FOOD WEB
The Jilin chemical plant explosions released many types of toxic chemicals into the Songhua River. There is no specific data, but ecologists claim that it is very likely that the toxic chemicals harmed the fish population in the river. Above a simple food web of the species living near the Songhua River. The decreased population of the fish in the river affects other organisms who prey on fish due to the chain reaction.
POPULATION SIZES
The only four factors that can determine the population sizes are birthrate, death rate, emigration, and immigration. The chemicals released in the Songhua river decreased the fish population, and there is a high possibility of fish population emigrating to different rivers. Emigration of fish in the river will decrease the fish population in the Songhua river, thus decreasing the population of species those prey on fish such as mandarin ducks, and red-crowned cranes, and increasing the population of species which are consumed by fish, such as long-tailed clawed salamander and millipedes.
WATER CYCLE
Similar to the food web, every stage of the water cycle impacts the whole system. The pollution of the Songhua river affects the whole water cycle, since water from oceans and rivers are evaporated into the clouds. Once the polluted water from the Songhua river is evaporated, the water vapors go through condensation and form water droplets in the clouds. When the clouds get in contact with cool air, they release the water back down either through rain, snow, or sleet. Since the water from the river was initially polluted, there is a high chance of pollutant in rain, snow, or sleet. When the water goes back to the ground, it affects the animals and plants that rely on water.
