Primary Focus: Investigating the invasive reed Phragmites. And salinity (How salty the water is.).
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Transcript of Primary Focus: Investigating the invasive reed Phragmites. And salinity (How salty the water is.).
Some of our QuestionsIs Phragmites spreading? Is Phragmites responding to restoration efforts?How does that correlate with salinity levels?
Where is Phragmites thriving? Where is Phragmites stressed?
•Phragmites prefers water with lower salinity, and has a harder time growing in salinities > 20 ppt (Rozsa 1995)
•Phragmites would grow taller in areas with lower salinity. Shorter stands of Phragmites indicate salinity stress.
•Phragmites would respond to increased tidal flow by decreasing in height and retreating along the transects.
Our Hypotheses
Restore Tidal Flow by
Opening Tide Gates
Increasing Culvert Size
Argilla Road, Ipswich Salt Marsh was restored in 1997 Phragmites
retreated
Phragmites and Salinity Methodology
0
25
Well Depth
-5
-35
-65
-20
-50
-80
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
How
dee
p it
colle
cts
from
Salt Marsh
Underground
Graphic by David M. Burdick Jackson Estuarine Laboratory Department of Natural Resources University of New Hampshire
How does the water cycle and the tide cycle impact salinity levels?
Predict: Where will salinity be the highest: Site 1, 2, or 3?
Phragmites
Salt Marsh HayCordgrass
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=769
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Ocean Salinity is 32-35 ppt
Phragmites Height Scale
0
80
160
240
320
400
Heig
ht (c
m)
Is the Town Farm Road salt marsh healthier now that we have restored tidal flow?Check the things below that would indicate a healthier salt marsh:Higher salinity ____________ Lower salinity __________________More invasive species _________ Less invasive species ___________Taller Phragmites _____________ Shorter Phragmites ____________More native plants _________ Less native plants _____________More wet, dead areas __________ Less wet, dead areas ____________
Hypothesis: Replacing the culvert (pipe under the road) would lead to reduced Phragmites, and improve the health of the marsh.
Does the data support this hypothesis? What evidence do you see? (If the data gives mixed results, please describe.)
Is the Town Farm Road Salt Marsh Healthier now that we have restored tidal flow?Check the things below that would indicate a healthier salt marsh:Higher salinity _____x_______ Lower salinity __________________More invasive species _________ Less invasive species _____x______Taller Phragmites _____________ Shorter Phragmites _____x_______More native plants ____x_____ Less native plants _____________More wet, dead areas __________ Less wet, dead areas _____x_______
Hypothesis: Replacing the culvert (pipe under the road) would lead to reduced Phragmites, and improve the health of the marsh.
Does the data support this hypothesis? What evidence do you see? (If the data gives mixed results, please describe.)
www.massaudubon.org/saltmarsh
Salt Marsh Science Website holds the data.