Question:Question:

Where is there more Where is there more life; where is there life; where is there

more trash?more trash?

•Daniel GordonDaniel Gordon•Winson CheongWinson Cheong•Razib HossainRazib Hossain•Joseph CuccurulloJoseph Cuccurullo

Seashore

Characteristics of the Sea Characteristics of the Sea Shore Shore

• Beaches are areas of loose sediment Beaches are areas of loose sediment (sand, gravel, cobbles) controlled by (sand, gravel, cobbles) controlled by ocean processes.ocean processes.

• Waves and currents move the Waves and currents move the accumulated sediment constantly accumulated sediment constantly creating, eroding and changing the creating, eroding and changing the coastlines coastlines

Salt Marsh

Characteristics of a Salt Characteristics of a Salt MarshMarsh

• Salt Marshes are typically found in Salt Marshes are typically found in sheltered coastal areas behind sheltered coastal areas behind barrier islands or in river estuaries, barrier islands or in river estuaries, where fresh water meets the ocean.where fresh water meets the ocean.

• Flat open areas with very few trees.Flat open areas with very few trees.

• Serve as spawning grounds and Serve as spawning grounds and burseies for many valuable species burseies for many valuable species of fish and shell fish. of fish and shell fish.

Life at the Beach…Life at the Beach…

• JelliesJellies• MusselsMussels• ClamsClams• Asian Shore CrabsAsian Shore Crabs• Sea WeedSea Weed• Algae (Orange and Zoo Plankton)Algae (Orange and Zoo Plankton)• Moon SnailsMoon Snails• BarnaclesBarnacles• Birds (Varity of Seagulls and Birds (Varity of Seagulls and

Pigeons)Pigeons)• SilverfishSilverfish

Non-living things at the Non-living things at the Beach.Beach.

DebrisDebris• Lotion BottlesLotion Bottles

• Water BottlesWater Bottles

• Plastic WrappersPlastic Wrappers

• Bottle CapsBottle Caps

• Cigarette Butts Cigarette Butts

• Broken Glass Broken Glass

• Gum WrappersGum Wrappers

• Sandwich ContainersSandwich Containers

• Latex wrappersLatex wrappers

Abiotic OrganismsAbiotic Organisms• DriftwoodDriftwood

• Mermaid PursesMermaid Purses

• Clam shellsClam shells

• Muscle ShellsMuscle Shells

• Razor ShellsRazor Shells

Life at the Marsh…Life at the Marsh…

• MusselsMussels• Fiddler CrabsFiddler Crabs• Asian Shore CrabsAsian Shore Crabs• ShrimpShrimp• Perch FishPerch Fish• BassBass• SilverfishSilverfish• SeaweedSeaweed

Non-Living things at the Non-Living things at the MarshMarsh• Flip Flops Flip Flops

• MufflerMuffler

• Other Car PartsOther Car Parts

• BottlesBottles

• Broken GlassBroken Glass

• Oil ResidueOil Residue

Hypothesis:Hypothesis:

• We expect to find a wider We expect to find a wider array of life and pollution at array of life and pollution at the beach rather than the the beach rather than the marsh. marsh.

PROCEDUREPROCEDURE::• Data was collected on Coney island beach Data was collected on Coney island beach

during high tide from 12 – 2 p.m.during high tide from 12 – 2 p.m.

• Data was collected at the marsh during Data was collected at the marsh during low tide between 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.low tide between 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

• At this location two people explored the At this location two people explored the water using both dip nets and a seine net. water using both dip nets and a seine net. Additionally, two people on the shore used Additionally, two people on the shore used dip nets to explore shoreline and collect dip nets to explore shoreline and collect data.data.

Non-living vs. Living at the Non-living vs. Living at the Beach and MarshBeach and Marsh

0

100

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300

400

500

600

700

800

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Beach Marsh

Debris Items

Non-living

Living

RESULTS and ANALYSIS:RESULTS and ANALYSIS:

• Result: Our hypothesis was not supported Result: Our hypothesis was not supported by the data collected because we found by the data collected because we found more evidence of life at the marsh and more evidence of life at the marsh and less pollution at the beach. less pollution at the beach.

• Data Analysis: We believe that our Data Analysis: We believe that our hypothesis was not supported because of hypothesis was not supported because of the effects of tides on both the effects of tides on both environments. Additionally, the size of environments. Additionally, the size of each environment had an impact on our each environment had an impact on our findings.findings.

Sources of Error:Sources of Error:

• Data collection (once per habitat)- If we Data collection (once per habitat)- If we did this experiment more than once, we did this experiment more than once, we would have better data collection. would have better data collection.

• Time of Day and Tide Conditions- We think Time of Day and Tide Conditions- We think that we should have done additional data that we should have done additional data collections at different times of the day collections at different times of the day and at different tide time. We might have and at different tide time. We might have different results for each time.different results for each time.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION::

• We expected to find a wider array of life and We expected to find a wider array of life and pollution at the beach rather than the marsh. pollution at the beach rather than the marsh.

• Size and physical characteristics had a major Size and physical characteristics had a major effect on our data collection and ultimately effect on our data collection and ultimately our findings. our findings.

• The data shows that there was a clear The data shows that there was a clear difference in the amount of life and pollution difference in the amount of life and pollution collected and observedcollected and observed

(Further Study) NEXT STEPS(Further Study) NEXT STEPS

• Would we have different data Would we have different data collection during seasonal changes?collection during seasonal changes?

• How does human activities effect How does human activities effect the environment?the environment?

• Is there different life forms further Is there different life forms further into the water?into the water?

• By further exploring this topic we as By further exploring this topic we as individuals may find ways to protect individuals may find ways to protect and preserve the environment for and preserve the environment for future generations.future generations.

Literature CitedLiterature Cited

• Abstracts, BioSciences, Staff, New, Association, American, Abstracts, BioSciences, Staff, New, Association, American, AC01112830], [Anonymus, (Organization), EPOMEX, & AC01112830], [Anonymus, (Organization), EPOMEX, & Vogelsong, Diana. (1997). Vogelsong, Diana. (1997). Landscape architecture Landscape architecture sourcebooksourcebook. New York, NY: Omnigraphics Inc. . New York, NY: Omnigraphics Inc.

• Company, R.R., Libraries, Association, Science, American, Company, R.R., Libraries, Association, Science, American, Guide, Bibliographic, Daiber, Franklin, Libraries, Guide, Bibliographic, Daiber, Franklin, Libraries, Association, Company, R.R., & Company, R.R. (1983). Association, Company, R.R., & Company, R.R. (1983). Internationale revue der gesamten hydrobiologieInternationale revue der gesamten hydrobiologie . New . New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.

• Coulombe, Deborah. (1990). Coulombe, Deborah. (1990). Seaside naturalistSeaside naturalist. new york, . new york, ny: Fireside. ny: Fireside.