2.

03 Ocean's Impact on Weather Lab

Fill in the blue boxes of this lab report as you complete the virtual lab on the last page of the lesson.
Carefully read all instructions and background information. This information can also be found in
Appendix A.

Student Name

Date
Objective(s) (2 points)

In your own words, what was the purpose of this lab? Consider what you are testing and
observing/measuring.

To test and see if the restoration project worked to restore the mangroves better than the natural
way

Hypothesis (1 point)

Write an if…then statement predicting the results that are expected from the experiment.

The restoration project will better help restore than the natural project

Independent Variable (0.5 points)

The independent variable is the factor that you manipulate/change during an experiment.

The mangroves

Dependent Variable(s) (0.5 points)

The dependent variable identifies what is being monitored/measured during an experiment.

The restoration project

Procedure

At the north beach, your team will implement a project to replant three mangrove species and monitor
their growth over five years. The growth of the replanted mangroves will be compared to the natural
regrowth of mangroves in the south beach area.Mangrove growth in both beach areas will be
monitored via satellite. You will record data for each location about the percentage of mangrove
coverage, the number of species in the area, and the average mangrove height in order to assess the
health of the beaches.

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Data (10 points)

Use the virtual lab on the last page of the lesson to collect your data. Complete the tables below or
provide screenshots of your data tables from the virtual lab.
To enter your data into the virtual lab, select the table icon at the top right:

If you are unable to run the virtual lab, collect data here: 2.03 Lab Data

Data Table 1: Percentage of Mangrove Coverage

Percentage of Mangrove Coverage

Time Period
North Beach Percentage (%) South Beach Percentage (%)

Before hurricane 80 100

Immediately after hurricane 10 20

6 months after hurricane 35 25

1 year after hurricane 60 45

2 years after hurricane 75 55

3 years after hurricane 80 70

4 years after hurricane 90 90

5 years after hurricane 95 95

Data Table 2: Number of Mangrove Plant and Animal Species

Number of Species
Time Period
North Beach South Beach

Before hurricane 54 59

Immediately after hurricane 21 30

6 months after hurricane 25 34

1 year after hurricane 31 37

2 years after hurricane 36 42

3 years after hurricane 39 45

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 4 years after hurricane 44 49

5 years after hurricane 51 55

Data Table 3: Average Mangrove Tree Height After the Hurricane

Average Mangrove Tree Heights

Mangrove Tree Species
North Beach Height (meters) South Beach Height (meters)

Red Mangrove 4.2 5.1

Black Mangrove 3.7 4.4

White Mangrove 3 3.7

Analysis (6 points)

You may use this site to create your graph: https://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx

For help with graphing, watch this video: Help Video: Graphing

Graph 1
Create a graph to display the mangrove coverage from the first data table. It should be a line graph
showing percent coverage over time and have two lines of data points on it, one for the north beach
and one for the south beach. In order to have an accurate time scale, you may omit the 6 month point if
needed. Title and label the graph. View a help video on graphing:

Insert screenshot of graph here or upload as a separate file through your gradebook.

Graph 2
Create a graph to display the number of species from the second data table. It should be a line graph
showing the number of species over time and have two lines of data points on it, one for the north
beach and one for the south beach. In order to have an accurate time scale, you may omit the 6 month
point if needed. Title and label the graph.

Insert screenshot of graph here or upload as a separate file through your gradebook.

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Conclusion (9 points)

Please answer the following questions using complete sentences.

1. Was the restoration project effective? Explain why or why not, supporting your answer with
information from your data tables and graphs.

Initially, the restoration project demonstrated its efficacy as North Beach exhibited a higher
resurgence of mangroves compared to South Beach. However, towards the project's
completion, its effectiveness seemed somewhat diminished. Over the course of five years,
South Beach managed to restore 80% of its mangroves, a feat mirrored by North Beach.
Despite this equal restoration rate, South Beach boasted a greater diversity with 55 distinct
species, while North Beach only supported 51 species.

2. Why was counting the number of species in the area important? In your answer, consider the
effect a mangrove habitat has on biodiversity.

The ability to quantify the number of species is of utmost importance, as it provides a clear
indication of the impact the hurricane had on the local wildlife. This becomes crucial in
assessing the extent of damage inflicted upon both North and South Beach. Mangroves
serve as vital habitats for numerous animal species, making their restoration pivotal for the
ecosystem. Furthermore, a significant loss of mangroves leads to a drastic reduction in
biodiversity. Essentially, the presence of more mangroves in a particular area directly
correlates with higher levels of biodiversity.

3. After five years, the average height of each mangrove species was also measured. Did this
information help you better evaluate the success of the restoration project, or did it change
your mind? Explain your reasoning.

Observing the height of the mangrove trees played a crucial role in evaluating the
restoration project's success. The North beach exhibited trees with an average height of
3m, whereas the South Beach showcased a higher average of 3.7m. These results indicate
that the restoration project did not achieve the anticipated success outlined in the

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 hypothesis.

Save This Google Doc

A copy of this Google Doc will automatically be saved to your Google Drive. You may edit this Google
Doc online at any time and also access it through the Google Doc app on your smartphone or tablet.
However, to obtain credit for this assignment, you must save this completed document to your
computer and submit it online within your marine science class. See instructions on how to save a
Google Doc as a .pdf here: https://tinyurl.com/ur7vyhd

Next Steps

After completing this document, please open your marine science “Assessments” tab and click on
“02.03 Ocean’s Impact on Weather” assignment. Please upload your .pdf and submit for assignment
credit. Note that a link to your Google Doc will not be accepted for credit.

Appendix A

Background Information

The Daily News: HURRICANE FRED RIPS THROUGH BARRIER ISLANDS!

Last weekend saw the landfall of Hurricane Fred, which impacted the southern coast of the US and
flattened several mangrove ecosystems. Mangroves are important barriers during storms, as they
reduce the impact of strong winds and tidal flooding, and protect upland areas from more severe
damage. However, the strong winds of a storm like Hurricane Fred can do some serious damage to the
habitat, and the mangroves may take a long time to recover.

Local scientists will be investigating a new technique of replanting mangrove seedlings, to see if the
ecosystem can make a faster recovery. The team is recruiting young scientists to join in on the efforts.

Mangroves
Mangrove forests are an important intertidal habitat found along tropical and subtropical shorelines.
The dense tangle of prop roots makes mangrove trees appear to be standing on stilts above the mud
and water. The shallow intertidal zone around the mangroves plays a central role in transferring organic
matter and energy from the land to marine ecosystems. Organic matter from fallen leaves and branches
forms the base of important marine food chains. When bacteria break down the detritus, nutrients are
released into the water to be used by marine animals. This makes mangrove forests an excellent
habitat for juvenile fish and other marine creatures. Their roots shelter vibrant, hidden ecosystems.

There are more than 50 species of mangrove trees around the world, with varying degrees of tolerance
to soil salinity, flooding, and nutrient availability. Most mangroves have adaptations that allow them to
thrive in different zones. We will be examining three species that are found together in the southern

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United States. The red mangrove, with its multiple prop roots, grows closest to the open water. The
black mangrove grows at elevations slightly higher than the red mangrove, where tidal changes expose
the roots to air. The least salt-tolerant of the three species is the white mangrove. It lives farther inland,
where it is less exposed to tidal waters.

Mangroves are an important habitat for both human and ecological communities because they provide:
● Habitat for marine organisms such as mollusks, crabs, and shrimp
● Protected nesting for birds and nursery area for juvenile fish
● Carbon withdrawal and storage
● Protection against erosion
● Stabilization for shorelines
● A buffer against hurricanes and tropical storms
● Nutrients for neighboring ecosystems, such as coral reefs and sea grass beds

Hurricanes
Hurricanes are intense rotating oceanic weather systems that have maximum sustained winds
exceeding 74 mph. They form and intensify over tropical ocean regions. As they approach land, strong
winds and storm surges can have a major impact on local ecosystems.

On land, hurricanes cause habitat loss and destruction. Plant life can easily be swept away by floods
and severe winds. Excessive rain can cause plants to drown, and it also causes soil erosion. Mudslides
often take plants down with them, ripping up their roots and killing the plants.

Near shore and in the ocean, hurricanes are responsible for sediment erosion and deposition, which
often affects oyster beds and coral reefs. Saltwater intrusion in freshwater lakes and streams causes
massive fish kills and affects the lakeside habitat. The hurricane floodwater often carries many toxic
substances (heavy metals, pesticides, ammonia, phosphate, untreated sewage). These toxic substances
can cause degradation of water quality, phytoplankton blooms, a decrease in dissolved oxygen, and
harm to many organisms.

Welcome to the research team, let's get started!

As a part of the team, you will investigate the different methods of restoring a mangrove habitat after a
devastating storm.

You will come across two similar areas, the North Beach and the South Beach. Your team will complete
a mangrove restoration project at the North Beach by strategically planting three types of mangrove
seedlings. The South Beach will be allowed to regrow without human intervention. Both the sites will be
monitored for a period of five years.

Your team is setting out to investigate the effectiveness of manually replanting a mangrove area in
North Beach compared to letting the mangrove area regrow naturally in South Beach. You will measure
this effectiveness by comparing the amount of mangrove regrowth and the number of plant and animal
species that return to each area.

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At the North Beach, your team will implement a project to replant three mangrove species, and monitor
its growth over five years.

Your team has researched the coastal ecology and identified planting locations for red, black, and white
mangroves on the North Beach. Each type of mangrove is planted taking into account the depth and
frequency of tides and salinity of the soil.

This is a long-term project. The mangrove growth on both beaches will be monitored via satellite forfive
years.

Members of the team will also complete plant and animal species surveys from the ground to monitor
the number of different species present in each location.

In addition to the percentage of mangrove coverage, you also need to collect data on the average
height of trees. This will help you evaluate how well the replanted mangroves in North Beach have
grown as compared to the natural regrowth of the mangroves in South Beach.

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