Consider a wetland ecosystem similar to the one shown in the image below. In this ecosystem are two species: a small fish species and a wading bird species that feed on the small fish as its main source of food. Oxygen levels are a limiting factor.
Suppose that the local temperature changes in favor of greater oxygen levels in the water. Write a short paragraph to describe how both the population of the small fish species and the wading bird population would change in response to the new oxygen levels over the next six months. Then explain why these changes occur.
In response to the increase in oxygen levels in the water due to favorable temperature changes, both the population of the small fish species and the wading bird population in the wetland ecosystem are likely to undergo changes over the next six months.
The small fish population would likely experience an initial surge in numbers. With greater oxygen availability, the fish would have improved conditions for respiration and metabolic processes, leading to enhanced growth rates and increased reproduction. The abundance of food resources and improved survival rates would contribute to a population boom.
Consequently, the increased population of small fish would have a direct impact on the wading bird population. The wading birds rely on the small fish as their primary food source. With the rise in fish numbers, the wading birds would find it easier to access and catch prey, leading to an increase in their population as well. The greater availability of food would facilitate successful breeding and raise survival chances for the wading birds.
These changes occur because oxygen is a limiting factor in the wetland ecosystem. Oxygen is vital for the survival of aquatic organisms, as it is necessary for respiration. By providing favorable temperature conditions that increase oxygen levels in the water, more oxygen becomes available for uptake by both the small fish and wading birds. This, in turn, leads to increased metabolic rates, healthier growth, greater reproduction, and improved survival rates for both species. The interconnected relationship between these two species demonstrates how environmental factors, such as oxygen availability, can have cascading effects on different populations within an ecosystem.