Final answer:
A spongy lake impacted by human infrastructure generally experiences increased pollution and decreased sponginess, which affects its ability to regulate water quality and levels, leading to alterations in the lake's ecology and potentially reducing biodiversity.
Step-by-step explanation:
How a spongy lake is impacted by human infrastructure can involve a complex and sometimes contradictory suite of impacts. When human infrastructure, such as dams and roads, is built near a lake, it can lead to changes in water temperatures, chemistry, flow characteristics, and silt loads, which can significantly alter the ecology of the lake. This often results in increased pollution and can reduce the lake's natural absorptive capacity, sometimes referred to as its 'sponginess', which impacts its ability to regulate water quality and levels.
Additionally, the disruptions caused by human activity, such as habitat loss and climate change, can lead to a decrease in biodiversity, as native species may not be able to adapt quickly to the altered conditions. However, it's also possible that new habitats created by human infrastructures, like reservoirs behind dams, can become a habitat for new species, potentially increasing the number of non-native species in the lake's ecosystem.