Investigation of a saltmarshmangrove ecosystem and a
rock platform ecosystem
Field trip to Jacks Beach & Flinders
Unit 2 Biology and Environmental Science
Sandringham College
Name:
Group:
Part 1: Saltmarsh- Mangrove Ecosystem
 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. Take a small soil/ mud sample from each of your allocated quadrats.
Group members:
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
Part 1: Mangroves – Saltmarsh Ecosystem Report
Include the following:
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Your photograph and a diagram of the saltmarsh-mangrove profile.
Construct a species distribution graph for all quadrats based on combined class data.
Construct species cover abundance graphs .
If possible construct a graph of abiotic factors in all quadrats
Discussion
1.
2.
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.
3.
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 adaptations mangroves have to assist them to survive, thrive and reproduce in this habitat?
4.
5.
Within the saltmarsh community, different species are restricted to different regions.
o Where are the glassworts found, near the mangroves or near the woodland? Explain
o Where are the grasses and sedges found? Near the mangroves or near the woodland? Explain
6.
7.
Describe how each of the abiotic soil factors investigated changes along the transect line.
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?
Include a paragraph explaining how the distribution of plants can be related to abiotic factors.
8.
9.
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
10. 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.
11. Mangrove forests and saltmarshes have been 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 . Explain in detail ,
referring to various ecosystem services ,the importance of preserving these saltmarsh–mangrove ecosystems.
Part 2: Mushroom Reef
Part 2 Mushroom Reef
1. What does the term zonation mean? Give an example of an area with zonation.
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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-!)
Try to locate and identify as many organisms as possible ( algae, invertebrates and vertebrates).
Take photographs of organisms to enable later identification and to incorporate into your report on this
ecosystem.
In your report
1. Outline some of the abiotic features that influence species zonation at Mushroom reef.
2. Outline some of the biotic features that influence species zonation at Mushroom reef.
3.
Draw a diagram of the intertidal zone indicating the low water mark and the high water mark. Describe some of
the species that inhabit each of the zones.
4.
Take photos of 2 locations on the rock platform, where the density of a specific species (e.g black nerites, sea
lettuce, barnacles or galeolaria) is markedly different and explain why this may be the case.
5.
Examine a large rock pool. Take a photo.
a. Describe how the abiotic factors and biotic factors within a rock pool could vary throughout the day. Think
about how rock pools of different depth and size could be affected.
b. Outline the implication of these changes to the organisms that inhabit the rock pool.
6.
Examine an exposed section of the rock platform. Take a photo.
a. Describe how the abiotic factors and biotic factors on this section of rock platform could vary throughout
the day.
b. Outline the implication of these changes to the organisms that inhabit the rock pool.
7.
Choose 1 plant/algae and 2 animals found at the reef. Take a photograph and note the microhabitat of each
organism. Research the adaptations which enable them to survive in their specific habitat.
Present a report on each as separate pages within your overall report (1 page per species).
Include:
 A photo of the organism taken by you on the day.
 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.