Photos Belize Experience

http://animoto.com/play/kXxJ95nlOqcazDkYfX28Cw

Belize Marine Research Lynn Seman

Joshua NielsenCari Quillen

Belize Research Trip http://ms2belize2012.blogspot.com/

TREC: http://www.belizemarinetrec.com/

Belize and Amberguis Caye

Background

Background: Coral reef ecosystems are at risk world-wide from a variety of anthropogenic and natural factors.   Many countries have established marine protected areas where human activities such as fishing, tourisms, and harvesting of marine resources are limited.  The effectiveness of marine protected areas varies widely, depending on the level of enforcement and protection.

The goal of this research project is to investigate the influence of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve on the fish community.

Our Task for the ProjectLearn the fish of the coral reefLearn to snorkelCollect data on fish numbers

The Grunts – (counted by Ms. Quillen and Mrs. Seman)

QuestionDoes the Hol

Chan Marine Reserve have an effect on the numbers of fish found inside the reserve compared to outside the reserve?

Turtle Rock Island

Our HypothesisHA: There will be greater numbers of grunts

in Hol Chan Marine Reserve as compared to outside the Marine Reserve. (Accepted Hypothesis)

HO: There will be equal numbers of grunts in Hol Chan Marine Reserve as compared to outside the Marine Reserve. (Null Hypothesis)

PlanSwim a normal routeSwim the same way

each timeRecord data for 15

minutesHaphazard sampling2 samples per area Each person counts a

different fishCompare similar areas

Classroom at TREC

PredictionsIf HA is true, then we will see a significant

difference in the amount of grunts counted inside the Marine Reserve and outside the Marine Reserve.

If HO is true, then we will see no significant difference in the amount of grunts counted inside the Marine Reserve and outside the Marine Reserve.

Collecting Data

Channel DataTuffy

Channel

Pescador Channel

1

Pescador

Channel 2

Tres Cocos Chann

el

Hol Chan

Channel 1

Hao Chan

Channel 2

Hol Chan

Channel 3

French Grunts 200 45 8 9 27 85 26Blue

Stripe Grunts

19 80 231 47 273 654 209

Average Outside Reserve

Average Inside Reserve

French Grunts 66 46Blue Stripe

Grunts 94 379

Our Graph

Avera

ge O

utside

Res

erve

Avera

ge In

side

Res

erve

0

100

200

300

400

FrenchBlue Stripe Grunts

Analyze the DataCategorical and Quantifiable

2 means T test

Hypothesis

One Tailed

Predict Direction

Two Tailed

No Direction Difference

Data collection

Paired

Related

Un Paired

Unrealted

T testt-Test: Paired Two Sample for

Means

 Variable

1 Variable 2

Mean 80 212.5Variance 392 55444.5

Observations 2 2Pearson Correlation 1

Hypothesized Mean Difference 0df 1

t Stat -0.86885P(T<=t) one-tail 0.272301t Critical one-tail 6.313752P(T<=t) two-tail 0.544602t Critical two-tail 12.7062  

ConclusionWe reject HA and accept HO there is no

significant difference in numbers of grunts inside and outside the Marine Reserve.

Our p value is 0.272301To accept HA, p value must be < 0.05

Guide to Statistical Tests

The Coral Reef

Websiteshttp://ms2ecology2012.blogspot.com/http://belizeresearch2012.blogspot.com/ (Ms.

Quillen)http://belizeresearchtrip.blogspot.com/ (Mrs.

Seman)http://ms2belize2012nielsen.blogspot.com/

(Mr.Nielsen)