The Effect of Land Use on Biodiversity

Due to urbanization surface runoff causes flooding because it cannot infiltrate into the soil where it is needed. Stormwater ponds have now been constructed to collect this water and mitigate its effect on natural systems. These bodies of water form their very own ecosystems. The characteristics of these ecosystems still remain relatively unknown. Zooplankton populations can give some insight into the dynamics of these ecosystems. Samples from eight stormwater ponds were studied. Ponds were divided based on the directly adjacent land use. Biodiversity of zooplankton in stormwater ponds appears to be affected less by land use and varies more from one pond to another based on other factors.

Author Biography

MICHANNA TALLEY is a lawyer in Greenville, South Carolina. She is a graduate of Stetson University College of Law located in Tampa Bay, FL. Michanna also holds both a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Howard University in Washington, DC. She also holds Graduate Certification in the field of Public Health, specifically in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Drexel University located in Philadelphia, Pennslyvania. Prior to entering law school, Michanna was an Adjunct Instructor teaching General Biology 101 and 102 and prior to that was a Nucleic Acids Microbiologist working in the field of Biodefense in the DC metropolitan area. Even with her legal career, Michanna has continued to keep one foot in the scientific field by teaching online for University of Phoenix as well as local universities. Michanna also is able to have an outlet for her creative side with her business, Jazi Gifts (www.jazigifts.com).