Slide 1

The effect of plant coverage on macro- invertebrate density and diversity in the intertidal zone Sarah Park, Bailey Shuttleworth Cucinelli, James Holobow, and Jenna Shaw Slide 2 Introduction Ecologically important region Few studies on the effects of flora on faunal biodiversity Goal: provide greater understanding of marine interactions Slide 3 Indian Point Slide 4 Greens Point Slide 5 Bar Road Slide 6 Ascophyllum nodosum Slide 7 Fucus vesiculosus Slide 8 Polysiphonia lanosa Slide 9 Fauna Littorina obtusataLittorina littoreaThais lapillus Slide 10 Fauna Balanus balanoides Gammarus oceanicus Slide 11 Invertebrate Density L. obtusata and G. oceanicus live in patches of seaweed L. littorea feed on algae B. balanoides and T. lapillus seek shelter from wave action Large and aggregated vegetation shelter greater number of invertebrates Slide 12 Hypothesis 1: Amount of plant cover on intertidal regions of the Bay of Fundy is positively correlated with invertebrate density. Slide 13 Invertebrate Biodiversity High biodiversity stable and productive communities Schooner (1974): niche diversification/complex habitats may increase species richness quantify habitat complexity? Gunnill (1982): artificial increase and diversity may decrease with increased plant cover Slide 14 Hypothesis 2: Amount of plant cover on intertidal regions of the Bay of Fundy is negatively correlated with invertebrate biodiversity. Slide 15 Materials line transect 1 m quadrat 25 cm quadrat plastic collection bags for samples ten sites over 100 m constant altitude surface species were collected identified in the lab Methods Slide 16 Results Slide 17 Slide 18 Discussion Indian Point Lowest plant cover (3.9 samples/m2) Second largest fauna density (173.1 samples/m2) Second highest diversity (H=0.307) Hypothesis 1: Not Accepted Hypothesis 2: Accepted Slide 19 Discussion Greens Point Largest plant cover (42.8 samples/m2) Lowest fauna density (97.2 samples/m2) Greatest diversity (H=0.683) Hypothesis 1: Not Accepted Hypothesis 2: Not Accepted Slide 20 Discussion Bar Road Second Highest plant cover (7.2 samples/m2) Largest fauna density (275.8 samples/m2) Lowest diversity (H=0.088) Hypothesis 1: Accepted Hypothesis 2: Accepted Slide 21 Sources of Error hard to distinguish holdfasts in high density of plants distance from the waters edge was not measured inconsistent tide phase time restriction Slide 22 Conclusion - Our study did not produce concrete results - Overall data is inconsistent - Multiple factors (abiotic/biotic) influence invertebrate density/diversity.