Biodiversity WebQuest

When you look at the photograph below, what is your first impression? Undoubtedly, you see a beautiful scene with a pristine freshwater lake surrounded by hills and a dense forest of brilliant fall colors.

Oxbow Lake in the Adirondacks, New York

Yes, this scene in the Adirondack Mountains is beautiful, but the photograph is somewhat misleading. The lake shown here is actually toxic to many plants and animals due to the accumulation of acid rain. In fact, 25 percent of all the lakes and ponds in this area cannot support many forms of life. Each spring when the snow melts, the lakes and ponds receive an influx of acidic run-off, which causes the acid levels to rise quickly. These high acidic levels damage fish gills, reducing the amount of oxygen available to the fish; destroy fish eggs that are laid in the spring months; and stunt the early spring growth of aquatic plant life. In addition, a number of the trees surrounding the lakes are dying due to the effects of acid rain.

Link #1:  Adirondack State Park (ASP)

Link #2:  Yellowstone National Park (YNP)

Link #3:  Black Hills National Forest (BHNF)

Link #4:  Ecological Consequences of Fire

Link #5:  Endangered Animals:  The Sea Turtle

Link #6:  Acid Rain

Map of the Acid Rain Concentrations of the United States