Zooplankton and Flagellate Abundance in UBC’s Nitobe Garden Pond

Abstract

Zooplankton and flagellates play an important role in freshwater ecosystems, contributing as primary producers and grazers that form a significant part of the base of aquatic food webs. Their sensitivity to environmental changes makes them valuable bioindicators for assessing water quality and ecosystem health. This study examines their abundance in Nitobe Garden Pond, a freshwater system on the University of British Columbia campus. Findings are compared with a previous BIOL 342 study conducted in 2018 to identify potential ecological shifts over time. Abiotic factors, including temperature, dissolved oxygen (O2), and pH, were measured at three distinct sites to assess environmental uniformity and its influence on plankton distribution. Zooplankton abundance was significantly higher than in 2018 (p = 0.0001898), while flagellate counts showed no statistical change (p = 0.2681). Elevated dissolved oxygen levels (9.96 mg/L compared to 7.8 mg/L) and a slight increase in water temperature (11°C compared to 10°C) may have contributed to the observed zooplankton growth.