Essential Elements Biodiversity Expedition 2011

Christian Ziruk, Kahmina Ford, Sally Betz, Sophia Lafreniere, Rosa Hernandez, Kayla Zane, Jacob Glickman, Charles Stewart,

Jasmin Freeman, Michelle Madison, Alex McKinen

Science And Math Institute, School of the Arts, Stewart Middle School Tacoma, Washington

Abstract

Introduction

Methods Methods Continued Discussion

Results

Work Cited

Tacoma`s Point Defiance park and nearby Commencement bay has been affected for decades by industries as well as the surrounding population but the nearby San Juan Islands has been left nearly untouched by humans. Looking at these two significantly diverse environments one would find that the organisms and vegetation are much healthier and abundant.

Lab methods for Ocean Testing• Gather the probes/materials. • Calibrate all probes to proper specifications. • Proceed to place the probes into the ocean and record data shown on the probe. • Collect water from the surface and in the deep of the water.• Perform several tests on the water using different probes.(pH, Turbidity, Conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen)• We sent a mechanism in the water to attempt to collect plastic from the water and examine it. Lab methods for Intertidal Zone Testing:• Gathered materials• Observed sea creatures and their correlation to the different levels of the tide• Sketched sea shells/bivalves for identification Lab methods for Terrestrial Testing:• Gathered materials• Recorded data for transact every 5 meters• Placed plot sample and made observations of the abundance and percent coverage of each species per square meter

The abundance of organisms and the variety of species are some of the many pieces of evidence that support the clear contrast in health between Sucia Island and Point Defiance. To receive a more accurate comparison between the two environments all aspects of the ecosystems were observed. This consisted of the Terrestrial, Intertidal and Oceanic areas. As a result, studies showed that Point Defiance had several species of mammals specifically squirrels, chipmunks, and other small rodents. However, on Sucia Island the only mammals that were inhabited were mice. There were also a much larger amount of birds and slugs, beetles, etc. In Point Defiance the trees were much older in age and larger in diameter. While the trees on Sucia Island though there were a larger variety of trees species. Primary observations while studying the Intertidal areas of the two, were that Point Defiance had significant deposits of clay. Sucia Island had no clay deposits but rather those of sandstone. This caused much more abundance of life in the intertidal area of Sucia. Focusing on the water aspect of the environment, temperature, pH levels, conductivity, turbidity, and counts of plankton were recorded for both environments. The two ecosystems shared many characteristics, but at a closer look differed greatly in health, abundance and variety.

The information portrayed in Figure 3 indicates that the three most abundant organisms inhabiting the Intertidal Zone of Sucia Island are vastly more populous than that of Point Defiance.

This data is also a representation of the information collected via tests in the Terrestrial and Oceanic areas. The assessments indicated a lack of detrimental elements in the water, along with stable and consistent measurements of standard aquatic characteristics. With regards to the Terrestrial examinations, the data illustrates that the substantial deficiency of invasive species has kept the trees of Sucia Island healthy and long-living; when at Point Defiance there are a multitude of invasive species which condemn the plants to a consistent invasion of soil and nutrients.

Future teams should return to the two environments that were studied to collect data and compare findings with the information that was collected on this expedition. Future scientist should study other areas in the Puget Sound region, the San Juan Islands and coastal areas around Washington to further understand humans impact on natural habitats and undo the damage that humans have inflicted on the environment.

Point Defiance and Sucia Island Intertidal Zone Organism Population

Figure 2 Number of Barnacles, Rockweed, and Periwinkles per square meter

Figure 1 . Arrows indicates location of field study

Point Defiance

Acknowledgements

We would like to graciously acknowledge and thank:

•Foss Water Way Seaport •Our Instructors-Ralph Harrison, Ken Luthy, Sarah Siemen-Luthy, Kainoa Higgins, Maria Jost •Captain Chris and the crew of the Indigo•Tacoma Public Schools•Rangers at Sucia Island State Park for allowing us to give back to the Island•And most important, the Russel Foundation for funding the whole expedition

Environmental Protection Agency. Commencement Bay Nearshore/ Tideflats Superfund Site. Record of Decision. July 2000.

Viarengo, A., and J.A. Nott. 1993. Mechanisms of Heavy Metal Cation Homeostasis in Marine Invertebrates. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. 104:355-372

Viarreno, A. and Rita Fabbri. 1997. A Simple Spectrophotmetric Method forMetallothionein Evaluation in Marine Organisms: an Application to Mediterranean and Antartic Molluscs. Marine Environmental Research. 44:69-84

Future Work

Image 1. Opened musselImage 2. Joline and SAMI students

measuring mussels

Image 3. Students examining the contents of the sea floor

Image 4 . Students calibrating sensors to prepare for a lab

Plot sample being examined by students in the Intertidal Zone

Image 5.