Abstract

1. The Effect of the Eradication of Phragmites on the Return of Various Desirable Species in Cove River Abstract Phragmites are invasive species of plants unsuitable for most wetland just like the Cove River. Phragmites are very aggressive and cannot compete with other plants without compromising the environment. Since the introduction of phragmites into the area, it has made it unsuitable for many species including plants and animals. Animals such as birds can no longer feed because the phragmites has killed most of the plants like duckweeds and destroyed the habitat of animals which is the area where they feel most comfortable. Because of these situations plants die and animals are forced to migrate to another environment where it suits them most and can find a source of food and habitat. Conclusion The hypothesis was supported. After the eradication of the phragmites, we can see that some of the animals who previously considered the marsh as their habitat began to come back although in small numbers. Their source of food has began to grow back with the eradication of the phragmites making the environment once again suitable for them to live in. The return of the animals in small number can as a result of many things. For example, observation of the return of these organisms begun in the fall when the weather was getting cold, and as we all know most animals do not like the cold especially birds. So they begin to travel to places where the weather is much favorable to their survival. As time went on and we got closer to more animals beauty show up at the marsh. More birds were seen at the West Haven Cove River and also ducks were seen swimming in the river. As time goes on even more animals will once again consider the marsh as a place to live. BEFORE Problem Statement This research is done to prove if the phragmites had an effect on the organisms that lived in the particular ecosystem. IV: presence of phragmites DV: animals Hypothesis: If the phragmites in the Cove River have been eradicated, then the return of several organism that had once been at the Cove River should be expected to return. AFTER Moving Forward Now that some of the animals have begun to come back to the West Haven Cove river because of the eradication of the Phramites, we can also monitor the return of the plants that used to grow at the marsh. After all the plants were the Mai . Source of food for the animals and if the player to that the animals used to feed on no longer grows at the Cove River, the animals will not be able to survive there. We should also know the plants that previously use to grow at the marsh and check if they are beginning to grow or can no longer be found there so that we can replant them. By doing that we will not only reestablish the Cove River as it formally was but we will also be proving food for the animals which will increase the chance of their return and survival. Materials and Procedures 1. Go to the West Haven Cove River, where the phragmites had once been with a picture. 2. With the aid of a camera, take pictures of all animals that are seen in the Cove River region. Observations The first day that I had gone to the realized that the number of animals that were at the Cove river was really small, especially the amount of birds which I thought would have been a lot since there were a lot of tree in the area. It was hard to take the pictures of the bird because the trees are very tall and the small birds moved really fast. So capturing them was really he'd to get on the camera.