Western Port Bay Study Biology 2 October 2014
Name:
Group members:
This fieldtrip is an investigation into the transition zones between the terrestrial and marine ecosystems of the Western Port
Bay region.
1: The Mangrove –Saltmarsh Zone around Jacks Beach Crib Point
&
2: The Rockplatform Mushroom Reef at Flinders.
Both ecosystems represent the interface between the land and the sea.
Both are harsh and changeable environments which present many challenges to those organisms living there. These environments
are not homogenous, they are variable encompassing a range of microhabitats each with a range of abiotic and biotic conditions.
All of the organisms living here are adapted in a variety of ways to the specific conditions
Part 1: Saltmarsh- Mangrove Ecosystem
Procedure
 Take a photograph of the mangrove – saltmarsh ecosystem in profile to include in your report
 Establish a line transect from the melaleuca woodland through the saltmarsh to the mangrove fringe.
 At each quadrat number you have been allocated establish a 1m X 1m quadrat, identify and photograph each species of
plant and estimate the cover abundance. Enter your observations into the relevant tables below.
Vegetation Cover Data for Selected Quadrats
Insert cover abundance estimate(1-5) for all species of plants found in each sampled quadrat
5 70 – 100 % 4 50 – 70 % 3 30 – 50 % 2 5 – 30 %
1 0–5%
Quadrat
White
Mangrove
Beaded
glasswort
Swamp weed
Australian
Saltgrass
Creeping
Brookweed
Quadrat
Quadrat
Quadrat
Quadrat
Shrubby
glasswort
Paper bark
Manna gum
Australian
sea bite
Chaffy saw
sedge
Australian salt
grass
Marsh
salt bush
Poa
Sea Rush
juncus
Trailing
Hemichroa
Knobby Club
rush
Streaked
Arrowgrass
Abiotic and Biotic Observations
Insert any basic observations about each sampled quadrat in this table eg presence of mangrove crabs etc
Quadrat
Observation of general abiotic conditions
(soil moisture, light exposure, etc)
Observation of animals or traces of other
species (spider webs, insects, etc)
Back on campus we will combine all groups observations into master table and you will then complete the report on the basis of the
class data.
Class Summary -Vegetation Cover Data
Quadrat no./ plant
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
White Mangrove
Beaded glasswort
Swamp weed
Streaked arrowgrass
Creeping brookweed
Shrubby glasswort
Paper bark
Manna gum
Australian seablite
Chaffy saw sedge
Australian salt grass
Marsh salt bush
Soil Analysis Data
pH
Salinity
Report Part 1: Mangroves – Saltmarsh Ecosystem
Include the following:



1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Introduction including map and location of the mangrove – saltmarsh ecosystem studied
Procedure: brief outline only
Results:
o Your photograph and a diagram of the saltmarsh-mangrove profile.
o Construct a species distribution graph for all quadrats based on combined class data.
o Construct species cover abundance graphs .
o Using the data provided in class, construct a graph of abiotic factors across the transect.
 Discussion Include the following
Species zonation is very clear in this ecosystem. Define species zonation referring to a diagram and/ or your photograph of
the ecosystem. Refer to the dominant species you found in the various zones
Outline some of the abiotic features that influence species zonation at Jack’s beach.
Outline some of the biotic features that influence species zonation at Jack’s beach.
Describe how each of the abiotic factors investigated changes along the transect line.
o Do any soil characteristics vary in the same way along the transect line as any of the plant species? If so, which
plants with which soil characteristics?
o Include a paragraph explaining how the distribution of plants can be related to abiotic factors.
The White Mangrove, Avicennia marina is the only mangrove species in southern regions of Australia. Mangroves survive in
a harsh and variable environment. How many times a day would the mangroves be covered by tides? How would the length
of time covered vary with that of the salt marsh plants? How might this affect the abiotic conditions in this zone.
Outline several adaptations mangroves have to assist them to survive, thrive and reproduce in this habitat? Use
photographs and diagrams to illustrate these adaptations
The mangrove trees are a terrestrial producer and are also crucial to the supply of organic matter at the base of the marine
food web of Western Port Bay. Explain
Use your observations and internet research to construct a one page food web for the ecosystem at Jack’s beach and
Westernport Bay. You may include saltmarsh, mangrove, mudflat, marine and terrestrial organisms.
Mangrove forests and saltmarshes threatened ecosystems greatly maligned as smelly, muddy insect infested, useless tracts
of land. In many coastal areas they have been cleared and developed into housing and canal estates. These ecosystems
however provide crucial ecosystem services. Define the term ecosystem services. Explain in detail referring to various
ecosystem services, the importance of preserving these saltmarsh–mangrove ecosystems.
Part 2 Mushroom Reef





Part 2: Mushroom Reef
Take a photo of the exposed reef from the top of the steps
Explore the reef. Look under rocks on the rock platform and in the rock pools.( replace all rocks carefully-!)
Caution: most rock platform animals are safe to handle but beware the Blue ringed octopus which is deadly to handle.
If you find one leave it alone and let me know.
Try to locate and identify as many organisms as possible ( algae, invertebrates and vertebrates) List these in the table
below and make notes about frequency/ density and location etc.
Take photographs of organisms to enable later identification and to incorporate into your report on this ecosystem.
Organisms found
Notes
Report Part 2: Rockplatform Ecosystem
1.
On rock platforms and in rock pools there is often species zonation
o Outline some of the abiotic features that influence species zonation in general and Mushroom reef specifically and
the implications for organisms living in these zones.
2.
Compare and contrast a large rock pool on the reef and flatter rock platform area Include a photograph and/or a
diagram of each habitat. Construct a table listing typical organisms found in each habitat. Discuss the variations in abiotic
factors experienced by organisms living in each habitat and the implications for the organisms.
3.
Choose 1 plant/algae and 2 animals found at the reef. Research the adaptations which enable them to survive in their
specific habitat.
Present a page report on each species including
 A photo of the organism taken by you on the day and a diagram of the organism
 A description of the habitat/ microhabitat. Include both where you found it and the areas it is usually
found in.
 A description of it’s niche.
 Outline the behavioural, structural and physiological adaptations that enables each to survive in its
environment.
This SAC includes the Report Pts 1&2 + a short test
This Report Parts 1&2 should be submitted by email by Wednesday Oct 22
The test will be conducted on Thursday Oct 23 and Friday Oct 24
Useful Internet sites
Mangroves -Saltmarsh
http://www.serc.si.edu/labs/animal_plant_interaction/Trail/English/MangalCay.html
http://sandybiology1-2.wikispaces.com/file/view/mangroves.pdf/373037328/mangroves.pdf
Rocky Shores
http://www.mesa.edu.au/friends/seashores/ewtz.html
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/ocean/Intertidal.shtml
http://home.earthlink.net/~huskertomkat/zone.html
\
Mangrove Salt Marsh & Rocky shores Gould League
http://sandybiology12.wikispaces.com/file/view/saltmarsh%20zonation%20%20CW.pdf/373037688/saltmarsh%20zonation%20%20CW.pdf
Mushroom Reef
http://sandybiology1-2.wikispaces.com/file/view/Mushroom%20Reef.pdf/373037972/Mushroom%20Reef.pdf