Density and Size of Littoral irrorta in Relation to Salt Marsh Vegitation Introduction Littorina irrorate, or as commonly known as the marsh periwinkle snail, is a gastropod that is found in salt marshes along the east coast of the United States. Marsh periwinkles can be found in both high and low-marsh areas. Densities of this species of snail, ranges from 15 and 66 individuals per m^-2 (Hutcchens & Walters 2006, Shindler et. Al 1994). The species can be distinctly identified by the fact that it’s shell is longer than it is wide (Andrews 1994). The shells of the snail are a dark brown to white color with ridges on the spiral of the shell. Periwinkle snails live on or around marsh vegetation, mainly dead cord grass, Spartina alterniflora. The snails use the cord grass as protection from predators such as blue crabs. When a predator is present, the snails climb high up on the vegetation. They feed on microalgae that grows on the cord …show more content…
Data was collected on 5 different days by undergraduate students as Coastal Carolina University. Students in each class were divided into 4 different plant habitat groups; Juncus romerianus, Spartina alterniflora, Spartina patens, and a mixed group consisting of Salicornia virginica, Iva fructescens, and Limonium caroliniaum. The individual groups took a 0.5 x 0.5 m PVC quadrant and randomly selected 5 different sites within the habitat. In each of the 5 quadrants, students collected up to 50 snails, within the bounds of the quadrant. The tide level during the time of collection was also recorded. Once the field data was collected, the snails were identified by three main species types; Ilyanassa obsolete (eastern mud snail), Melampus bidentatus (common marsh snail), and Littoria irrorata (marsh periwinkle). The snails were measured by length and height using calipers. The weight of a random selection of 10 snails was taken for
On Wednesday, February 15th, I was able to have the opportunity to listen to Andrew Lipman. Andrew Lipman is the author of The Saltwater Frontier: Indians and the Contest for the American Coast. In the novel, he explained the life of Native Americans living in New England and on the coast of Long Island. During this time, most individuals relied on trading natural resources. In order for profit for the resources, the colonists and Native Americans used wampum. Wampum was used as a sacred gift in Native American culture as a peace offering, funerals and marriages. Colonialists had an advantage towards using wampum. They used beads as a commodity for furs. Native Americans relied on canoes for transportation. Canoes can hold up to fifty people.
T. californicus is found from Alaska to Baja in small, shallow tidepools and tidal flats in the upper spray zone where they cannot avoid the full effect of visible and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Individuals assemble in areas of lower radiation at midday, yet have no preference to the intensity of light at dawn and dusk (Hartline and Macmillan 1995). These tiny arthropods inhabit all types of marine sediments from sand to fine mud and ooze. Along with plankton, T. californicus eats microscopic algae, protists, bacteria, diatoms, algae and microbes (McGroarty 1958). When the concentrations of the species in their habitats are high, T. californicus will turn to cannibalism for a food source. The nautilus eye present in the species is rich with fatty acids and provides a good food source for the animal.
Water is the most relied upon resource on earth and if it disappeared life could not and would not exist on this planet. So if one of our main sources of water in South Australia, The Murray Darling-Basin, becomes unusable then we would need to find the problem and do everything possible to stop it or counteract it. This report investigates on salinity in the Murray Darling-Basin, using the issue question “Is there enough being done to counteract the effects of salinity in the Murray?” as the focus. Salinity is a key significant environmental challenge which the Murray faces and if left unmanaged it could cause serious implications for water quality, plant growth, biodiversity, land productivity, infrastructure and could lead to a loss of a water source that’s critical to human needs. In this investigation five different aspects of this salinity issue are presented and these aspects include what Salinity is and how it has become an issue, what the effects are, how salinity affects the rest of Australia, what can be done and is anyone doing anything and finally what the visions are for the future of the Murray and its salinity levels.
If someone is a native of Maryland, they know exactly what one is talking about when the Maryland Blue Crab is brought up into a discussion. In 1989, the Maryland Blue Crab, scientifically known as the Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, was designated the State Crustacean (Blue Crab, Maryland State Crustacean). This crab is not only a key component on the ecological system of the Chesapeake Bay, but also a key economical component of commercial fisheries; although not endangered, the issue of maintaining the population of the species is critical to the Chesapeake Bay and also its inhabitants.
salt marsh habitats. Once a marsh has built up to such a level that it
The purpose of this lab was to determine what vegetation was present above and below the water’s surface and to observe the water visibility depth. We took sampling data from the two different lakes at Noxubee Refuge. The two lakes were Bluff Lake and Loakfoma Lake. The Bluff lake consists of 800 acres of the Noxubee Refuge, and Loakfoma Lake consists of 400 acres (About the Refuge). Many different wildlife species are present at these two lakes. The wildlife includes migratory waterfowl, shoreline birds, and alligators. We observed all three of these wildlife species while collecting data. Along with the wildlife, there are many different plant species to observe. The plant species consist of upland species and bottomland species.
Mangrove roots collect sediments and slow down the water's flow, helping to protect the coastline and preventing erosion overtime. Over a long period of time, the roots can collect enough debris and mud to extend the edge of the coastline further out. Mangroves are teeming with life. Shorebirds, Soldier Crabs, Crab-Eating Monkeys, and fishing cats all make the mangrove home or habitat. Mangroves provide a safe place to live or home and a nursery for a variety of fish, birds, crustaceans, and
The salt marsh is also an important breeding ground for many species of marine life. These animals use the marsh and its tall grasses for protection from predators. Some of the marine life is: clams, mussels, shrimp, oysters and small fishes such as killies and spearing. Some mammals use the salt marsh also. These animals include: mice, skunks and many, many species of water fowl. These animals use the marsh not only as a home, but as a place to find food as well.
Globally coastal wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate, the problem is most of society does not realize the value of these precious wetlands. Coastal wetlands provide an important role in the coastal ecosystem. “Coastal wetlands provide critical services such as absorbing energy from coastal storms, preserving shorelines, protecting human populations and infrastructure, supporting commercial seafood harvests, absorbing pollutants and serving as critical habitat for migratory bird populations”(Anonymous, 2011). Coastal wetlands are an economical asset as well as an environmental one.
A. elegans, sometimes referred to as Death Camas, is a plant in the Melanthiaceae family that can be found growing throughout the inner coastal sand dunes of the Great Lakes. It has been observed i...
DNR, MN. "Faucet Snail (Bithynia Tentaculata)." : Minnesota DNR. N.p., July-Aug. 2011. Web. 14 Apr. 2013.
Natural Processes are actions or events that have natural causes, which result in natural events. The three main coastal environment processes that operate at Muriwai are Coastal Erosion, Coastal Transportation and Coastal Deposition.
An intricate balance has existed between man and the environment since the evolution of the Homo-sapiens’ species. At times throughout history, human ingenuity and will-power seemed to best nature, such as the transportation of water for miles across land in Roman aqueducts, the circumscribing of the globe by Amerigo Vespucci, or the first flight by the Wright brothers in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina; but although these feats were great, until the last few hundred years, the beast that is nature remained unconquered and undisturbed. With the dawn of the industrial revolution in the 1700’s the scale began to tip in favor of man (Industrial). Mass production and industrialization led to environmental destruction via pollution and urbanization. Luckily, for both the planet and mankind, this destruction was recognized and began to be counteracted. President Theodore Roosevelt was one such individual; he stated that, “there can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country,” and set aside 230 million acres of protected nature in the form of national parks, forests, game preserves and bird reservations (Almanac). Since his pioneering preservation acts, states, counties and even nongovernment-affiliated organizations have set aside and preserved land. One such organization is the Little River Wetlands Project whose mission “is to restore and protect wetlands in the watershed of the Little River, a major tributary of the Wabash River, and to provide educational opportunities that encourage good stewardship of wetlands and other natural ecosystems” (Little).
Stiling, Peter. Ecology: Theories and Applications. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1996.
Natural has its own world in St. Martin. The island is about two kilometres long and the deep blue water all around it is outstanding to watch. Rocks of different sizes and types are all around the beach, some of which are with razor sharp spikes that can cut your foot into pieces if you step on them. Moreover, different coloured sea weeds and live corals can be seen on the rocks which are submerged in the water. St. Martin is the only Island in the world with live corals. There are more than thousands of different types of coral in this island. Scientists say that this island actually grew from this coral by the metamorphosis of different c...