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Practical Notes

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Waqar I'P-Freely Walters
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11 views4 pages

Practical Notes

Uploaded by

Waqar I'P-Freely Walters
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

SANDY SHORE
i. You are provided with sediment samples (1A and 1B) from two contrasting sandy shores.
Name the type of sand and indicate the origin of the particles.
Ans
Biogenic sand – made from fragments of living creatures like mollusc shells, urchin spines, coral
skeleton, sponge spicules, or foraminifera test (pink)
Can be calcareous, phosphatic or siliceous

Geogenic sand – made from the erosion of land transported to the sea by rivers (sandstone and
volcanic rocks)

ii. Indicate whether the beach from which each is taken is a high, medium, or low energy
beach and give one reason for your answer (4).
Ans
Biogenic sand – high energy beach.
1) Grain size is large, which is associated with high energy beaches
2) Has little organic matter, since more organic matter is associated with smaller grain size and
hence low energy beach.
3) Large grains creates steep slope which is associated with high energy beaches

Geogenic sand – low energy beach.


1) grain size is fine, associated with low energy beaches
2)has high organic matter, since organic debris content is associated with smaller grain size sand
3) fine grains creates a low gradient/slope profile, associated with low energy beaches.

iii. Use the data provided (Table 1) and graph paper in the answer booklet to present the
best representation of the profile of the sandy shore that was assessed.
iv. You are provided with a culture dish with three animal specimens. Identify the TWO
which can be found on the sandy shore by giving the genus name of each. (3) A fraction
of the mark will be awarded for common names. Indicate the zone of the sandy shore in
which each animal can be found (2) and give one adaptation each has which makes it
suited for living in that zone. (4)

Ans

Zone Identity Genus Name Adaptation


Spray Talorchestia Stays in damp sand by
Zone (Beach flea) burrowing with feet

Spray Excirolana Burrows in damp sand with


(isopod) feet

Swash Emerita Spoon shaped body


Zone (Mole crab) facilitates burrowing

Filter feeds particles in


swash zone as water
retreats using 1st antannae
Swash Donax Wedge shaped shell and
(Beach clam) foot that facilitates
burrowing

Surf Zone Terebra Has modified radula into


(Sea snail) harpoon-like structure and
poison gland with a terminal
bulb.
Surf Scolelepis Vermiform body facilitates
burrowing

Surf Mellita Burrows using spines on


(Sand dollar) underside that shifts sand
from top to bottom, thus
sinks
2. COASTAL PLANT SPECIES IDENTIFICATION
I. Identify the mangroves shown as plates (3) and the live seagrasses in dishes (3). You may
give common names, but full marks will be awarded for genus and species. 12 marks
II. Give one visible (external) distinguishing feature the facilitated identification
III. Rank the mangroves as they should occur from land (1) to lagoon (3) and also rank the
seagrasses from shallow (1) to deeper (3) areas of the bed. 6 marks
Ans
Specimen Image Feature used to identify Rank
Identification
Rhizophora mangle Red tannin (plant waste) beneath the 3
bark
(Red Mangrove) Prop roots present
Slender propagule germinating

Avecennia germinan Dark coloured trunk 2


Horizontal roots with vertical
(Black Mangrove) pneumatophores

Laguncularia racemosa Light coloured trunk (white creamy 1


colour under bark)
(White Mangrove) Oval leaf
“Knobbly” pneumatophores

*Conocarpus erectus Button like fruits 1


Short and shrubby tree
(Button Mangrove)

Thalassia testudinum Large, flat, elongated blades that are 1


about 15mm in width
(Turtle grass) Colourless sheath at base

Syringodium filiforme Rounded, slender, and elongated leaf 2


blades
(Manatee grass)

Halodule wrightii Small, thin, flat leaf blades 3

(Shoal grass)
3. SEAGRASS PRODUCTIVITY
Table 2 gives seagrass biomass data determined from production experiments along a
transect through the seagrass bed to 100 m.
i. LIST the ideal sequence of steps (from setup to calculation of production) using the
“Hole-punch” method of determining seagrass production and give two shortcomings of
the method. (8 + 2 Marks)
Ans
The hole punch method involves the use of a mark on the sea grass to determine
production level. Punch a syringe needle hole several centimetres above the leaf
bundle. The resulting scar is used to distinguish leaf tissue which arose from the leaf
bundle before (stippled) and after (unstippled) the marking. This occurs as the seagrass
has basal meristem near the sediment that has leaf tissue which moves away as the leaf
grows
Shortcomings: Hole punched is usually hard to relocate
If time measuring is long it can be affected by leaf turnover
Requires enough time to see extension

ii. Calculate productivity using any one of the values (specimen calculation). (4 marks)
iii.
iv. Explain why biomass/productivity decreased with distance to 75m. (4 marks)
Ans
This is because as one progresses further along the transect the water depth increases,
causing more refraction and ultimately less light, hence lower productivity. The plants
also experience less wave action and as such have little incentive to invest in root
biomass for anchorage.

v. Suggest one reason why biomass/production at 100m was higher than at 75m. (2 marks)
Ans
The seagrass experiences less wave action and light at 100m than 75m so the seagrass
invests in larger leaves to compensate, which increases productivity.

Ans

4. BIODIVERSITY - 25 Marks
i. Calculate the Simpson’s diversity index of the community by using the grid of dots to
determine the % cover of each species. Use the equation below and show all working.

ii. Indicate the species richness of the reef. 2 marks

iii. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of each measure of diversity.

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