Presence of Amphipoda in Freshwater Springs

• Riya Seshadri

  Juniata College

  Author

• Olivia Foley

  Juniata College

  Author

A suitable environment for the species Crustacea: Amphipoda would be in a pure water form that is perceived as moist and warm. Also, the desired habitat holds little to no involvement with the Homo sapiens species. Factors that were effective and shown to be a difference for the Amphipoda species in springs closer and farther from humans were body size, temperature, and overall presence of these organisms. The main characteristics of disparity between the freshwater spring used was the distance between itself and human contact and how congested the area was with activity from the out-of-water society. Additionally, the temperature was affected when the body of water came into close contact with the outside world. Human beings unknowingly influence the habitat of Amphipoda, which then leads to the entire ecosystem because the organism Crustacea: Amphipoda is proven as both a primary consumer and a decomposer. This research started as the study of the differences between Amphipoda in different freshwater springs, however, it adopted an accelerating growth of size and changed into what is the overall cause of those distinctions. Distinctions in question were clarified as body size, temperature of water, and presence of the desired species. Homo sapiens and their existence have a clear history of altering one’s ecosystem, and the interaction between the human race and amphipods made this claim very clear. It was found the temperature is lower when more closely associated with humans and the body size of Amphipoda did decrease significantly.

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