore, native species’ population reduces – triggering undesirable effect on ecosystem.
Results
The result in this study supports the hypothesis that as invasive species increase, other species decreases – posing the negative effect on the environment and ecosystem.
Discussion
The study produces the anticipated outcome as data apparently indicates that the invasive species ruin the natural order of the ecosystem by disrupting tropic level and food web. The interdependency and relationships between two organisms are destroyed and environmentalists often discredit the invasive species. Interestingly, invasions by Quagga and Zebra mussels have been identified as having some positive effects on receiving ecosystems. For example, filtration of water by mussels as they extract food removes particulate matter. This filtration has improved water purity, and reduced the eutrophication of polluted lakes. In some instances these improvements may have benefited for the local fishing organizations.
Reference
Richardson, D. M. (2011). Fifty years of invasion ecology: The legacy of Charles Elton. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. Pg 216.
Year
Quagga and Zebra Mussel (density/m2)
Phytoplankton (µg/ml)
Zooplankton (µg/ml)
Cldophora Biomass (g/m2)
0
100.00
3.00
2.00
10.00
4
1000.00
2.50
1.00
100.00
7
2500.00
2.00
0.50
200.0
10
7500.00
1.50
0.25
600.00
13
15000.00
1.00
0.10
700.00
16
7500.00
1.50
0.20
243.00
20
5000.00
1.75
0.40
136.00
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