Embedded Files
Complete pages 18 and 19 in the student virtual fieldwork booklet for this section.
Learning Intention
Learning Intention
To use the working scientifically process to investigate how soil salinity impacts the distribution of vegetation across the intertidal zone.
Inquiry Question:
Inquiry Question:
Does soil salinity impact the distribution of vegetation across the intertidal zone?
Working Scientifically
Working Scientifically
Processing Data
Analysing Data
Questioning and Predicting
Questioning and Predicting
Observation
Observation
I have read that the concentration of salinity of the soil is very important to the abundance and distribtuion of plants in the intertidal zone.
Hypotheis
Hypotheis
The salinity of the soil determines plant distribution in the intertidal zone.
Planning Investigations
Planning Investigations
Aim
Aim
To collect biotic and abiotic data across an intertidal zone to determine if soil salinity affects distribution of plants.
Materials
Materials
1 x 32 metre tape measure
2 x pegs
hammer
salinity metre
Plants of the Intertidal Zone
Plants of the Intertidal Zone
Look through the images of plants below so you are familiar with them.
River Mangrove
Grey Mangrove
Swamp Oak
Sea Rush
Saltwater Couch
Creeping Brookweed
Sea Blite
Warrigal Greens
Method
Method
Soil Salinity Data
Lay out a 30m tape measure.
Surface leaf litter was brushed to the side. Using a hand trail soil samples were collected and placed into a labelled specimen jar. Soil samples were collected at 4m intervals from 0m (0m,4m, 8m 12m, 16m, 20m, 24m, 28m).
Samples were then put in drying trays and air dried for a week.
For each soil sample, using a set of scales, 4g (1 part) of dried soil was weighed, and put into a labelled container.
20ml (5 parts volume) of di ionised water was added to the 4g soil samples and well mixed.
After 24 hours, the electrical conductivity (salinity) of each sample was measured using a conductivity meter.
Collecting a soil sample
Drying and weighing the sample
Measuring conductivity
Method
Method
Vegetation data
Mark out two 32 metre transects using tape measures that are 5 metres apart to make a belt transect through the intertidal zone being studied.
Walk along the transect from 0m to 32m
Stop at the 0m-4m part of the tape and look for presence/absence of vegetation
Record as present with a tick
Continue to the other parts of the transect (4m-8m, 8m-12m, 12m-16m, 16m-20m, 20m-24m, 24m-28m) and repeat.
Complete steps 2-5 for Quadrats 2 to 8.
Transect video
Transect Virtual Tour
Results
Results
Date: Wednesday 9th February 2022
Time: 10.30am-11.00am.
Low Tide: 10.24am 0.69m
Recent Weather: It has rained for several days prior to collection. Also the previous week, there were very big tides.
Processing and Analysing
Processing and Analysing
Complete the following activities in your fieldwork booklet:
Processing Data and Information Graph or organise your data to see trends or patterns. Summarise what you have found.
Analyse data and information: Identify trends and patterns
Conclusion: Do your results confirm your hypothesis?
Page updated
Report abuse