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Question: Does proximity to a water source affect taxa composition?
We are looking at the abundance of taxa near a major water source versus an area not near a water source. This will help us potentially understand information on the colonization and dispersion method of various microorganisms, such as tardigrades, nematodes, and rotifers. This experiment will help in gaining information about the taxa, as there is not a lot of information currently known about the microorganisms in the Michigan waters.
Tardigrades, Nematodes, and Rotifers are microorganisms that need a water source in order to survive. Using the water, they can undergo anhydrobiosis (Crowe, Madin), which is when they can dehydrate and rehydrate themselves in order to slow their metabolism and continue survival under stressful conditions. By looking at whether proximity to a major water source affects the various taxa, it can help us understand potential colonization patterns for the different taxa. We hypothesize that there will be higher abundance near a major water source.
Discussion:
Our chi-square statistical value showed to be much greater than the chi-square critical value, which showed no correlation between the proximity to a major water source and the abundance of taxa. So, our hypothesis was incorrect. This can indicate that there are microorganisms everywhere, no matter the environment. This could also lead to questions regarding the mode of transportation for these taxa.
Our calculations (p-value 0.3681 > 0.05) concluded that one taxon was found significantly more/less than the other, which we understand to be tardigrades. It is likely that tardigrades were found less than rotifers or nematodes because in general, they are less common. Tardigrades prey on nematodes and rotifers, and usually, the predator is less abundant than the prey which explains that finding. We also saw that nematodes prefer water environments (M., Greg) while rotifers are not as adapted to that environment (Reed Mericulture Inc.), which is why there were more nematodes found in water and rotifers found on land. That leads to further questions as to what kind of microorganisms are in the waters around Michigan, and what that means for the ecosystem as a whole.
References:
- Crowe, John H., K.A. Madin. “Anhydrobiosis in Tardigrades and Nematodes.” Transactions of the American Microscopial Society vol. 93. Pg. 513-524.
- M, Gregory. 2015. Hydro-Gardens. Nematodes.
- Reed Mericulture, Inc. 2016. Culturing Marine Rotifers for Freshwater Applications.
- Tardigrade Tea Website Database
In conclusion, there is not a correlation between the number of taxa and the proximation to a water source. Additionally, there is a higher prevalence of nematodes for areas near a water source, a higher prevalence of rotifers for areas not near water sources, and far fewer tardigrades in both areas compared to the other taxa.
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