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Biology Draft Bellambi Point Field Study The Intertidal Zone By Jao Magsipoc Year 11 Biology Mr Seymour 20 February 2011 -Introduction- Bellambi Point is located at Bellambi, Wollongong. Bellambi Point is a beach used for many recreational activities such as surfing and fishing. Bellambi beach has sewer works nearby and an outlet pipe crosses the northern end of the beach, with a vegetated dune to the south. There are several rocks in the waves due to rocks and reefs reducing waves to less than 1 metre, combined with the sewer, potentially hazardous for beach users such as swimmers or surfers. Bellambi Point is a dune-capped shale point, which extends 600 m seaward as Bellambi Reef. Either side of the point are two rock and reef-dominated beaches. The northern Bellambi Harbour beach is a narrow 400 m long strip of high tide sand fronted by 50 m wide rock flats grading into reefs which extend 200 m offshore. It faces northeast and is sheltered by the point and reefs, as well as by an attached breakwater, which shelters a large boat ramp and car park at the eastern end. It is backed by an access road, parks and the Bellambi sewer works. Bellambi Point beach commences at the tip of the point and trends southwest for 900 m; the first 400 m in lee of shallow reefs, with a southern 400 m long section open to the sea and linking to a salient in lee of a low reef called Sandspit Point. Aim The aim of the Bellambi Point field study is to use tools and techniques to examine abundance and distribution of species across the rock pools of Bellambi point. To measure abiotic features in ecosystem using the appropriate instruments and to relate the data to organism distribution. To also identify the variety of marine species, and to analyse and construct a food chain/ food web and relate the information to the abundance of organisms. Hypothesis Morula is a predator to most organisms such as the nerita and australchochlea. As nerita populations would be high compared to morula and australchochlea. The distribution of the organisms would depend on the abiotic factors. Materials * Data Logger: Light Meter pH Meter Multipurpose Meter Dissolved Oxygen Meter Humidity Meter Current Meter Wind Meter * Paper * Pen * 30cm and 1m Ruler * 50m Measuring Tape * Markers/Cones * 1m square Quadrant * Water Sampling Cups * Hats/Sunscreen * Covered Shoes * Camera These are the materials for the day -Method- Random Quadrants * Mark spots equally distributed across the desired field to study * Place a quadrant on the every spot and count the specific species and record the numbers * Calculate the average for per quadrant by the sum of animals divided by the number of quadrants * Calculate the estimated average density of centipedes per square metre Data Logger * Connected the light meter to the data logger. * Take the light meter to the specific area and hold it out. * Press the record button on the data logger. * Record results on a table. * Repeat the above steps using the pH meter, wind speed meter, dissolved oxygen, multipurpose meter and the humidity meter. * Transfer or upload the data from the data logger to a computer Line Transect * To place the line of desired length appropriate to area of study * Continuous quadrant sampling across the line, one quadrant per metre line * Count the specific species and record numbers on a graph * Gather results and record on a line graph to show distribution Google Maps (satellite photograph) – Bellambi Point -Intertidal Zones- The intertidal zone is part of the sea, lake or river that is close to the shore extending to about 600 feet (approx 183m). The intertidal zone is physically made up of three different zones. These zones are called the supralittoral, littoral and sublittoral. Supralittoral zones are exposed to air, yet regularly splashed by tides but not submerged under water. Organisms must survive only if they can cope with exposure to air, predators (birds or animals), fresh water from rain and temperature variation (hot or cold). The sublittoral zone is part of the ocean that could extend 200m from low tide line, relatively shallow waters, algae and coral are common organisms found in this zone. During course of the day there are two cycles; low tide and high tide. Intertidal zone is between low tide and high tide. During intertidal zones you would be able to see all sorts of marine species such as many types of seaweed, crabs, starfish, shellfish, clams and mussels. The sun and the moon exert gravity affecting the tides, sun and the moon either creates high tide or low tide. Morula Marginalba A species of a sea snail, found in northern parts of Australia and New South Wales. Its abundance is on rocks of all intertidal zones. The species is usually about 20mm long, The shell has the patterns of black lump rows all over its shell. This species feeds off barnacles, tubeworms or shellfish and drills a hole; it does this by releasing acid from a gland from the front part of its foot. The prey’s shell would soften by the acid. Then morula’s tongue known as the radula licks away the shell. When the hole has been made on the prey, the morula inserts its tongue, rips off and eats the tissue meat. The process of eating its prey could take from 30- 40 minutes of acid releasing then 1-2 minutes of licking/ digging through the shell. The morula takes about 8 hours to penetrate 2mm of shell. Morula releases eggs and sperm into the sea in seasons; spring to autumn, because that’s when microscopic planktonic algae also known as phytoplankton is most available. The ‘young’ developing morula also known larvae feed on phytoplankton. Nerita Atramentosa Nerita Austramentosa also known as black nerites have black shells with while lining underneath. They can grow up to 28mm in diameter. Their abundance is usually found in edges of rock pools and cracks. The species are found in high tide level, feeding on algae film on rocks with their tongues known as radulas. They lay eggs on wet rocks by placing white egg capsules which are 2mm in diameter and attach them on rock surfaces. This egg capsule contains about 100 of eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the tide brings them towards the sea to feed on phytoplankton, until the tide drifts the larvae back to the shore. From millions of eggs, only few survive to make it to suitable habitat, and fewer larvae will survive to adulthood. Factors such as animal predators, storms and extreme weather will make it difficult for the nerita to survive. Austrocochlea Porcata These are small shellfish with black and white band patterns spiralling to the top. They can grow up to 25mm in diameter. The common habitats for austrocochlea are under boulders where they cluster in groups. They have a door which is called operculum to lock in moisture when there is no tide to survive at extreme weathers. They release sperm or eggs into the sea for fertilisation to occur. When the larvae develop the tide drifts them back onto the shore. Just like most shellfish, they eat microscopic plants with their tongues (radulas). Neptune’s Necklace Neptune’s necklace is also known as hormosira banksii. These are species of seaweed found in Australia’s shores. It is commonly found in rock pools at mid tide levels. It’s appearance has strings of olive-brown hollow beads, the beads have a slimy layer to help keep the moisture inside. The beads are filled up with gas, which makes them float on water to allow the process of photosynthesis. These are food source for sea urchins and fish. Some species such as young crustaceans and molluscs is their habitat, for protection from predators and to keep hold of moisture at low tide conditions. This release clusters of sperm or egg out of their sex organs found on the surface of the beads. -Symbiotic Relationships- A symbiotic relationship is between two or more species that interacts. Symbiosis is a close relationship that might occur when two different species live together. An example of this symbiotic relationship would be the bee and dandelion. Where the bee gets to eat the pollen from a flower, the dandelion will use the bee to spread it’s pollen to another flower. Another example of a symbiotic relationship would be a human and a dog where human feeds and takes care of the dog while the dog keeps the human company. There are four types of symbiotic relationships; mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, competition and neutralism. The above examples are examples of mutualism. Mutualism is where both species benefit. Commensalism is where one species benefit and the other unaffected. Parasitism is where one species benefit and the other harmed. Neutralism is where both species are unaffected. -Why do an intertidal field study'- An intertidal field study will benefit the local community by providing knowledge of why things are there and how they are there in the ecosystem. To study the distribution and abundance of species in different areas of intertidal zones. This intertidal field study would provide information to the person who have hired you, due to some plans for development on that area. -References- http://www.ncmg.org.au/EuroSpecies.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormosira_banksii http://www.onr.navy.mil/focus/ocean/regions/littoralzone1.htm http://seashellsofnsw.org.au/Rapaninae/Pages/morula_marginalba.htm Pictures: http://www.google.com.au/imgres'imgurl=http://www.bluering.org.au/Prosobranchia/8721l.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bluering.org.au/Prosobranchia-8721.htm&usg=__xrl9nukK36P-0jVICd0KNcyZdLI=&h=333&w=500&sz=19&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=HaswHehCakausM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=154&ei=idFgTaiNK4LsvQO3y6yrAQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmorula%2Bmarginalba%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D667%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=275&vpy=213&dur=1283&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=126&ty=117&oei=idFgTaiNK4LsvQO3y6yrAQ&page=1&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0 http://www.google.com.au/imgres'imgurl=http://www.cottesloecoastcare.org/Flotsam%2520images/Neritas%2520web.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.cottesloecoastcare.org/molluscs.html&usg=__nNmfRVKxdhi4sLeEzZSE0640kTk=&h=480&w=640&sz=50&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=2TTXCcwVOd769M:&tbnh=123&tbnw=164&ei=BNhgTY6dNpHSuwPh5cWrAg&prev=/images%3Fq%3DNerita%2Batramentosa%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D667%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=431&vpy=344&dur=785&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=133&ty=115&oei=xddgTYndOojsuAPasq2oAQ&page=1&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:0 http://www.google.com.au/imgres'imgurl=http://home.wildiaries.com/files/2010/03/800px-Neptunes_necklace.jpg&imgrefurl=http://home.wildiaries.com/2010/03/22/life-in-the-intertidal-zone/&usg=__wADuovR-MG6cxilaeXyK2dXpAMQ=&h=593&w=800&sz=173&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=s3yGAo0DYTPYTM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=155&ei=w-1gTdbsCobSuwOPuLGoAQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3DNeptune%2527s%2Bnecklace%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26gbv%3D2%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D667%26tbs%3Disch:10,3&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=609&vpy=70&dur=630&hovh=193&hovw=261&tx=106&ty=106&oei=w-1gTdbsCobSuwOPuLGoAQ&page=1&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0&biw=1024&bih=667