Geese Population Effects on Water Quality

Geese Population Effects on Water Quality

water quality

Balance in ecosystems is both crucial and fragile. When one species experiences population flux, others change in response. Often, dramatic population change can lead to permanent alteration of ecosystems. Human activity is a major driving force in these changes. Infrastructure, chemical use, and other practices can decrease certain populations, which leads to subsequent disruption in other species. In Poughkeepsie, the Canada goose is one such species that is currently overpopulated, possibly due to endangerment of predator groups. They have a resident population in many of Vassar College’s water bodies. Because of their unprecedented eco-systemic prevalence, the geese put the rest of these water bodies’ balance under stress; when a large group of geese settles in one region, their fecal matter can be especially dangerous for the nutrient levels of that region’s water. High nutrient contamination can cause harmful algal blooms that block out sunlight and decrease dissolved oxygen content. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the high Canada goose population impacts nutrient levels, organic matter content, and overall water quality of Vassar College’s ponds and lakes.

Kaltsas, Madeline; Sweeney, Megan; Volpone, Aidan

04/04/2025

pdf

en

ENST124

Essentials of Environmental Science

Knights, Deon

completed

10/2025