My research proposal’s hypothesis is that elevated CO2 levels can increase the rate of photosynthesis of acquired plants and phytoplankton, increasing the availability of food resources for filter feeders like zebra mussels. The theoretical basis of my research lies in understanding how climate change, specifically the effect of CO2 levels, can indirectly influence the dynamics of invasive species through ecological interactions (Miehls et al. 2011).
The reason I chose this as the focus of my research proposal is that invasive species pose a significant threat to ecosystems around the globe and zebra mussels are the most notorious in North American freshwater bodies (Miehls et al. 2011).
By examining the effects of increased CO2 levels on zebra mussels’ population growth and reproduction rate, I aim to deepen our overall understanding of the implications of climate change on invasive species. As climate change is a pertinent issue that is worsening day by day, this study will serve as a predictor to see what these changes will do to local and regional ecosystems, starting with zebra mussels. If increased CO2 levels do in fact increase zebra mussel populations, in the future, the worsening state of climate change may further exacerbate the ecological implications that are already present with the existence of invasive species in Canada.
The three key words are:
- Invasive species dynamics
- Climate change impacts
- CO2 exposure
References
Miehls, A. L. J., D. M. Mason, K. A. Frank, A. E. Krause, S. D. Peacor, and W. W. Taylor. 2009. Invasive species impact ecosystem structure and function: A comparison of the Bay of Quinte, Canada, and Oneida Lake, USA, before and after zebra mussel invasion. Ecological Modelling 220(22): 3182–3193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2009.07.013