Abiotic and Biotic

Cabbage tree creek and its catchment runs from the foothills of Ferny Hills to Sandgate and terminates at Shorncliffe before emptying into Moreton Bay. Cabbage tree creek is known for its intact riparian and the high percentage native vegetation that lines the creek. . Cabbage tree creek is well looked after by its community, and is considered to be very healthy, with a high rating for Abiotic and biotic indicators; although it has its a few low quality zones e.

g. the waterway under the Park Collins road.AbioticAbiotic is a scientific term for non living factors that effect the environment. Abiotic and biotic factors combine together to create an eco system.

An ecosystem is a community of living and non living things combined together carefully. Abiotic factors include sunlight, temperature, water, turbidity, salinity, pH, nitrides D.O. These factors have a major effect on the biotic factor in the eco system.TurbidityTurbidity is the measurement of the clearness of the water.

The major determination that can affect the turbidity of the waterways is human manufacturing and consumption. The level of turbidity will affect the biotic factors in the waterway, this can affect the different species and the of macros and micros that are present. Macro and micros have a certain specific sensibility to the clarity of the water, the clearer the water the more highly sensitive macros and micros present. Photosynthesis is affected by the level of turbidity. The turbidity stops the light penetrating the necessary light that is needed for photosynthesis in the plant, which is also, connected the amount of oxygen that is available in the water. The amount of oxygen that is present in the water also is connected to the different species that can live in that waterway.

The Overall high turbidity levels can lead to affecting all the orgasming that are present in the waterway.Dissolved OxygenThe amount of dissolved oxygen (D.O) is referred to the levels of oxygen that is present in the waterway. Aquatic organisms depend on the amount of dissolved oxygen that is present; the living conditions of aquatic organisms are also affected. The amount of D.

O in the water reflects the amount of oxygen that produced by the plants in the water through photosynthesis. The D.O rates are increased and decreased by the turbidity of the water, this links to the plants creating photosynthesis by the amount of light that is visible on the bottom of the creek. The oxygen is affected by the temperature of water and the salinity. D.O is produced by plants that are present in the water, light intensity and water temperature.

If the D.O in the water drops the waterway is more likely to contain more toxics and death of living organisms. As the temperature increases the D.O decreases, this will then affect the fish, macros and micros because there will not be enough oxygen present in the water, which can suffocate the organisms and kill them.Water TemperatureWater temperature is a measure of the degree of hotness or coldness of water.

Water temperature helps the ecosystem functioning both directly through the effects on the organisms. Photosynthesis and the growth, reproduction of organisms are all affected by changes in water temperature. Aquatic organisms can only survive in a specific temperature range. If temperature goes too far above or below the tolerance range for a species, it increases its the chances of the organism being killed.

SalinitySalinity is the mass of salts in water. Salinity affects the organisms that live within the water. The organisms have a tolerant range of salinity. Salinity is an indictor of the nature of the eco system. The salinity of the water tells how much fresh water as been mixed with sea water.

pHpH is a measure of acidic or base of the water on a scale from 0 through 7 to 14. If the pH of the waters is close to 7, it is the most neutral water. The weather can affect the pH of the water, most rivers range from a 7 to 8. Most aquatic organisms require a specify range, if the pH changes the organisms will be affected.

The pH can change by man-made constructions. A change in pH can disrupt the life cycles of all organisms and lead to their deaths if the change is too extreme.BioticBiotic factors are all living organisms. This refers to trees or mammals, small life-forms such as insects and algae, and microscopic life forms such as bacteria.

These are the most different and changeable part of the ecosystem.MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates are organisms that have no backbone and live on the bottom of the creek. They length ranges from only a few centimetres long. Macros live on the surfaces of bed forms. The species of Macro invertebrates can be used as an indicator of the change of environment. All Macros have a sensitivity limit.

The Macros that are found that have a sensitivity level of 10 is the most sensitive of all Macros, if these are found it proves that the waterway is very healthy. Macros with a sensitivity of 1 is the least sensitive and proves that the waterway is in very poor condition.Fish MonitoringFish monitoring is used to indicate the change of the environment; because fish are visible to the human eye it is easy to identify a change. The changes that can be seen are: the change of population, presence of a key species, measures of health from the species and change of a species. Different species of fish indicate the health of the environment for example: some fish are less sensitive to the turbidly of the water than others. RiparianThe riparian is plants growing along the water’s edge.

Activities from humans affect the riparian, though the riparian tries it’s best to protect its waterway. The riparian is a valuable source of food and shelter, for animals on the land and organisms in the water. The vegetation shades the water and banks, from this shade the water is 10 °C cooler than the unshaded waterways. The plants in the water and along the banks provide nutrients and movement of water.Investigating BiologyThe data that was collected was from four different sites along the Cabbage Tree Creek.

The first site was the Cabbage Tree Creek behind Aspley State High School (ASHS). The second was the creek running underneath Park Graham road. The third site was Collins Road, and the last is Linfield Drive. It was found that at one of the sites there was a significant difference result than the other three.

Cabbage Tree Creek ASHSIt was found that the creek behind ASHS had its highs and lows. A variety of different species were found, there were: Caddis flies, Damselflies, Blood worms, Hydras, Back swimmers, Snails, Beetle larvae and Dragon fly larvae. These rated around the mid to high sensitivity mark, which shows the creek has a good health.The Riparian habitat scored 4 out of 8. There was a mixture of native and exotic plants.

The right side of the bank’s riparian zone only lasted 10 metres, but the left riparian zone went back at least 200 metres. Only one side of the creeks riparian was disturbed. This affects the creek because the creek riparian isn’t protecting the creek at its 100%, due to the human manufacturing and waste falling in the creek when it’s raining.In-stream over, this creek scored 4 out of 8.

There were some areas along the creek that had in-stream covering. Logs and snags were found across the creek, which provided coverage. Although this creek could have had more cover. Due to the average stream coverage the water temperate would be a lot lower than a waterway not covered in shade. This would have affected the amount of D.

O that would have been dissolved, and photosynthesis that would affect the oxygen levels in the water.The Bank erosion and stability scored 3 out of 4. There were a few slumping banks, and the occasional erosion, but overall the banks had no significant damage. The cover over the banks was good quality, although the plants that covered the bank were exotics. If the bank erosion was bad this would have affected the turbidly levels in the water, which stops the light penetrating the necessary light that is needed for photosynthesis in the plant, which is also, connected the amount of oxygen that is available in the water. The amount of oxygen that is present in the water also is connected to the different species that can live in that waterway.

Riffles, pools and bends scored 3 out of 4. There were many different depths throughout the creek ranging from 2cm to 2meters. There were plenty of bends and especially riffles.Overall the creek behind ASHS received a total of 14, which is marked as a good habitat. This is a creek well looked after from its community and has a few alterations from it natural state.Linkfield DriveThe creek in Linkfield drive is a very small creek.

It is surrounded by housing and parks; the community around it is kept very clean. In the small waterway the organisms that were found were: Beetle larva, Water Treaders, Wrigglers, Dragon larvae, Caddis flies, Blood worms, Damsel flies, Water strider, Mayflies, Snails, Firetails, Mosquito fish and Swordtails.The riparian habitat scored 1 out of 8. This is because the riparian last about 1 metre long; both sides of the creek have a large amount of housing. There were a few native species present along the creek; however there was introduced grass alone the housing.

There were only a few vines present.In-stream cover, this creek scored 2 out of 8. There was very little cover present. The shade of the trees and a few vines, but that was about it.

The bottom of the creek was lined with rocks.The Bank erosion and stability scored 2 ½ out of 4. The creek had average bank erosion. There were the a few erosions and slumping of the banks, but there was no significant damage to the actual bank or the waterway. The waterway has a moderate vegetation coverage, this is great for theRiffles, pools and bends scored 2.

5 out of 4. There was a good varietyCollins RoadCollins road creek is through a neatly spaced out park area, although this area is neat and well presented, the riparian runs for a maximum of 15metres. The organisms that were found in the waterway were: Shrimp, Codds, and Dragon fly, Gudgeon, Firetail, Yabby, Water Strider, Diving Beetle, Leach, Inset larvae and Blood warms. In the creek a combination of high level and low sensitive organisms were found, this shows that the creek water has a low turbidity and had a good riparian.

The riparian habitat scored 3.5 out of 8. This proves that there are mixtures of native and exotic species along the banks. The riparian length is 15metres long, although this is a small riparian the water body is in good condition. Both sides of the creek have a community of houses around it which can affect the health of the creek and the biotic factors.

In-stream cover, this creek scored 7 out of 8. The in-steam cover scored really high because there are clearly presented logs and snags. In the creek were a small percentage of the banks overhanging. There is great creek coverage, 70% of the waterway is covered by the shade of the plants.The Bank erosion and stability scored 2.

5 out of 5. This creek many have a small riparian, but its banks are well looked after by its community. The creek has its occasional slumping now and then, but there is no major damage to the banks. There are clearly roots and shrubs throughout the banks and occasionally in the waterway.

Overall the creek banks are at an average.Riffles, pools and bends scored 3 out of 5. There were numerous depths of waters starting from 2cm to 2meters. Bends and riffles were the highlight of this creek, as there were good varieties.

Overall this habitat for this area scored 17, which marked a good habitat. This would be due to the banks, coverage of the waterways and the presented logs and snags.Graham RoadThe waterway that link with Cabbage Tree Creek under the Graham Road was the worse site out of all of the sites. The only organisms that were found in the water way was a fishtail and a numerous wrigglers, which both macros rate low on the tolerant scale.

The riparian habitat scored 2 out of 8. This proves that there was vegetation present on both sides of the creek. Both sides of the creek have visuals of human manufacture as least 1 metre away. The species that were present were 50% exotic and 50% natives’ plants.

In-stream cover, this creek scored 2.5 out of 8. The stream had a small amount of cover and vegetation hanging over the water. There were a few logs, vines and snags present, but the bank at one point was very close to shops around the creek.The Bank erosion and stability scored a 1.

The creek had very poor banks that were not stabile, and covered in exotic plants. There were large cracks and fill-ins. This creek had lots of vegetation, but most of the vegetation around the water was exotic plants.Riffles, pools and bends scored 3 out of 4.

The highlight of this creek was the variety of bends, riffles and pools. There were variations of depths starting at 5cm to 3m deep.Overall this habitat for this area of Graham road scored a total of 7 ½, which marked this creek as a poor habitat. This would be due to the fact that this creek runs under a main road, which would allow the chemicals from the cars to spill into the creek.

The creek also is close to a community of shops and houses.