CAL:BLAST BODEGA BAY TEACHER PROJECTS

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1 CAL:BLAST BODEGA BAY TEACHER PROJECTS PROJECT 1 Bernadette, Sara, Sara, Michelle, Tracy, Aiko, Laura, Dora, Pete Question: Does the average height of lupine differ between the dune and grassland habitats? Hypothesis: We predict that the average height of the lupine in the grasslands will be taller than the lupine in the dunes because in the dunes there is more sand and fewer nutrients in the soil. Approach: Two teams at each habitat Random selection of sample population (for randomness, tossed a pencil and walked 10 paces in the direction the pencil was pointing) Calibrated measuring process 40 plants measured at teach habitat Data: Sample size: 40 per habitat Range: Dunes, cm Grasslands, cm Dune Mean: 89 cm Grassland mean: 120 cm Dune standard deviation: 41.8 cm Grassland standard deviation: 34.2 cm P-value from T-test: Data analysis: We found a statistically significant difference between the average height of the lupine in the dunes and the grasslands. The average height of the grassland lupine is taller. Possible sources of error: Measurement tools/procedures Inability to see the youngest plants in denser vegetation Interference with other projects Small geographical sample Confounding factors: distance to ocean Next steps/further research: Compare soil composition for nutrients Retest with other plants Test water retention in grassland and dune habitats Analyze root size and depth of similar-sized plants 1

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3 PROJECT 2 Jill, Raquel Question: What types of different insects would you find on a lupine plant vs. a fern plant? Hypothesis: We will find more variety of insects on lupines because they have flowers and softer leaves. Process: Take a survey to decide which two different types of plants would have insects. We decided to select lupines and ferns and adjusted our question. We used beat nets and beat each plant ten times. We decided to beat in two different locations. We collected one type of insect from each sample and after beating in two locations, listed the different organisms found. Data: Living organisms found On lupine: spiders, flying insects, beetles, ants, snails, worms On fern: spiders, flying insects, beetles, snail Conclusions: Based on the limited surveying we did, we conclude that the lupine has more variety of organisms. And lupine 1 had a higher variety of organisms than lupine 2. (Included map showing localities). We also conclude this activity is very easy to do with our classes and very fun! Future research: If we could continue, we would continue surveying to enlarge the sample. We might try surveying at different times (nights) and on sunny days! 3

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5 PROJECT 3: Raindrops on leaves Channon, Marline, Kimm, Pauline, Aija Question: Which leaf arrangement holds more water? Materials: Included pictures of the three types tested: (1) alternate, petioled tufted poppy; (2) opposite, sessile unknown species; (3) whorled, sessile silver lupine Hypothesis: We predict that the silver lupine, which has a whorled, sessile leaf arrangement, will hold the most water. Data: (portrayed as graph) No. of drops of water* 6.0 Whorled, sessile Opposite, sessile Alternate, petioled * 5.6 drops of water is equal to 1 ml. Conclusion: Evidence supports our hypothesis. The silver lupine, which has a whorled, sessile leaf arrangement, held the most water. Next steps: Use other species with same leaf arrangements Explore more textures Explore leaf shape Replicate in different habitats 5

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7 PROJECT 4: Beach kelp and algae Amy, Leah, Rusty Question: Is there a difference in the quantity and types of algae found along the shoreline? Procedures: (oral presentation of procedures) Data: (presented in a graph format) No. of organisms found 9 Plot #1 Plot #2 Plot #3 Key 8 Red algae 7 Green algae 6 Brown algae Next step: Analyze organisms from shoreline to area away from water moving in a perpendicular line away from the water as opposed to parallel to it. Follow up questions: Why worms at site 3 only? What part of the ocean did the algae come from? 7

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9 PROJECT 5: Lupine insect communities comparing roadside and coastal Jaclyn, Chao, Mari, Leonardo Question: Do different colors of flowers attract the same or different organisms? Procedures: (oral presentation of procedures) Data: (presented as a bar graph) # Flies aphids true bugs beetle spider grasshopper isopod wasp Locality Total no. of insects Time collecting Roadside 21 insects 20 minutes Coastal 22 insects 20 minutes Discussion: Numbers, variety, difference between two locations Follow-up: How would the data change with different weather? Would it be the same if we used different plant species? 9

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11 PROJECT 6: Comparison of plant size between headlands and dunes Paul, Graham Procedures: [oral presentation of procedures that discussed how they selected their plants had problems finding plants that grew in both places. Finally selected yellow lupine and dock (latter originally nicknamed red bud until plant was identified).] Flowers sampled included Dock (left) and Yellow Lupine (right). Data table: Plant Feature Dunes Headlands Dock Plant height: ½ 14½ Leaf stem length: ½ 2¼ ¾ 2 Flower stem length: 1 2½ ½ 1¼ Yellow Lupine Plant height: [oral discussion of problems they ran into] 11

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13 Project 7 Beth, Eva, Gabriel Question: How do plant species and counts vary with elevation? Approach: 50m transect with 1m 2 quadrat every 10 m Presentation of data: Included map showing locality at Horseshoe Cove [Drew outline of beach to top of bluff showing ~ incline at every 10 m. Elevation horizon at 50 m = ~0% inclination down to Beach at 10% inclination. Included bar graph of no. of species found at each sampling site.] No. of plant species 50 m 0% incline 40 m 30% incline 30 m 60% incline 20 m 20% incline 10 m 20% incline 0 m 10% incline Conclusions: Species type varied with elevation. Species count varied with elevation. Grass coverage varied with elevation. Future research: Multiple transects Additional quadrats Soil moisture measurements Salinity measurements Elevation data Alternating quadrats 13

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15 Project 8: Above and below investigation Marisa, Tracy, Liz, Nandini, Wally Question: Do similar plants that grow on the West side of the Bodega Marine Laboratory vary in root length and biomass from those growing on the East side? Hypotheses: #1 The ratio of above ground biomass/root biomass differs in plants from site #1 (East) and site #2 (West). #2 The plant roots on the east side (site 1) will have deeper roots and less biomass, the plants on the west side (site 2) will have more biomass and be less deep. Data table: Distance away from coast 5 m 9m 17m 19m West Side (ocean side: Site #2) East Side (Horseshoe Bay: Site #1) Height of plant 8 inches 8.7 inches Root length 7.7 inches 5 inches Weight of plant 19 grams 24.5 grams Weight of root 3 grams 18 grams Height of plant 2 inches 12 inches Root length 10 inches 9 inches Weight of plant 12 grams 70 grams Weight of root 7.75 grams 20 grams Height of plant 18.5 inches 17 inches Root length 6 inches 12.5 inches Weight of plant 10 grams 12 grams Weight of root 5 grams 5 grams Height of plant 16 inches 16.5 inches Root length 19+ inches 7.5 inches Weight of plant 304 grams 39.5 grams Weight of root 230 grams 17 grams Results: Our data supports both hypotheses. 15

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17 Project 9 Brenda, Elizabeth, Ellen Question: Do plants that grow in clusters have smaller or shallower roots than plants that are spread out? Hypothesis: Plants in clusters would have shallower roots. Procedure: 1. Identify plant 2. Mark location 3. DIG!!! 4. Draw and measure 5. Record 6. Replant! Data tables: Plant Location Height above ground Root depth below ground 3 paces from edge of bluff 43 cm 4 cm Yarrow 2 paces from edge of bluff 38 cm 1 cm 22 paces from edge of bluff 41 cm 13 cm 3 paces from edge of bluff 36 cm 1 cm Poppy 2 paces from edge of bluff 23 cm 1 cm 22 paces from edge of bluff 39.5 cm 1 cm Plant Location Direction of Root Yarrow Poppy 3 paces from edge of bluff 2 paces from edge of bluff 22 paces from edge of bluff 3 paces from edge of bluff 2 paces from edge of bluff 22 paces from edge of bluff Diameter of root Description of root 230 degrees < 1 cm Long root growing sideways 150 degrees < 1 cm 190 degrees < 1 cm Could not determine Could not determine Could not determine 2.5 cm 4.6 cm Smaller roots growing out of central root; many stems coming off one root Roots pointed away from edge of bluff; did not go deep into dirt Long root growing sideways; smaller roots growing out of central root Many stems coming off one root; this root that twisted underground but did not go deep into dirt; 3 cm Seven flowers growing off each root 17

18 Results: The yarrow, which appeared from the surface to be many plants spread out, turned out to be one large plant with many stems far apart. The roots of all 3 yarrow plants studied grew approximately 3 cm downwards, then made a 90-degree turn and continued growing parallel to the ground, away from the ocean, for an undetermined distance. We were unable to measure the full lengths of the roots without causing serious disruption to the habitat. The poppies, which were also selected as plants that grow spread out rather than clustered, also turned out to be single plants with many distant stems (up to 7) sharing a single root. The roots of the poppies only grew to a depth of ~1 cm and then began winding. We were surprised by the thickness of the roots and began taking data on the root diameters. One poppy root had a diameter of 4.6 cm! Conclusion: Our investigation was modified due to time constraints, however, we did find some interesting information about the yarrow and poppy, both of which can grow without other plants of the same species nearby. We can conclude that (1) neither the poppy nor the yarrow have deep roots/require much depth to grow; (2) both have substantial root structures (underground mass is significantly greater than above ground mass) that grow parallel to the ground; (3) both plants root structures support multiple stems with flowers. New questions: 1. Do yarrow and/or poppies in other habitats have similarly shallow root structures? 2. How do the nutrients in the top 1 4 cm of the coastal prairie compare to the soil deeper down? 3. Do other flowering plants in the coastal prairie have shallow roots? 4. Do any have deeper roots? 5. Do other plants (other samples of yarrow and other species) have roots that grow away from the ocean? 18

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