MAPÚA UNIVERSITY

School of Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering

A.Y. 2020 - 2021

Assignment #2
Ecosystem in your Community

Name: ARZADON IV, QUIRINO V. ______________

Course/Year: CESE/2 Student No.:2019103050____________
Subject/Section: ESE150-2 SECTION A27________________

GRADE

Engr. Bonifacio B. Magtibay, PhD

__________________________________________
Instructor
ANSWER TO QUESTIONS

1. In your household, neighborhood, or community, identify if there is an

existing ecosystem (natural or artificial). Take a picture of that ecosystem

Answer:

The following is a SELF-SUSTAINING AQUARIUM

2. Identify the plants or animals in that ecosystem.

Answer:

The following species of fish and plants are enumerated below (though not all

were mentioned because of unfamiliarity):

FISHES

• Neon Tetra

• Pink Danios

• Blue Danios

• Dwarf Gourami

• Amano Shrimp

PLANTS

• Anubias Nana

• Anubias Petite

• Bucephelandra

• Java Fern

• Java Fern Petite

3. Describe the habitat and niche of the organisms you identified.

Answer:

As the name suggests, the tank is self-sustaining because it

produces its own oxygen because there is an installed CO 2 diffuser that in which

the aquatic plants consume and convert the gas to food and thus the aquarium

provides O2 for the fish to use.

 The role of the aquatic plants is to provide oxygen which they

produce otherwise the temperature in the tank would rise and species of neon

tetras would not thrive in temperatures higher than 30 degrees Celsius.

According to Cooper (2010), Fishes alter their thermal tolerance range with a

minimum and maximum temperature that is correlated to their recent thermal

peak.

Shrimps on the other hand, are bottom feeders, not only that these

can be aesthetically pleasing in the tank, as scavengers they contribute to the

cleaning of the fishes and improving the water quality in the tank (Barrington,

2016). In compassion to mechanical filters, it is much more sustainable to have

shrimps to reduce power consumption on the other hand.

4. Determine how the pollution you identified in your Assignment 1 can affect

the ecosystem in your community.

Answer:

The pollution given in the first assignment that can tribulate the

aquarium (or generally, water systems) can be pollution in water, land, light

and sound. First off, the aquarium is based on a self-sustaining carbon

dioxide supplied ecosystem, meaning the aquarium can sustain and

produce its own photosynthesis because the plants consume the CO 2 that

is supplied by means of diffusing it in the tank. Hence, light will become a

catalyst in undertaking the photosynthesis and thus the ecosystem and

sustain on its own (provided we give additional food for the fishes).
 Turbidity can cause the water to be cloudy and murky on the other

hand. In which I think the biggest problem about sustaining the ecosystem

is the problem that when the tank water becomes turbid, it decreases the

likelihood of photosynthesis in the tank. That is why shrimps in aqua scaping

is important in maintaining the quality of water in the tank though can be

hardly seen in the images because they feed on wastes and make the tank

clean.

Land pollution also contributes to the degradation of the tank (or

generally, water) quality because excessive soil runoff can make the water

murky hence would result into O2 reduction in the tank which would further

suffocate both plants and marine species.

Local noise could also deter the likelihood of the marine life. Cross

(2020), Bates (2012) suggested that Man-made noise is a growing threat to

wildlife (Bates (2012). While in prolonged durations, fish can experience

stress, agitated and a compromised immune system. Not only fishes, but a

multitude of marine species. Not only sound, but light pollution in coastal

areas as well (Cross, 2020). Cross (2020) also mentioned that a

combination of pollutions involving light and sound from man-made sources

pose an empirical to aquatic and marine organisms globally.

5. Give your impression or analysis if that ecosystem will still last for more than

5 years. Justify your answer.

Answer:

The following factors sustain the ecosystem and for the last 4 years

have been considered consistently:

• Temperature Regulation

• Population and Competition Control

• Balance in CO2 and O2 levels

• Regular Maintenance of the tank

• Light Exposure Timing

• Ample Food Supply

As an aquarium enthusiast these factors are what the hobbyists

suggest that we consider in maintaining the life in the tank. Too much and

too less of the following parameters would create an environmental

imbalance in the tank. Certain actions are done to resolute a problem in the

ecosystem.

Water Refilling is done because a certain volume of water

evaporates into the atmosphere. This is also done because the water

becomes warm as time goes by. This is to regulate the temperature of the

water in the tank as seen. A thermometer is used to monitor the critical level

of the tank and do indicate when to replace the water.

 Gases are also an important factor. Hence, CO2 tanks are regularly

supplied once the current tank is empty. Then again, ample levels should

be considered to avoid the halting of photosynthesis in the tank.

Light exposure is also a vital component for photosynthetic

processes. Hence, we improvise artificial light to be shone into the tank.

However, the case here is that the tank need not be constantly lit because

it may cause stress in the fish and does not mimic the Earth Cycle of night

and day as suggested. Only certain time intervals are considered only.

Fish populations should also be limited because gas components are

also limited in the aquarium. Population control is done by relocating certain

numbers into another tank (Because we have multiple tanks). Populations

of organisms are needed because we consider gas levels in the tank.

Overpopulation causes crowding and may cause suffocation to fishes.

Feeds are also introduced to develop physical growth of fishes.

References
Barrington, K. (2016, August 5). The Top 5 Shrimp for Freshwater Aquarium. Retrieved from Rate my
Fishtank: https://www.ratemyfishtank.com/blog/the-top-5-shrimp-for-the-freshwater-
aquarium#:~:text=Not%20only%20can%20freshwater%20shrimp,water%20quality%20in%20you
r%20tank

Bates, M. (2012, 10 1). Noise Pollution also harms fish. Retrieved from American Association for the
Advancement of Science: https://www.aaas.org/noise-pollution-also-threatens-fish

Cooper, C., Eme, J., & Mueller, C. (2010, October 10). Temperature tolerance and oxygen consumption of
two South American tetras, Paracheirodon innessi and Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi. Elsevier
Ltd.

Cross, D. (2020, September 22). Noise Pollution Harms Fish in various. Retrieved from Sustainability
Times: https://www.sustainability-times.com/environmental-protection/noise-pollution-harms-
fish-in-various-ways-scientists-say/