GUIDELINES FOR THE RESEARCH PAPER
DUE DATE: 25 May 2007, 5 pm
The research paper will be based on data collected during the maymester.
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 important in supplying
some of the information you need to write this paper. 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 to support your
conclusions. The paper should include:
 Description of spatial and temporal trends in the physical data.
This includes both the surface water data analyzed every 6 seconds,
and the vertical profiles from the CTD casts, as well as temporal
changes over 24 h in the marsh and during the cruise.
 Explanation of spatial and temporal 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 and time.
 Description and explanation of trends in the biological data as
related to the physical trends.
More specific guidelines will be provided as we sample, analyze and build the
data sets.
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.
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.