Despite the rush of students and construction all around, at the University of South Florida there is one commonality through it all: the ducks. From pestering passing students for a hand out to resting on the lights in the middle of the lake, it’s very interesting to see the acclimation of these ducks to the campus. Furthermore, it allows us to look at the complex interactions between advancing society and nature.
College Ducks vs. Wild Ducks
So what exactly is different between a duck on a college campus and a wild duck? The difference lies between their relationship with people. Wild ducks tend to be much more aggressive and dominant compared to ducks found in colleges and such. Since they haven’t had the experiences with people, they tend to view them as enemies instead. However, a college duck would be much more docile, as it views people as a way of getting free food. As such, it would be much less prone to aggression.
Environmental Implications
The existence and thriving of ducks on a college campus is interesting and important to study because it shows the creation of a very unique ecosystem that people have to take into consideration. With the development of the college and the area around it, students involved in environmental scientists and ecologists have to maintain a delicate balance to make sure the ducks can continue to live and contribute to a wonderful environment.