Our group had to conduct this field visit to a freshwater habitat to get hands-on experience about local habitats and the animals and plants around it. We think that going to the site and observing the animals, plants and the habitat will make it a interesting learning experience since we are allowed to actually here and everything is real-life not just pictures or words in a textbook. Also, our group wants to learn the proper methods to observe and examine the habitat without causing any damage to the area.
During the field trip, we saw a variety of organisms along and in the stream. There was difference in what we found in the upper and lower stream. The upper stream had fishes, more lichen, insects, snails and crabs. In the lower stream, we only saw snails under the rocks, comparatively less lichen and crab holes in the sand along the coast of the stream so we deduced that crabs can also be found in the lower stream.
After doing some research, we have found out more about each kind of organism found in the stream.
Lichen
Lichen is found everywhere along the stream, especially concentrated in an end of a branch extended from the upper stream. It usually sinks and stays on, but not stick to the rocks under and around the water.
Lichen produces nutrients through photosynthesis. In this process, what they need from the atmosphere will be the moisture provided by the water, minerals from the rocks and organic fragments. This rocky river stream becomes a very ideal habitat to the lichen. At the end of the extended water branch, as some organic nutrients like dead body of other organs accumulate there, lichen is particularly abundant.
Freshwater Snail
Freshwater snail is found in both upper stream and lower stream. Their ...
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... and snails using the provided equipment. We were able to collect and examine information from the water, the soil and the rocks.
This field visit experience allowed us to realize how diverse life is even in just one type of habitat. All of us have learnt to be more careful while in natural habitats or else we may be disturbing the living organisms there. We have learnt to appreciate the nature around us. This field visit was very fruitful and taught all of us a lot.
Works Cited
http://web.archive.org/web/20020623173909/members.aol.com/mkohl1/Viviparidae.html
http://www.ask.com/question/what-do-lichens-eat
http://www.whatdosnailseat.info
http://www.biologyreference.com/Re-Se/Rivers-and-Streams.html
http://www.biologyreference.com/Re-Se/Rivers-and-Streams.html#ixzz2lkKNuDka
http://www.lifeinfreshwater.org.uk/Web%20pages/ponds/Adaptations.htm
The Artemia franciscana can survive in extreme conditions of salinity, water depth, and temperature (Biology 108 laboratory manual, 2010), but do A. franciscana prefer these conditions or do they simply cope with their surroundings? This experiment explored the extent of the A. franciscanas preference towards three major stimuli: light, temperature, and acidity. A. franciscana are able to endure extreme temperature ranges from 6 ̊ C to 40 ̊ C, however since their optimal temperature for breeding is about room temperature it can be inferred that the A. franciscana will prefer this over other temperatures (Al Dhaheri and Drew, 2003). This is much the same in regards to acidity as Artemia franciscana, in general thrive in saline lakes, can survive pH ranges between 7 and 10 with 8 being ideal for cysts(eggs) to hatch (Al Dhaheri and Drew, 2003). Based on this fact alone the tested A. franciscana should show preference to higher pH levels. In nature A. franciscana feed by scraping food, such as algae, of rocks and can be classified as a bottom feeder; with this said, A. franciscana are usually located in shallow waters. In respect to the preference of light intensity, A. franciscana can be hypothesized to respond to light erratically (Fox, 2001; Al Dhaheri and Drew, 2003). Using these predictions, and the results of the experimentation on the A. franciscana and stimuli, we will be able to determine their preference towards light, temperature, and pH.
Hägglund, Å., & Sjöberg, G. (1999). Effedts of beaver dams on the fish fauna of the forest streams. Forestry Ecology and Management, 115, 259-266.
the idea of the wild and its importance and necessity of human interaction with the wild.
Fish habitat is the underwater world which many people do not see. It is just like the world that people live. Fish and plants reproduce, eat, and live in this environment, and even face challenges such as invasive species. It is said that “Invasive species are non-native species that threaten the diversity or abundance of native species due to their uncontrollable population growth, causing ecological or economic impacts” (“Invasive” par. 1). Vegetation plays a big role for fish habitat and for a lake itself. Aquatic habitat provides living space for not only fish but also for many aquatic insects. These insects then in turn provide fish and other species of animals with food (“Native” par. 4).
minnesota sea grant - outreach - exotic species - eurasian watermilfoil: factsheet. (2010, January 26). minnesota sea grant - outreach - exotic species - eurasian watermilfoil: factsheet. Retrieved May 15, 2014, from http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/exotics/eurasian.html
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Wildlife, Nature & Wildlife: Unravel the best of wildlife and nature in Kakadu National Park(Australia)
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