Case Study- The Gippsland lakes Ecosystem

Exercises: Pg. 251

1)
a. The Thompson dam is reducing the flow of fresh water that is used to flush out the lake system. Dredging of the lakes entrance to the sea is making the lake increasingly saline.

b. Soil run- off is silting the water ways, this would make it more of a closed system and the temperature would therefore be increasing. The amount of phosphate that is entering the lake is increasing due to farming and this would be increasing the temperature of the lake.

c. There is very little water entering the lake due to the Thompson dam and during the summer months the more water is needed by Melbourne.

d. The increase in phosphate poured into the lakes mainly from fertilisers from near by farms would be causing algal blooms, also the increase of the temperature of the lake would be facilitating algal blooms.

e. Clearing vegetation from the land had caused increase in run- off and the silting of the water ways.

By Jasmine :)