Revised Oct 2015
Wallop’s Island Alternative Assignment - Turn in to Turnitin.com
I. Forest – The maritime forest is the predominant climax community of southern barrier
islands. Your task is to create a pictorial collage illustrating the following organisms:
1. 4 common tree species in a maritime forest of Chincoteague.
2. 2 species of mammal unique to the maritime forest of Chincoteague.
3. 2 bird species common to the maritime forest of Chincoteague.
Find color photos of the organisms. Each species should be identified by common and
scientific name (written correctly!). This is to be done on the computer. Be sure to size
the photos appropriately. Don’t make them so small that it is hard to tell the organism!
Make sure this document has a title.
II. Field Measurements – Describe, in complete sentences, the function and purpose of the
oceanographic tools listed below. Include a picture of each instrument.
1. Nansen Bottle
2. Refractometer
3. Secchi Disc
4. Forel Ule Color Scale
5. Benthic Grab
III. Salt Marsh Community – Write (type) a brief paper (no more than 2 pages, double
space, 12 pt. font) describing a salt marsh community. Use at least 2 sources. For this
short paper you will need parenthetical citations and a literature cited page (page 3!)
in APA format.
In your paper, you should describe (identify by both scientific and common name) the
role each of these organisms play and how they interact.
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)
Tabanus americanus; Aedes spp.
Spartina alterniflora; Spartina patens; Limonium spp.; Aster spp.
Geukensia demissus; Crassostrea virginica; Melampus coffea
Paelomonetes spp.; Uca pugnax; Uca pugilator
Menidia menidia; Fundulus majalis
Malacliemys terrapin
IV. Barrier Islands – Write (type) a paragraph or two explaining the following:
1. Barrier islands formation.
2. What is the role that barrier islands play in a marine ecosystem?
3. What is the future of barrier islands located in the Mid-Atlantic?
V. Food Web – Create a salt marsh food web on the computer. Label each organism by
common and scientific name. Pictures must be in color. Pick from the species listed in part
III to create your web. It does not need to include all of them, but must be a web not just
a food chain. List trophic levels, as well as organism names. Title this document.