The Effects of a Five Degree Fahrenheit Increase in Average Water Temperature on the Growth of Ceratophyllum demersum, Within a Simulated Tempe Town Lake Environment.

Due to human-driven climate change, the shifting environment of Tempe Town Lake has begun to bring questions to the environmental health of the aquatic plants in the area. This study aimed to investigate a five-degree Fahrenheit temperature increase on the growth of Ceratophyllum Demersum, an aquatic plant native to the North American Continent. This was tested via experimentation, by manipulating the temperatures of two fish tanks containing samples of Ceratophyllum Demersum, before measuring growth through both mass (g) and height (cm). All other nutrient concentrations were matched to Tempe Town Lake to determine the future growth of plants in the area within the context of global climate change. Ceratophyllum Demersum did not appear to experience significant changes in growth due to an increase in temperature; however, the importance of testing all plants due to differing reactions was made apparent in the available literature. This suggests future testing on other plants must be done to determine climate changes’ future effects on the health of aquatic ecosystems.