A Self-Sustained Enclosed Ecosystem in a Jar - Lab Report Example

? Creating a self-sustained enclosed ecosystem in a jar is a task that is fast in setting up and requires no maintenance. al Affiliation Submission Date Abstract Effective understanding of an ecosystem component is a main factor in creating a jar-based self-sustained ecosystem. An ecosystem entails the interaction of a group of organism with their physical environment. A self-supporting and self-sustained ecosystem is created by enclosing specific amount of resources that are available inside a glass jar. The creation self-sustained ecosystem is achievable by the utilization of theoretical knowledge of underwater environment by setting a specific oxygen balance, temperate, water, shrimp, sunlight, Myriophyllum, and carbon dioxide. The self-system ecosystem created was not fully successful despite the use and manipulation of shrimp and light that was available in the laboratory. Floating water plants are utilized in a self-sustained ecosystem to provide the living things with adequate supply of oxygen. Researchers have to put the consideration of variables such as nutrients, microorganisms, pH, and type of shrimp use on the effectiveness of a self-sustained ecosystem for prosperous self-sustained aquatic ecosystem. The project focused on creating a jar-based ecosystem with none of the organisms dying. The paper also presents periodic results of four weeks obtained from the project. Key words: self-sustained ecosystem, shrimp, Myriophyllum, pH, and Nutrients Introduction Background information An ecosystem can be describe as the dynamic biological environment that consist of living things in a specific region, abiotic , and environment physical components that interact with the organisms such as sunlight, air (oxygen and carbon dioxide), water, and soil (Hutchinson, 2005). Every ecosystem requires the three basic components that include producers, consumers, and decomposers. The three categories of ecosystem include freshwater, terrestrial, and oceanic ecosystems (Adams, 2001, pp. 33-44). Generally, the ecosystems are divided into main categories that are aquatic (freshwater and ocean) and terrestrial. However, the report focuses on the aquatic ecosystem. The system that the project created was an aquatic ecosystem (freshwater) that was supposed to meet the specific environmental factors to support the living organisms internally (self-sustaining and supporting) (Bailey & Norris et al., 2004). Aquatic ecosystems are defined as the ecosystems that are dependent on fresh water, which include rivers, estuaries, wetlands, and streams (Barbee, n.d.). According to Ecology Society of America (2013), the aquatic systems shelter various organisms that are dependent on them. Aquatic systems factors are categorized into abiotic factors and biotic factors. Abiotic factors refer to the non-living components in an ecosystem that have a direct influence on the living organisms community. On the other hand, biotic factors refer to the diversified species that occupy an ecosystem where every specie action can affect the lives of other species in the region. In the aquatic system, the interactions of organisms are based on aquatic environment (Baron & Poff, 2010, p. 7). Consequently, the understanding of aquatic component such as the balance of oxygen in the water, pH, and light contributes to the creation of a successful self-sustained aquatic system. Shrimps in aquatic systems have a substantial effect on other living organisms in a similar ecosystem. The pH of about 6.5-8.0 and balanced oxygen is suitable for maintaining freshwater ecosystem (Bunn & Arthington, 2002, pp. 492--507). Remarkably, a main manner that living organisms affect each other is consumption. As a result, a food web develops among living organisms living in a same aquatic ecosystem (Sala, 2000). Aims and hypothesi s Aims The aim of the experiment was to create a self-sustaining freshwater ecosystem. The experiment was focused in introducing the student on how to utilize the available resources in correct amounts to create a self-sustained ecosystem that will helping understanding food web within tis ecosystem. Additionally, it focused on predicting abiotic and biotic changes that are likely to occur in the created ecosystem. Lastly, the experiment objective was to observe and record abiotic and biotic variables in the created ecosystem over time. Hypothesis A maintained pH ranging 7-8 and having the correct oxygen balance of oxygen above 8 mg/L enables the creation a stable, long lasting, self-supporting, and self-sustaining ecosystem in a jar. Methodology and materials Lab Materials Aquatic snails Shrimps microscope Fine sediment Pond water (1.5 litres) 12 rocks Labels Floating plants (Azola) Rooted plants (Myriophyllum) Glass jar Glass bottles and net to capture the organisms Balances Dissolved oxygen, pH and conductivity, and various dissolved ions measurement instruments Aquatic books Table 1 Summary of organisms used in the jar-based ecosystem Name Trophic level quantity Aquatic snail Primary consumer 1 snail Shrimp Decomposer 1 shrimp Myriophyllum (Rooted plant) producer 1 strand Azola (floating plant) Producer 2 spoons Algae Producer 5 tea spoons Proposed food web Figure 1 Food web Procedure and set up Figure 2 Set up for the jar-based aquatic ecosystem Procedure a) A one-gallon glass jar with a tight fitting lid was chosen. b) The bottom of the jar was covered with aquatic gravel. c) The jar was filed with distilled water that was left overnight. Leaving the water overnight allows the dissipation of chlorine from the water (Winder & Schindler, 2004, pp. 2100--2106). d) Aquarium plant (algae) was planted in the gravel. e) Freshwater shrimps were allowed to acclimate to water temperature before they were added to the jar. This was achieved by floating a plastic bag on the surface of the water. f) The shrimps were added to the ecosystem (jar-based) after the water temperatures were equalized. g) The jar was tightly closed using the lid to prevent water evaporation. h) The jar created ecosystem was placed in a filtered sunlight location. i) Measurement on the aquatic ecosystem variables was conducted on weekly basis for five weeks. The monitored valuables included nutrients (phosphorous and nitrate), salinity/conductivity, pH, and temperature. Assumptions There were no possible evaporation of water in the jar All organisms used had sufficient nutrients in the initial ecosystem that was created. Results and observation The results and observation after twenty days are summarized in the table below. Date Measurements observations Temper-ature (0C) pH Salinity (/cm) Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) Phosphate (mg/L) Nitrate (mg/L) 21/08/2013 27.3 7.22 184.4 9.53 0.25 0.0 - Water is clear, but has a tinge colour. -Azola floats on the water surface with the roots dangling in the water. -Small growth on the Myriophyllum Water level is 16.5 cm on the jar 28/08/2013 25.3 6.988 328 3.43 0.5 0.0 -The snail des and floats on water. -Water colour appears darker. -Myriophyllum has grown thicker and longer. - Some azola are dead and have sunk to the bottom of the jar. -Myriophyllum has grown numerous white roots all over the jar. -New organisms appeared on the water surface that looks like tiny worms. -Water level decreased by 0.5 cm margin to the 16.0 mark of the jar. - shrimp cannot be seen in the jar. 04/09/2013 24.8 7.507 460 3.71 1.0 0.0 - Water appeared darker in colour. - Water level dropped with a margin of 0.5 cm and the new level was 15.5 cm. - Few azola were observed to be in the ecosystem -Snail sank to the bottom -New green Myriophyllum stalks started to grow. -Original Myriophyllum seemed to die. New life started forming: mosquitos, true fly, and nematodes. 11/09/2013 23.8 8.143 427 8.93 2.0 0.0 - Water appeared dark in colour. -Original Myriophyllum turns black and appears dead. -New green shots of the Myriophyllum appear to grow longer. -New organisms are observed in the jar including mosquitos. -Only a small amount was seen floating on the surface of the water. Dead azola rests on the bottom. - Snail turns green as algae grow on it. - Shrimp was still missing. -Algae layer is seen to form at the water surface. The water surface turns to green sludgy. 18/09/2013 26.5 9.352 403 14.71 2.0 0.0 - Water colour turns to green. -More algae growth was observed. -Unidentified invertebrate pupae. -Most of Azola was observed to be dead (only was 105 present) -Myriophyllum shoots developed more branches and new shoots are observed growing from the stem. - Water level decreased by 1.5 cm margin leaving the water level to 14cm mark. - Mosquitos and terrestrial insects were observed. Surprisingly, shrimp is observed to be alive. Graphical representation of test variables Discussion Although the ecosystem created in the jar was focused to ensure a sustainable life for all the organisms. However, some died indicating that the environment was not favourable for all the organisms used as specimens. Aquatic snail is observed dead, which did was challenging to what caused the death. An assumption made was that the snail died because it was the primary producer in the food web to sustain the growth of algae (Schmitz, 2007). The increased rate of algae growth resulted because of the few decomposers (shrimp) in the ecosystem (Kareiva, 2011). Most of the azola was observed to be dead because the shrimp fed on it to survive. Other organisms that were observed developed because of the presence of a suitable environment for them to thrive (Poff & Brinson et al., 2002). The water was observed to turn to green in colour. This happened because of the increased growth of algae, which indicated the presence of a freshwater ecosystem. The water level decreased indicating a possible evaporation (Waltner-Toews & Kay et al., 2008). More precise ecosystem may be achieved by measuring the initial comments and ensuring that the components support the survival of all organisms to be incorporated into the experiment. Improve and increased preliminary data require advance initial analysis for creating a self-sustaining ecosystem (Pollard & Huxham, 1998, pp. 773--792). Remarkably, the ecosystem created indicated self-sustaining property by the thrilling Myriophyllum, left azola, living shrimp, and the development of other organisms such as mosquitos at the end of the fifth week. Maintaining the pH at 7-8 and oxygen level above 8 mg/L made the ecosystem created self-sustainable. References 1. Books Bailey, R., Norris, R. and Reynoldson, T. 2004. Bioassessment of freshwater ecosystems. Boston: Kluwer Academic. Hutchinson, L. 2005. Ecological aquaculture. East Meon, Hampshire, England: Permanent Publications. Kareiva, P. 2011. Natural capital. Oxford [England]: Oxford University Press. Sala, O. 2000. Methods in ecosystem science. New York: Springer. Schmitz, O. 2007. Ecology and ecosystem conservation. Washington, DC: Island Press. Waltner-Toews, D., Kay, J. and Lister, N. 2008. The ecosystem approach. New York: Columbia University Press. 2. Journals Adams, S. 2001. Biomarker/bioindicator response profiles of organisms can help differentiate between sources of anthropogenic stressors in aquatic ecosystems. Biomarkers, 6 (1), pp. 33-44. Baron, J. and Poff, N. 2010. Sustaining Healthy Freshwater Ecosystems. Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education, 127 (1), p. 7. Bunn, S. and Arthington, A. 2002. Basic principles and ecological consequences of altered flow regimes for aquatic biodiversity. Environmental management, 30 (4), pp. 492--507. Pollard, P. and Huxham, M. 1998. The European Water Framework Directive: a new era in the management of aquatic ecosystem health?. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 8 (6), pp. 773--792. Winder, M. and Schindler, D. 2004. Climate change uncouples trophic interactions in an aquatic ecosystem. Ecology, 85 (8), pp. 2100--2106. 3. E-book Poff, L., Brinson, M. and Day, J. 2002. Aquatic ecosystems. [e-book] http://www.c2es.org/docUploads/aquatic.pdf [Accessed: 9 Oct 2013]. 4. Magazine Ecology Society Of America. 2013. Sustaining Healthy Freshwater Ecosystems. Issue in ecology, Iss. 10. 5. Thesis Barbee, D. n.d. Self-Sustained Closed Ecological Systems. Undergraduate. University of Washington. Read More