GUIDELINES FOR THE RESEARCH PAPER
DUE DATE: 26 July 2005
The research paper will be based on data collected during the semester. In
this paper you will examine and explain biological/ecological responses to
physical gradients. During our field sampling we have encountered several
such gradients (listed below). You field journal will be critical in supplying
the information you need to write this paper. You will address two such
gradients (one of my choosing and one of your choosing). You must cite at
least three sources from referred journals. There should be a minimum of
5 pages of text as well as sufficient numbers of graphs (at least two of
which should be original) to support your conclusions.
1) The gradient of my choosing: Changes observed during the R/V
Savannah cruise from inshore (Wilmington River) to offshore (Station 4)
This section of the paper should include:
 Description of trends in the physical data. This includes
both the surface water data analyzed every 6 seconds, and the
vertical profiles from the CTD casts at each of 4 stations.
Include graphs of temperature, salinity, chlorophyll and any
other parameters that may relevant to your explanations. Also
include a chart of our cruise track.
 Explanation of trends in the physical data. Propose
explanation for why water quality parameters changed from
inshore to offshore, and why parameters changed (or did not
change) with depth. You may bring in data from our Lake
Allatoona cruise to support your arguments.
 Description of trends in the plankton data.
 Explanation of at least one trend in the plankton data. Can
the natural history of various plankton species explain their
distribution across this gradient? You might consider size,
feeding strategies, life cycles (meroplanktonic vs.
holoplanktonic, etc.). Again, you may bring in data from our
Lake Allatoona data set to support your arguments.
2) A gradient or comparison of your choosing: As above, describe both the
physical gradient and any possible biological/ecological response to that
gradient.
 The Jetties. Several potential gradients exist here:
o vertical (subtidal to terrestrial)
o north side versus south side
o horizontal from beach to end of jetty
 The Trawls from both the R/V Savannah:
o Inshore versus offshore
 The Trawls versus the Jetties (i.e. subtidal verses intertidal)
 The Dunes (beach front to back dune)
 The Salt Marsh (vertical zonation)
 Across the Entire Barrier Island from ocean front to salt marsh
 North end of Tybee versus the south end of Sapelo
 Any other gradient we observed
You may want to compare notes from field journals with fellow students if
you feel that your notes are insufficient to address the topics.
Some literature that may or may not be useful – UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Physical oceanography
Fournier RO. 1984. Physical factors controlling summer distribution of
chlorophyll a of southwestern Nova Scotia. Limnology and
Oceanography. 17:88-96.
Nixon SW. Physical energy inputs and the comparative ecology of lake
and marine ecosystems. Limnology and Oceanography 33:1005-1025.
McCloy JM, Dolan R. 1973. Water-air temperature relationship along
coastal North Carolina, USA. Georgrafiska Annaler. Series A, Physical
Geography 55: 117-121.
Zooplankton:
Gunter, G. Christmas JY, Killebrew. 1964. relations of salinity to
population distributions of motile estuarine organisms. with special
reference to penaeid shrimp.
Gunter G. 1961. Some relations of estuarine organisms to salinity.
Limnology and Oceanography. 6:182-190.
Lehman JT. 1988. Ecological principles affecting community structure
and secondary production by zooplankton in marine freshwater
environments. Limnology and Oceanography 33: 931-945.
Nelson DM, Irlandi EA, Settle LR, Monaco ME, Coston-Clements L. 1991.
Distribution and abundance of fishes and invertebrates in southeast
estuaries. ELMR Rep. No. 9. NOAA/NOS Strategic Environmental
Assessments Division, Silver Springs, MD 167 p.
Pierce EL. 1958. The Chaetognatha of the inshore waters of North
Carolina. Limnology and Oceanography 3:166-170.
Paffenhofer GA. ABUNDANT PLANKTONIC COPEPODS IN WARM
OCEANS: OCEANIC VERSUS NERITIC REGIONS. Abstract:
http://aslo.org/meetings/santafe99/abstracts/SS23TU0345H.html
Sommer U, Herwig S. 2002. Copepoda - Cladocera - Tunicata: The role
of three major mesozooplankton groups in pelagic food webs.
Ecological Research 17:1440-1703.
St. John, PA. 1958. A volumetric study of zooplankton distribution in
the Cape Hatteras area. Limnology and Oceanography 3: 387-397.
Turner RE, Woo SW, Jitts HR. 1979. Estuarine Influences on a
Continental Self Plankton Community. Science 206:218-220.
Turner, JT. 1981. Latitudinal patterns of calanoids and cyclopoid
copepod diversity in estarine waters of eastern North America.
Journal of Biogeography, 8:369-382.
Walsh JJ. 1976. Herbivory as a factor in patterns of nutrient utilization
in the sea. Limnology and Oceanography 21:1-13.
Williams R, Collins NR. 1986. Seasonal compositon of meroplankton and
holoplankton in the Bristol Channel. Marine Biology 96:93-101.
Wing SR, Botsford LW, Ralston SV, Largier JL. 1998. Meroplanktonic
distribution and circulation in a coastal retention zone of northern
California upwelling system. Limnology and Oceanography. 43: 17101723.
Dune ecosystems
Ecological Succession Connell JH, Slatyer RO. 1977. Mechanisms of
Succession in Natural Communities and Their Role in Community
Stability and Organization. American Naturalist 111:1119-1144.
General trends in diversity
Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis Connell JH. 1978. Diversity in
Tropical Rain Forests and Coral Reefs. Science 199: 1302-1310.
Rocky intertidal
Leigh E, Paine RT, Quinn JF, Suchanek TH. 1987. Wave energy and
intertidal productivity. Procl. Natl. Acad. Sci. 84:1314-1318.
Salt Marsh ecosystems
Adams, DA. 1963. Factors influencing vascular plant zonation in North
Carolina. Ecology 44: 455-456.
Kuenzler EJ. 1961. Structure and energy flow of a mussel population in a
Georgia salt marsh. Limnology and Oceanography 6: 191-204.
Odum WE. 1988. Comparative Ecology of Tidal Freshwater and Salt
Marshes. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 19:147-176.
Pennings SC, Callaway RM. 1992. Salt marsh zonation: The relative
importance of competition and physical factors. Ecology 73: 681-690.