Through our trip to the pond in the south of Nosehill Natural Environment Park on September 29th, 2011, we were able to collect and preserve many different species of visible living organisms. Through research, and help from Dr. T. Pike, the Biology 20 IB teacher at Sir Winston Churchill High School, in species identification, the interactions between the species were established. A simple explanation of each species interactions in the environment at the pond is given below, with pictures of the preserved species.
Figure 1. Pond at Nose Hill taken by Ashley and Eugenia on September 29, 2011
Hirudinea (Leeches); Order: Pharyngobdellida, Family: Erpobdellidae
At Nose Hill, a type of leech in the family Erpobdellidae was found in the pond. Leeches are non-anthropods and are found in freshwater. Leeches of the order Pharyngobdellida are primarily fluid feeders and are found in standing and running water. They are predacious, but they do not have jaws. This allows the leeches to swallow a whole variety of small invertebrates or suck the fluid out of large prey.
These leeches are involved with other organisms through interactions such as predation. Predation is defined as the killing and eating of an organism which is the prey, by another organism which is the predator. In one interaction, leeches are the predator and prey on small or large invertebrates. The leech gains food and energy from the prey which are the invertebrates while the invertebrates are killed. In another interaction, leeches are the prey and the predators that prey on them are walleyes, which is a type of fish. The walleye gains food and energy from the prey which is the leech while the leech is killed. Through these interactions, leeches are shown to have a feeding strategy of a tertiary or higher consumer.
Figure 2. Specimen of Hirudinea in the family Erpobdellidae found at
Nose Hill by Ashley and Eugenia on September 29, 2011
Figure 3. Specimen of Hyalella azteca found at Nose Hill
by Ashley and Eugenia on September 29, 2011
Gastropoda (Snails); Subclass: Pulmonata, Family: Lymnaeidae
A type of Stagnicola gastropod was found in the pond at Nose Hill. Gastropods are abundant in most aquatic habitats of Alberta
These gastropods are involved with other organisms through interactions such as predation and parasitism. In one interaction, gastropods are the prey and the predator is a carnivorous insect such as fireflies. The firefly gains food and energy from the prey which are the gastropods while the gastropods are killed. Another interaction that gastropods are involved is parasitism. Parasitism is defined as a long term physical relationship between two organisms where one organism benefits and the other organism is harmed. Freshwater snails are the hosts for parasites such as the larvae of blood flukes. The larvae of the blood flukes gain nutrients from living in gastropods such as Lymnaeidae, and the gastropods slowly die because their nutrients have been robbed by the blood flukes.
Figure 4. Specimen of Gastropoda in the family Lymnaiedae found
at Nose Hill by Ashley and Eugenia on September 29, 2011
Anisoptera (Dragonflies); Order: Odonata
At Nose Hill, dragonflies were found around the pond. The dragonfly is an anthropod. It is in the class of Insecta under anthropods where less than 5% of insect species have an aquatic stage. There are over 90 families of aquatic insect in 11 orders present in Alberta Alberta
Dragonflies are involved with other organisms through interactions such as predation. In this interaction, dragonflies are the predators and prey on insects and aquatic invertebrates. The dragonfly gains food and energy from the preys which are the aquatic invertebrate and insect while the aquatic invertebrate and insect are killed.
Figure 5. Specimen of Anisoptera found at Nose Hill by
Ashley and Eugenia on September 29, 2011
Vegetation
Around the pond at Nose Hill, numerous species of vegetation were found. The plants are the primary producers which the primary consumers consume.
Caddis Fly; Order: Trichoptera, Suborder: Amphiesmenoptera, Class: Insecta
At Nose Hill, a caddis fly casing was found in the pond, motioning to the presence of Trichoptera larvae. Caddis fly larvae are adapted to many types of aquatic environments, and live in casings made from rocks, sand, gravel, twigs, leaves, and other debris. Trichoptera larvae uses substance secreted from silk glands in the lower lip to glue materials together. With these glands, Trichoptera larvae are able to use the glue like substance to spin and create nets, straining material from the water for food. Caddis fly larvae feed differently from the adults. Adult Trichoptera feed only on liquid food, such as nectar or sap, in result of a vestigial mouth. Caddis fly larvae feed on a mixed diet. Varying species of caddis flies feed on differing organisms. Some species are predacious, while others are leaf shredders, algae grazers, and collectors of particles. The can eat algae, leaves, fungi, detritus, water flea and other invertebrates. Trichoptera are also prey for many organisms, such as dragonflies, dobsonflies, and large diving beetles.
Figure 7. Specimen of caddis fly in the family Trichoptera found
at Nose Hill by Ashley and Eugenia on September 29, 2011
Syrphidae (Hoverfly); Suborder: Brachycera, Order: Diptera, Class: Insecta
At Nose Hill, a hoverfly was found buzzing around the pond. Syrphidae are common throughout the world, and are harmless to most other animals. For their own protection, they closely mimic the more dangerous wasps and bees through Batesian Mimicry, serving to ward off predators. Hoverfly mimicry include its physical warning colours of black and yellow, like many types of insects with stingers, a narrow waist like a wasp, and even the ability of mimicking the action of stinging. Larvae hoverflies are found in stagnant water. Like the caddis flies, different species of hoverflies eat different food. Some are scavengers, eating decaying plants and animals, or on the outer of plants, or the bulbs, while others are predators and feed on other insects. Adult hoverflies feed mainly on nectar and pollen, and honey dew produced by aphids. Hoverflies are one of the few insects which can digest pollen. With its mimicry of bees and wasps, hoverflies are prey for the opportunist birds and spiders. Some wasps are also able to attack and kill aphid-eating larvae.
Figure 8. Specimen of hoverfly in the family Syrphidae found at
Nose Hill by Ashley and Eugenia on September 29, 2011
Calliphoridae (Blowflies, Bluebottles, Greenbottles, or Cluster Flies); Suborder: Brachycera, Order: Diptera, Class: Insecta
At Nose Hill, a blowfly was found in the environment surrounding the pond. The name, blowfly, comes originally from the old English term for meat, which had eggs laid on it, which was said to be fly blown. Adult blowflies are occasional pollinators, being attracted to flowers with strong, pungent smell of, or similar to rotting meat. These flies use nectar as fuel for flight. The larvae of this family of most species are scavengers for carrion and dung.
Figure 9. Specimen of blowfly in the family Calliphoridae
found at Nose Hill by Ashley and Eugenia on September 29, 2011
Coenagrion (damselfly); Family: Coenagrionidae, Suborder: Zygoptera, Order: Odonata, Class: Insecta
At Nose Hill, damselfly larvae were found in the pond, specifically the Coenagrion larvae. Damselflies are similar to dragonflies, but differentiate in that damselflies hold their wings along and parallel to their bodies when at rest. The hind wings of damselflies are also fairly similar to its forewing, unlike the broadening of the dragonflies’ hind wings. Larvae are predacious, and carnivorous, feeding on water fleas, mosquito larvae, and various other small aquatic organisms. The adult Coenagrion eat flies, mosquitoes, and other small insects, including spiders, thus is a carnivore, and is predacious. Damselfly adults can also be eaten by many organisms, such as spiders, and also suffer from parasites, such as mite larvae.
Figure 10. Specimen of Coenagrion in the family Coenagrionidae
found at Nose Hill by Ashley and Eugenia on September 29, 2011
Figure 6. Vegetation found at Nose Hill by Ashley and Eugenia on September 29, 2011
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