The Effect of O2 Concentration on Chaoborus (Phantom Midge Larvae)

ABSTRACT
The aim of this investigation was to examine the effect the abiotic factor O2 concentration has on the abundance of Chaoborus, also known as the phantom midge larvae. This entailed using a net to catch the organism and counting them under timed conditions. The test was repeated in a vegetated and open area of water in order to be able to evaluate different oxygen concentrations. The abundance of phantom midge larvae was measured by manually counting and the concentration of oxygen at the two sites was measured using an oxygen probe. Results indicated that in open areas the number of midge larvae was vastly larger than that of vegetated areas; they had also confirmed that the area of open water had a lower O2 concentration as compared to the vegetated area. These results are fitting to the scientific background of Chaoborus, as they are known to inhabit water with less concentration of oxygen1. Further analysis of these results were conducted using a Mann-Whitney U-Test which proved there was a significant difference in the number of phantom midge larvae in the two areas for which the reason was the different concentrations of oxygen.
RESEARCH & RATIONALE
This aim of this investigation is to measure the effect Oxygen Concentration of fresh pond water, an abiotic factor, has on the number of Chaoborus (Phantom Midge Larvae) present by studying their abundance in areas of the pond which are surrounded by vegetation and comparing it to the results acquired from an area of open water.
D2- diagram showing a phantom midge larvae head
D2- diagram showing a phantom midge larvae head
D1- diagram showing phantom midge larvae
D1- diagram showing phantom midge larvae
The name Phantom Midge Larvae is derived from the transparent characteristic of the midge2. This feature allows the