Community Ecology: Sandy Beach Communities

Question #1
1a. Create a column graph that shows how average percent algae
cover (y-axis) varies with distance from the surf line (quadrat location,
i.e. beach wrack 1, middle, beach wrack 2). Note: You should have 3
locations on the x-axis. Include error bars of the standard deviation,
axis labels (with units), and a title. Hint: Level of replication is the
number of transects (number of groups) that were completed, so
calculate the average and standard deviations using this.
Insert Figure 1 here.

Avg % Algal Cover by Quadrat Location

Average Percent Algal Cover

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Quadrat Location

1b. Results: Describe how percent algal cover changes (or not) with
distance from the surf by addressing the following questions.
i.

At what quadrat location is algal cover the greatest? Where

is it the least?

The greatest coverage is at beach wrack 2 and the least

coverage is at the middle quadrat location.
ii. Do there appear to be significant differences in algal cover
between quadrat locations? How can you tell?
There does not appear to be a significant difference in algal
cover between the quadrat locations because they all have at

least 21% but no more than 32% coverage. Each of the

quadrat locations fall relatively close to each other in coverage
level.
1c. Discussion:
i.
Based on this figure, where would you hypothesize
organism abundance (e.g., beach hoppers, flies) to be
greatest? Why?
I would hypothesize the greatest organism abundance would
be at beach wrack 2 because there is the most algae cover and
the organisms live under/near the algae.
ii. Discuss a physical factor or process that you think controls
algal distribution on the beach.
I think that the waves/tide controls the algae distribution.
When the waves are higher up such as during a storm they can
cause the algal distribution to be further away from the beach
tide line. When weather is calmer and waves are smaller, the
algal coverage will not make it as far up the beach.

Question # 2
2a. Create a column graph that compares beach hopper abundance
across quadrat locations. Include axis labels (with units), and a title.
Note: error bars do not need to be included in this figure.
Insert Figure 2 here.

Beach Hopper Abundance by Quadrat Location

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16
14
12
Beach Hopper Abundance 10
8
6
4
2
0
Beach Wrack 1

Midle

Location

Beach Wrack 2

2b. Results: Describe the relationship between quadrat location

distance from surf and beach hopper abundance by addressing these
questions:
i.

What does the y-axis represent?

The y axis represents the beach hopper abundance.

ii. What do the different bar heights tell you about beach hopper
abundance at the different quadrat locations?
The difference in the heights of the bars tells me that at each
location the beach hopper abundance was quite different. The
heights of the bars on the graph indicate that the further away
from the surf, the less the beach hopper abundance.
2c. Discussion: Compare Figure 2 with Figure 1, and answer these
questions:
i.

Describe any patterns you observe between algal

abundance and beach hopper abundance at the different
quadrat locations. For instance, is there a positive
relationship between beach hopper and algal abundance?

There does not appear to be a strong relationship between the

algal abundance and beach hopper abundance by location.
Beach wrack 1 has the highest beach hopper abundance but
only the middle algal percent coverage. The Middle location
has the lowest algal coverage and the middle beach hopper
abundance and beach wrack 2 has the least beach hopper
abundance and the greatest algal coverage. Also, the beach
hopper abundance is all over the board ranging from 15 to
1.75 where the algal coverage ranges from 21% to 31%.
ii.

Do any patterns/relationships lend support for your

hypothesis that you developed in question #1 (Discussion
1ci)? Explain.

Based on the results from figure 2, my hypothesis is wrong. I

predicted the most organisms would live a beach wrack 2 yet
that is where the least number of beach hoppers were found. I
think the abundance of the organisms may have something to
do with the level of algal decomposition.

Question #3
3a. Create a column graph that shows how beach hopper abundance
varies with levels of algal decomposition. Include axis labels (with
units), and a title. Note: error bars do not need to be included in this
figure.
Insert Figure 3a here.

Beaach Hopper Abundance by Algal Decomposition

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20
15

Beach Hopper Abundance

10
5
0

None

Low

Medium

High

Algal Decomposition

3b. Create a similar column graph of beach hopper abundance by sand

water content. Include axis labels (with units), and a title. Note: error
bars do not need to be included in this figure.
Insert Figure 3b here.

Beach Hopper Abundance by Sand Water Content

14
12
10
8

Beach Hopper Abundance

6
4
2
0

Dry

Moist

Sand Water Content

Wet

3c. Results: By comparing these figures, describe any

relationships/patterns you observe between beach hopper abundance
with algal decomposition and sand water content.
i. What does figure 3a tell you about beach hopper abundance
and its relationship to algal decomposition?
Figure 3a tells me that beach hopper abundance is related to
the algal decomposition level. Where there is minimal
decomposition, there is the largest abundance of beach
hoppers with approximately 22. However, at all other stages
of decomposition, the beach hopper abundance is low in
comparison and relatively the same at between 4 and 6.
iii.

What does figure 3b tell you about beach hopper

abundance and its relationship to sand water content?

Figure 3b tells me that the beach hopper abundance is related

to the sand water content. The moister the sand the higher
the beach hopper abundance. This is shown on the graph with
the driest sand having the least beach hopper abundance and
the wet sand having the largest beach hopper abundance.
3d. Discussion:
i.

What variable had a greater impact on beach hopper

abundance, sand water content or algal decomposition?
Why do you think this is the case?
The algal decomposition had the greatest impact on the beach
hopper abundance. There needed to be a specific type/level of
decomposition in order for the beach hoppers to be most
present. I think this is the case because maybe the beach
hoppers food source is that particular type of decomposed
algae.

Question #4
What do you think are some possible sources of error or uncertainty in
this experiment (come up with at least 2)? Discuss possible ways to
minimize these sources.
One possible source of error is since each set of data was
recorded by a different group, maybe everyone did not

measure each category with the same criteria. For example

what is considered moist sand to some may be considered wet
sand to others. To avoid this, it would be best if all data were
collected by a single individual or single group. A second
possible source of data was the time of day. This observation
was conducted over several hours on several days ranging
from full daylight to dark night hours (post 5-6 with time
change). It is possible that not everything was observed
correctly. To fix this it would be best to have all observations
done under the same conditions; either light or dark.

Question #5
Based on the data you collected and graphs that you have created and
interpreted, discuss the advantages and disadvantages to beach
combing. How does this activity impact species diversity?
Beach combing could have its advantages and disadvantages.
An advantage of beach combing could be that sand water
content and algal cover will be distributed throughout the
beach area to cover a wider area of beach. This could give the
beach hopper a larger area to disperse allowing for more
beach hoppers to be able to get to an algal source. A
disadvantage of the beach combing could be the disruption of
beach hopper habitat and loss of shelter or food that these
beach hoppers were relying on as the beach combing would
likely drag the algae else ware. By beach combing, species
diversity could be increased because if you distribute the algal
content throughout the beach area, there could be other
organisms in a different part of the beach that now have
access to the algae or other predators or prey that the beach
hoppers have in their food chain. It could draw other species
to use this new resource.

**BONUS question: Create a novel figure using any of the data you
find interesting (e.g. see how algal height varies with distance from the
surf), and write two sentences about why you were interested in the
relationship you plotted and what trends/patterns you see.

Beach Hopper and Kelp Fly Abundance by Location

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20
15

Organism Abundance

10
5
0

Beach Wrack 1

Middle

Beach Wrack 2

Location

*Blue is beach hopper, Red is kelp fly*

I was interested to see how the kelp fly abundance compared
to the beach hopper abundance by location to see if there was
a pattern like there was with the beach hoppers. I found that
like the beach hopper, kelp fly abundance decreased the
further away from the water they were measured.
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