Garth UR - So, what Next?

So, where to go? This topic has been so broad that is has taken a little help to find a focal point. Although the direction of this project has changed the heart and purpose remains the same. There are a number of points which I wanted to illustrate during the course of this project. The first issue was to shed a little light on climate change. The second was to find a direction which I could focus and address, an issue which affects us all, an issue close to home.

I will now primarily be focusing on the Water hyacinth. One aspect which is particularly interesting which I addressed in presentation, was the temperature sensitivity of the water hyacinth. This is important because as temperatures rise I believe the growth ratios of this plant will increase as well. So, with this said, for my experiment I will use three small aquariums and three heating plates to control the water temperatures. Casie and I  will be locating local samples. I will pull data from the Saint John’s Water Management District for summer temperatures as far back as I can go. The second will be recent summer temperatures and the third will be several degrees higher based on current warming estimates. This plant is tropical, growing optimally from water temperatures ranging from 77 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.  As a highly invasive species the hyacinth has been a rising global issue for years, harming local and global ecosystems, trade and communities.