Minnamurra Lab
Aim: To construct a field graph to study the local ecosystem at the Minnamurra estuary involving abiotic factors, transects and abundance.
Method:
Measuring abiotic factors
1. Measure the elevation along the transect line in centimetres using an inclinometer in each quadrat.
2. Measure the soil temperature in degrees using a thermometer by placing it in the ground in the quadrat.
3. Measure the air temperature in degrees using a thermometer by holding it up in the air just above the ground in the quadrat.
4. Measure the wind speed in knots using an anemometer held up in the air in the quadrat.
5. Measure the soil moisture in the quadrat using a soil moisture probe. Soil moisture is represented in a percentage 1%-100% with 100% …show more content…
Quadrat 8 also had 20% river mangrove and 40% salt-water couch.
3. Describe changes in abiotic factors along the transect. Identify possible relationships between abiotic gradients and vegetation zonation.
The elevation between quadrats 12 and 13 rises greatly because of the zone change to above high tide. Because of this change in elevation the swamp she-oak is found in the last four quadrats of the transect because she-oaks are found in zones above high tide. In quadrats 6-8, the elevation decreases and the river mangroves population is increased. This may be caused because the mangroves may have access to water at the lower elevation. Also, the sunlight decreased dramatically from quadrat 6 to 7 and in quadrat 7, the river mangrove covers 75% of the quadrat.
4. To what extent can the pattern in vegetation be explained by past and present human activity and related biotic …show more content…
Firstly, the elevation from quadrat 12 to 13 shows the zone shift from intertidal to above high tide, and from quadrat 13 onwards, the swamp she-oak is most dominant, which is even more evidence to show that it is in fact above high tide. There are also no mangroves past quadrat 13, as they reside in the intertidal zone. The mangroves are all over between quadrats 1-12, and with 100% soil moisture in all of those quadrats, that that is in fact the intertidal zone. The soil moisture varies in the last 4 quadrats since it is no longer in the intertidal
Method:
Measuring abiotic factors
1. Measure the elevation along the transect line in centimetres using an inclinometer in each quadrat.
2. Measure the soil temperature in degrees using a thermometer by placing it in the ground in the quadrat.
3. Measure the air temperature in degrees using a thermometer by holding it up in the air just above the ground in the quadrat.
4. Measure the wind speed in knots using an anemometer held up in the air in the quadrat.
5. Measure the soil moisture in the quadrat using a soil moisture probe. Soil moisture is represented in a percentage 1%-100% with 100% …show more content…
Quadrat 8 also had 20% river mangrove and 40% salt-water couch.
3. Describe changes in abiotic factors along the transect. Identify possible relationships between abiotic gradients and vegetation zonation.
The elevation between quadrats 12 and 13 rises greatly because of the zone change to above high tide. Because of this change in elevation the swamp she-oak is found in the last four quadrats of the transect because she-oaks are found in zones above high tide. In quadrats 6-8, the elevation decreases and the river mangroves population is increased. This may be caused because the mangroves may have access to water at the lower elevation. Also, the sunlight decreased dramatically from quadrat 6 to 7 and in quadrat 7, the river mangrove covers 75% of the quadrat.
4. To what extent can the pattern in vegetation be explained by past and present human activity and related biotic …show more content…
Firstly, the elevation from quadrat 12 to 13 shows the zone shift from intertidal to above high tide, and from quadrat 13 onwards, the swamp she-oak is most dominant, which is even more evidence to show that it is in fact above high tide. There are also no mangroves past quadrat 13, as they reside in the intertidal zone. The mangroves are all over between quadrats 1-12, and with 100% soil moisture in all of those quadrats, that that is in fact the intertidal zone. The soil moisture varies in the last 4 quadrats since it is no longer in the intertidal