Students looking for the reason why there were dead fish outside the pond near Parking Garage 2 have no reason to worry about the toxicity of the water, as the deaths were caused by a change in oxygen levels due to higher temperatures.

Twitter user @SoFloBro pointed out in a tweet on March 29 that there were fish dead on the side of the pond, which sits between the garage and the College of Nursing building. A later tweet from the user on April 5 asked if the school had a reason for the deaths, but it did not receive a reply.

FAU Media Relations spokesperson Joshua Glanzer said via email, “Building and Grounds takes care of the lakes and yes it has occurred before and we have a lake vendor that maintains and performs water testing for the lakes.”

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission website, the changing of oxygen levels is the most common killer of fish in South Florida lakes. When the oxygen levels in the water are too low, they cause the fish to suffocate.

The university uses its lake vendor to remove the bodies of the fish that are on the side of the pond. Glanzer wrote that no other wildlife or students in the area can be injured by the changing levels. People are prohibited from fishing or wading in the pond.

Ryan Lynch is the editor in chief of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @RyanLynchwriter.