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When people step on the rock berm, they can closely connect with dragonfly habitats.

Yan Liu

Aquatic Assemblages

Many scientists have claimed that we are entering into the sixth mass extinction. According to IUCN, about 16% of the 6,016 species of dragonflies and damselflies are at risk of extinction.1 Dragonflies occupy an essential link in the food chain. Fluctuations in dragonfly numbers can affect the numbers of other species, such as mosquitoes and birds. Dragonflies are also closely related to the health of the water environment. Healthy water bodies can attract more and different species of dragonflies and other aquatic animals. Dragonflies’ decline is a symptom of widespread loss of the marshes, swamps, and free-flowing rivers they breed in, driven mainly by the expansion of unsustainable agriculture and urbanization around the globe. In addition to impacting habitat, urbanization has led to serious stormwater issues that impair the health of our rivers and oceans.

My thesis aims to address three interrelated issues: restoration of aquatic insect habitat in urban areas, stormwater runoff, and education about species decline. To explore these issues, I focus on Roger Willams park, which has the potential to be high-quality habitat for dragonflies and other animals. However, currently the ponds in the park lack ecological diversity and have serious water quality issues due to stormwater runoff. To address these issues, I propose a series of rock berms in the ponds that change the direction of the water flow. Wetland plants along the berms will help clean the water as it flows through them. In addition, the berms will allow people to walk out into the pond to experience the wetlands and an educational installation that lists species of dragonflies that have gone extinct to help raise awareness about biodiversity loss.

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The collection of insects got me thinking about the connection between insects and the landscape

insect collection box

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8/6.467iches

2022

The insect collection process makes me pay attention to dragonflies. The insect collection process makes me pay attention to dragonflies.

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Dragonflies plan an essential role in an ecosystem.

Dragonfly diagram

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14.517/13.187inches

2022

Dragonflies plan an essential role in an ecosystem.

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In the life cycle of dragonflies, emergent plants occupy a very important position. Some dragonflies need emergent plants to lay eggs or climb.

dragonfly life cycle

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18/11inches

2022

In the life cycle of dragonflies, emergent plants occupy a very important position. 

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The water in Roger Williams park come from the upper watershed

Roger Willams park watershed

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18.81/14.8inches

2022

The water in Roger Williams park come from the upper watershed

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Roosevelt lake is the water inlet of Roger Williams park, and sewage flows from this lake to other lakes.

Water flow in Roger Williams park

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8/5 inches

2022

Roosevelt lake is the water inlet of Roger Williams park, and sewage flows from this lake to other lakes.