Michanna Talley

The Effect of Land Use on Biodiversity: a Stormwater Pond & Zooplankton Study Michanna Talley

Due to urbanization surface runoff causes flooding because it cannot infiltrate into the soil where it is needed. Stormwater ponds have now been constructed to collect this water and mitigate its effect on natural systems. These bodies of water form their very own ecosystems. The characteristics of these ecosystems still remain relatively unknown. Zooplankton populations can give some insight into the dynamics of these ecosystems. Samples from eight stormwater ponds were studied. Ponds were divided based on the directly adjacent land use. Biodiversity of zooplankton in stormwater ponds appears to be affected less by land use and varies more from one pond to another based on other factors.