You are conducting a long term study of ecosystem functioning in a freshwater lake.You and your field assistants gather data for many biotic and abiotic factors,including species diversity,water and benthic quality,and turbidity.Over the ten years of your study,you find that the abundance of water lilies is correlated with several other factors.When water toxicity and turbidity are high and water pH is abnormally low,water lilies quickly become scarce,followed by periods where fish,amphibians,and water birds are also scarce or absent.In years with very high water nutrient levels,water lilies quickly become abundant,followed by years where wading birds are scarce.From these data,you conclude that water lilies are __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Water lilies in this study are acting as an indicator species because their presence or absence correlates with changes in water quality (toxicity, turbidity, pH) and nutrient levels, which in turn affects the abundance of other organisms in the ecosystem. Indicator species are those whose status provides information on the overall condition of the ecosystem and the impact of environmental changes.

You Are Conducting a Long Term Study of Ecosystem Functioning