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Exploring Substrate Effects on Intertidal Organism Diversity

Investigate how substrate composition affects intertidal organism diversity and species preferences. Hypothesized that diversity changes relative to substrate type. Study methodically sampled sites with varied wave exposures and substrate types, analyzing plant and animal species encountered. Results highlighted species diversity and richness across substrates. Discussion delved into the implications of rocky substrate conditions on community structure.

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Exploring Substrate Effects on Intertidal Organism Diversity

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  1. The Effects of Substrate Composition on Intertidal Organism Diversity Hala Nader, Alyson Pickard, Sam Shaw, & Jenna Thebeau

  2. Background - Terms • Diversity • Probability that two randomly selected organisms from a community will belong to a different species

  3. Background - Terms • Diversity • Probability that two randomly selected organisms from a community will belong to a different species • Richness • Number of species in a community

  4. Background - Terms • Diversity • Probability that two randomly selected organisms from a community will belong to a different species • Richness • Number of species in a community • Evenness • The degree of similarity in the distribution of each species within the community

  5. Introduction • What effects diversity? • Vertical & horizontal stress gradients • Wave exposure • Temperature • Desiccation • Shelter availability

  6. Types of Stress • Limitation Stress • Lack of available resources

  7. Types of Stress • Limitation Stress • Lack of available resources • Disruptive Stress • Causes cellular damage

  8. Vertical Stress Gradients • 3 categories: • Supralittoral • Midlittoral • Infralittoral

  9. Vertical Stress Gradients • 3 categories: • Supralittoral • Midlittoral • Infralittoral • Depends on elevationand exposure

  10. Horizontal Stress Gradients • Depend on ice scour intensity and wave exposure

  11. Horizontal Stress Gradients • Depend on ice scour intensity and wave exposure • Wave exposure determines what type of substrate is foundalong horizontal gradient

  12. Wave Exposure & Substrate • High wave exposure • Washes away small debris • Leaves large rocks & cobble • Low predation

  13. Wave Exposure & Substrate • High wave exposure • Washes away small debris • Leaves large rocks & cobble • Low predation • Moderate wave exposure • Bedrock & cobble • Stable habitat

  14. Wave Exposure & Substrate • High wave exposure • Washes away small debris • Leaves large rocks & cobble • Low predation • Moderate wave exposure • Bedrock & cobble • Stable habitat • Low wave exposure • Primarily muddy • Low drainage leading to anoxia

  15. Aim of The Study • Effect of substrate type on organism diversity and individual species preference

  16. Aim of The Study • Effect of substrate type on organism diversity and individual species preference • Hypothesis • Diversity will change with respect to substrate type

  17. Methods • 3 sites were sampled • Green’s Point • High wave exposure, large rock & cobble

  18. Methods • 3 sites were sampled • Green’s Point • High wave exposure, large rock & cobble • Indian Point • Moderate wave exposure, bedrock & cobble

  19. Methods • 3 sites were sampled • Green’s Point • High wave exposure, large rock & cobble • Indian Point • Moderate wave exposure, bedrock & cobble • Bar Road • Low wave exposure, mud & sand

  20. Methods • 10 samples along a 50 m transect line within midlittoral zone at each site

  21. Methods • 10 samples along a 50 m transect line within midlittoral zone at each site • 1x1 m quadrat placed every 5 m

  22. Methods • 10 samples along a 50 m transect line within midlittoral zone at each site • 1x1 m quadrat placed every 5 m • Estimation of the number of plant and animal species encountered

  23. Methods • 10 samples along a 50 m transect line within midlittoral zone at each site • 1x1 m quadrat placed every 5 m • Estimation of the number of plant and animal species encountered • Species identified

  24. Results • A. nodosum • C. crispus • Corraline sp. • Dictyosiphon sp. • Elachistaflaccida • F. vesiculosus • Lithothamnion sp. • U. lactuca • Acmaetestudinaris • Asteriasforbesii • B. balanus • L. littorea • L. obtusata • N. lapillus • S. balanoides • S. droebachiensis Plant Species Animal Species

  25. Results Figure 1: The diversity of the 3 substrates based on the Shannon-Wiener diversity index

  26. Results Figure 2: Species Richness and the 3 locations

  27. Results • A. nodosum • C. crispus • Corraline sp. • Dictyosiphon sp. • Elachistaflaccida • F. vesiculosus • Lithothamnion sp. • U. lactuca • Acmaetestudinaris • Asteriasforbesii • B. balanus • L. littorea • L. obtusata • N. lapillus • S. balanoides • S. droebachiensis Plant Species Animal Species

  28. Results • A. nodosum • C. crispus • Corraline sp. • Dictyosiphon sp. • Elachistaflaccida • F. vesiculosus • Lithothamnion sp. • U. lactuca • Acmaetestudinaris • Asteriasforbesii • B. balanus • L. littorea • L. obtusata • N. lapillus • S. balanoides • S. droebachiensis Plant Species Animal Species

  29. Results Figure 3: Percent coverage per m2 (mean ±SEM) for 3 different substrates

  30. Results Figure 4: Number of Nucella lapillus found per m2(mean±SEM)

  31. Results Figure 5: Number of Littorinalittorea(mean ±SEM)

  32. Results Figure 6: Number of Fucusvesiculosus(mean±SEM)

  33. Discussion • Rocky substrate – Greens Point • Ascophyllumnodosum(common brown algae) • Found it in exposed areas • Could be due to ability to attach to substrate

  34. Discussion • Rocky substrate – Greens Point • Ascophyllumnodosum(common brown algae) • Found it in exposed areas • Could be due to ability to attach to substrate • Coralline spp.(red algae) and Elachistaflaccide(brown algae) • Sheltered due to canopy

  35. Discussion • Rocky substrate – Greens Point • Ascophyllumnodosum(common brown algae) • Found it in exposed areas • Could be due to ability to attach to substrate • Coralline spp.(red algae) and Elachistaflaccide(brown algae) • Sheltered due to canopy • Nucella lapillus(whelk) • Found due to coverage of plants

  36. Discussion • Bedrock substrate – Indian Point • Fucusvesiculosus(bladder wrack) • Only grow if fucusspiralis is removed

  37. Discussion • Bedrock substrate – Indian Point • Fucusvesiculosus(bladder wrack) • Only grow if fucusspiralis is removed • Lithothamnion spp. (calcareous algae) • Fucus could have provided shelter • Rock provides suitable place to grow • Larvae can settle due lower wave exposure

  38. Discussion • Bedrock substrate – Indian Point • Littorinalittorea(periwinkle) • Fucus provided shelter from wave exposure and protection from desiccation • Feed on green & brown algae

  39. Discussion • Bedrock substrate – Indian Point • Littorinalittorea(periwinkle) • Fucus provided shelter from wave exposure and protection from desiccation • Feed on green & brown algae • Semibalanus balanoides (barnacle) • Fucus provided shelter from wave exposure and protection from desiccation • Predators and competitors were absent from this sampling site

  40. Discussion • Muddy Substrate – Bar Road • Semibalanus balanoides(barnacle) • Littorinalittorea(periwinkle) • Acmaeatestudinalis(limpet)

  41. Discussion • Muddy Substrate – Bar Road • Semibalanus balanoides(barnacle) • Littorinalittorea(periwinkle) • Acmaeatestudinalis(limpet) • Possibility of burrowed organisms

  42. Conclusions • Species are not evenly distributed in environments • Acorn barnacles are the dominant species • Plant species provide protection for animal species

  43. Conclusions • Species are not evenly distributed in environments • Acorn barnacles are the dominant species • Plant species provide protection for animal species • Bedrock substrates have the highest species richness

  44. Conclusions • Species are not evenly distributed in environments • Acorn barnacles are the dominant species • Plant species provide protection for animal species • Bedrock substrates have the highest species richness • Muddy substrates have the lowest species richness

  45. Limitations • Estimation of species numbers rather than an actual count of the species.

  46. Limitations • Estimation of species numbers rather than an actual count of the species. • Sample Size

  47. Limitations • Estimation of species numbers rather than an actual count of the species. • Sample Size • Some species not seen but present

  48. Future Direction • Greater variety of substrates

  49. Future Direction • Greater variety of substrates • Monitoring physical and biological factors

  50. Thanks! Questions?

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