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My project looks at Salvelinus Fontinalis presence in a creek that is heavily intruded on by humans. The ecological processes I intend to explore are nutrient cycling, reproduction and anthropogenic disturbances.
Nutrient cycling will hopefully allow a deeper inspection into the impacts of pollution, habitat destruction and reduction and what the aesthetic cleaning of the creek is doing to the health of the water and its inhabitants. I also hope to look at how it has affected the creek bed and sides. Is it possible that frequent pruning of trees has resulted in shallow root systems and potentially less support for the sides of the creek to withstand seasonal flooding?
When exploring reproduction of Salvelinus Fontinalis I hope to explore their historic breeding space. What pH is optimal for reproduction? Is there a preferred sediment base? Do they need a certain amount of cover from surrounding shrubbery? Historically, has this been a highly sought after spot for spawning?
Anthropogenic disturbances play a role in every area I hope to explore, but specifically I hope to look at what the overall impacts are of cleaning debris from the creek on water flow, shrubbery health and the organisms which reside in the waters and surrounding grasslands. Does the frequent disturbance of the creek bed and surrounding land reduce viable spawning grounds for the fish? Has the area become too urbanized with walking paths, bridges and maintenance for the habitat to maintain viability?
Key words: Anthropogenic disturbances, Spawning, Habitat destruction
