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Analyzing Mass Audubon’s Salt Marsh Science Project Data

Analyzing the invasive reed Phragmites and salinity levels in Mass Audubon's Salt Marsh Science Project. Explore Phragmites spread, response to restoration, and correlation with salinity. Learn about methodologies, hypotheses, restoration efforts, and more.

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Analyzing Mass Audubon’s Salt Marsh Science Project Data

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  1. Analyzing Mass Audubon’s Salt Marsh Science Project Data

  2. Primary Focus: Investigating the invasive reed Phragmites. And salinity (How salty the water is.) .

  3. Some of our Questions • Is Phragmites spreading? • IsPhragmites responding to restoration efforts? • How does that correlate with salinity levels? • Where is Phragmites thriving? • Where is Phragmitesstressed?

  4. Our Hypotheses • Phragmites prefers water with lower salinity, and has a harder time growing in salinities > 20 ppt (Rozsa 1995) • Phragmites would grow taller in areas with lower salinity. Shorter stands of Phragmites indicate salinity stress. • Phragmites would respond to increased tidal flow by decreasing in height and retreating along the transects.

  5. Restoration of Salt Marshes: Restore Tidal Flow by • Opening Tide Gates • Increasing Culvert Size Argilla Road, Ipswich Salt Marsh was restored in 1997 Phragmites retreated

  6. Phragmites and Salinity Methodology 25 0

  7. How does the water cycle and the tide cycle impact salinity levels? Phragmites Cordgrass Salt Marsh Hay Graphic byDavid M. Burdick  Jackson Estuarine Laboratory   Department of Natural Resources   University of New Hampshire Predict: Where will salinity be the highest: Site 1, 2, or 3?

  8. How to read a refractometer http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=769

  9. Salinity Scale

  10. Is the Town Farm Road salt marsh healthier now that we have restored tidal flow? Check the things below that would indicate a healthier salt marsh: Higher salinity ____________ Lower salinity __________________ More invasive species _________ Less invasive species ___________ Taller Phragmites _____________ Shorter Phragmites ____________ More native plants _________ Less native plants _____________ More wet, dead areas __________ Less wet, dead areas ____________ Hypothesis: Replacing the culvert (pipe under the road) would lead to reduced Phragmites, and improve the health of the marsh. Does the data support this hypothesis? What evidence do you see? (If the data gives mixed results, please describe.)

  11. Pause to analyze data

  12. Is the Town Farm Road Salt Marsh Healthier now that we have restored tidal flow? Check the things below that would indicate a healthier salt marsh: Higher salinity _____x_______ Lower salinity __________________ More invasive species _________ Less invasive species _____x______ Taller Phragmites _____________ Shorter Phragmites _____x_______ More native plants ____x_____ Less native plants _____________ More wet, dead areas __________ Less wet, dead areas _____x_______ Hypothesis: Replacing the culvert (pipe under the road) would lead to reduced Phragmites, and improve the health of the marsh. Does the data support this hypothesis? What evidence do you see? (If the data gives mixed results, please describe.)

  13. New Questions: Sea Level Rise

  14. Salt Marsh Science Website holds the data. www.massaudubon.org/saltmarsh

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