Copy of 2.03 Lab Report Template Rev 2022
pdf
keyboard_arrow_up
School
University of Maryland *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
345
Subject
Geography
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
Pages
8
Uploaded by GrandHedgehogMaster620
2.03 Ocean's Impact on Weather Lab
Fill in the blue boxes of this lab report
as you complete the virtual lab on the last page of the lesson
.
Carefully read all instructions and background information. This information can also be found in
Appendix A
.
Student Name
Rotsen Velasco
Date
10/31/23
Objective(s) (2 points)
In your own words, what was the purpose of this lab? Consider what you are testing and
observing/measuring.
The purpose of this lab is to determine whether permitting natural regrowth in the South Beach
following a hurricane is more beneficial than manually replanting mangrove species in the North
beach. In both locations, throughout a five-year period, the percentage of mangrove covering, the
number of plant and animal species, and the average height of mangrove trees are to be measured
and compared.
Hypothesis (1 point)
Write an if…then statement predicting the results that are expected from the experiment.
If the restoration of mangrove species in the North beach is successful, then we can expect to see an
increase in the number of species, higher percentage of mangrove covering, and taller tree heights
compared to South Beach.
Independent Variable (0.5 points)
The independent variable is the factor that you manipulate/change during an experiment.
The independent variable is the method of mangrove planting.
Dependent Variable(s) (0.5 points)
The dependent variable identifies what is being monitored/measured during an experiment.
The dependent variables are the percentage of Mangrove coverage, amount of plant and animal
species, and the mangrove tree heights.
Page 1 of 8
Procedure
At the north beach, your team will implement a project to replant three mangrove species and monitor
their growth over five years. The growth of the replanted mangroves will be compared to the natural
regrowth of mangroves in the south beach area.Mangrove growth in both beach areas will be
monitored via satellite. You will record data for each location about the percentage of mangrove
coverage, the number of species in the area, and the average mangrove height in order to assess the
health of the beaches.
Data (10 points)
Use the virtual lab on the last page of the lesson to collect your data.
Complete the tables below or
provide screenshots of your data tables from the virtual lab.
To enter your data into the virtual lab, select the table icon at the top right:
If you are unable to run the virtual lab, collect data here:
2.03 Lab Data
Data Table 1: Percentage of Mangrove Coverage
Time Period
Percentage of Mangrove Coverage
North Beach Percentage (%)
South Beach Percentage (%)
Before hurricane
90%
100%
Immediately after hurricane
2%
2%
6 months after hurricane
25%
20%
1 year after hurricane
30%
30%
2 years after hurricane
45%
40%
3 years after hurricane
50%
50%
4 years after hurricane
70%
60%
5 years after hurricane
80%
80%
Data Table 2: Number of Mangrove Plant and Animal Species
Time Period
Number of Species
North Beach
South Beach
Before hurricane
54
59
Immediately after hurricane
21
30
Page 2 of 8
6 months after hurricane
25
34
1 year after hurricane
31
37
2 years after hurricane
36
42
3 years after hurricane
39
45
4 years after hurricane
44
49
5 years after hurricane
51
55
Data Table 3: Average Mangrove Tree Height After the Hurricane
Mangrove Tree Species
Average Mangrove Tree Heights
North Beach Height (meters)
South Beach Height (meters)
Red Mangrove
4.2 m
5.1 m
Black Mangrove
3.7 m
4.4 m
White Mangrove
3 m
3.7 m
Analysis (6 points)
You may use this site to create your graph:
https://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx
For help with graphing, watch this video:
Help Video: Graphing
Graph 1
Create a graph to display the mangrove coverage from the first data table. It should be a line graph
showing percent coverage over time and have two lines of data points on it, one for the north beach
and one for the south beach. In order to have an accurate time scale, you may omit the 6 month point if
needed. Title and label the graph. View a help video on graphing:
Insert screenshot of graph here or upload as a separate file through your gradebook.
Page 3 of 8
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
Graph 2
Create a graph to display the number of species from the second data table. It should be a line graph
showing the number of species over time and have two lines of data points on it, one for the north
beach and one for the south beach. In order to have an accurate time scale, you may omit the 6 month
point if needed. Title and label the graph.
Insert screenshot of graph here or upload as a separate file through your gradebook.
Page 4 of 8
Conclusion (9 points)
Please answer the following questions using complete sentences.
1.
Was the restoration project effective? Explain why or why not, supporting your answer with
information from your data tables and graphs.
The restoration project seemed to be effective as shown by the tables and graphs. While the South
Beach’s mangrove covering has not returned as quickly, the North Beach’s mangrove coverage
percentage has increased over time. This implies that mangrove growth is positively impacted by
manual replanting.
2.
Why was counting the number of species in the area important? In your answer, consider the
effect a mangrove habitat has on biodiversity.
Mangrove environments are essential to maintaining biodiversity, hence counting the species in the
area is significant. Mangroves serve as nidification sites, bird nesting sites, and habitat for a variety of
marine life. We can better evaluate the health of the ecosystem and the effects of restoration efforts
on biodiversity by evaluating the number of species.
Page 5 of 8
3.
After five years, the average height of each mangrove species was also measured. Did this
information help you better evaluate the success of the restoration project, or did it change
your mind? Explain your reasoning.
After five years, calculating each mangrove species’ average height has given important new
information on how well the restoration effort is going, It proves that the North Beach’s replanted
mangroves have expanded and flourished, adding to the project’s credibility. According to the
research, North Beach is expected to recover and offer the ecological advantages that come with
being home to mangrove environments.
Save This Google Doc
A copy of this Google Doc will automatically be saved to your Google Drive. You may edit this Google
Doc online at any time and also access it through the Google Doc app on your smartphone or tablet.
However, to obtain credit for this assignment, you must save this completed document to your
computer and submit it online within your marine science class. See instructions on how to save a
Google Doc as a .pdf here:
https://tinyurl.com/ur7vyhd
Next Steps
After completing this document, please open your marine science “Assessments” tab and click on
“02.03 Ocean’s Impact on Weather” assignment. Please upload your .pdf and submit for assignment
credit. Note that a link to your Google Doc will not be accepted for credit.
Appendix A
Background Information
The Daily News: HURRICANE FRED RIPS THROUGH BARRIER ISLANDS!
Last weekend saw the landfall of Hurricane Fred, which impacted the southern coast of the US and
flattened several mangrove ecosystems. Mangroves are important barriers during storms, as they
reduce the impact of strong winds and tidal flooding, and protect upland areas from more severe
damage. However, the strong winds of a storm like Hurricane Fred can do some serious damage to the
habitat, and the mangroves may take a long time to recover.
Local scientists will be investigating a new technique of replanting mangrove seedlings, to see if the
ecosystem can make a faster recovery. The team is recruiting young scientists to join in on the efforts.
Mangroves
Mangrove forests are an important intertidal habitat found along tropical and subtropical shorelines.
The dense tangle of prop roots makes mangrove trees appear to be standing on stilts above the mud
and water. The shallow intertidal zone around the mangroves plays a central role in transferring organic
Page 6 of 8
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
matter and energy from the land to marine ecosystems. Organic matter from fallen leaves and branches
forms the base of important marine food chains. When bacteria break down the detritus, nutrients are
released into the water to be used by marine animals. This makes mangrove forests an excellent
habitat for juvenile fish and other marine creatures. Their roots shelter vibrant, hidden ecosystems.
There are more than 50 species of mangrove trees around the world, with varying degrees of tolerance
to soil salinity, flooding, and nutrient availability. Most mangroves have adaptations that allow them to
thrive in different zones. We will be examining three species that are found together in the southern
United States. The red mangrove, with its multiple prop roots, grows closest to the open water. The
black mangrove grows at elevations slightly higher than the red mangrove, where tidal changes expose
the roots to air. The least salt-tolerant of the three species is the white mangrove. It lives farther inland,
where it is less exposed to tidal waters.
Mangroves are an important habitat for both human and ecological communities because they provide:
●
Habitat for marine organisms such as mollusks, crabs, and shrimp
●
Protected nesting for birds and nursery area for juvenile fish
●
Carbon withdrawal and storage
●
Protection against erosion
●
Stabilization for shorelines
●
A buffer against hurricanes and tropical storms
●
Nutrients for neighboring ecosystems, such as coral reefs and sea grass beds
Hurricanes
Hurricanes are intense rotating oceanic weather systems that have maximum sustained winds
exceeding 74 mph. They form and intensify over tropical ocean regions. As they approach land, strong
winds and storm surges can have a major impact on local ecosystems.
On land, hurricanes cause habitat loss and destruction. Plant life can easily be swept away by floods
and severe winds. Excessive rain can cause plants to drown, and it also causes soil erosion. Mudslides
often take plants down with them, ripping up their roots and killing the plants.
Near shore and in the ocean, hurricanes are responsible for sediment erosion and deposition, which
often affects oyster beds and coral reefs. Saltwater intrusion in freshwater lakes and streams causes
massive fish kills and affects the lakeside habitat. The hurricane floodwater often carries many toxic
substances (heavy metals, pesticides, ammonia, phosphate, untreated sewage). These toxic substances
can cause degradation of water quality, phytoplankton blooms, a decrease in dissolved oxygen, and
harm to many organisms.
Welcome to the research team, let's get started!
As a part of the team, you will investigate the different methods of restoring a mangrove habitat after a
devastating storm.
Page 7 of 8
You will come across two similar areas, the North Beach and the South Beach. Your team will complete
a mangrove restoration project at the North Beach by strategically planting three types of mangrove
seedlings. The South Beach will be allowed to regrow without human intervention. Both the sites will be
monitored for a period of five years.
Your team is setting out to investigate the effectiveness of manually replanting a mangrove area in
North Beach compared to letting the mangrove area regrow naturally in South Beach. You will measure
this effectiveness by comparing the amount of mangrove regrowth and the number of plant and animal
species that return to each area.
At the North Beach, your team will implement a project to replant three mangrove species, and monitor
its growth over five years.
Your team has researched the coastal ecology and identified planting locations for red, black, and white
mangroves on the North Beach. Each type of mangrove is planted taking into account the depth and
frequency of tides and salinity of the soil.
This is a long-term project. The mangrove growth on both beaches will be monitored via satellite forfive
years.
Members of the team will also complete plant and animal species surveys from the ground to monitor
the number of different species present in each location.
In addition to the percentage of mangrove coverage, you also need to collect data on the average
height of trees. This will help you evaluate how well the replanted mangroves in North Beach have
grown as compared to the natural regrowth of the mangroves in South Beach.
Page 8 of 8