1. (Proposal, Paper, Presentation)
E190 Class Project
(Proposal, Paper, Presentation)

2. The Intertidal Ecosystem
Shoreline between low tide and high tide
Exposed to both terrestrial and marine environments

3. Sitka, AK

4. Intertidal zonation patterns

5. What Causes Zonation?
Intertidal zonation is caused by both abiotic and biotic (biological) processes
Abiotic: temperature, waves, salinity, pH
Biotic: competition, predation, facilitation
Ask for examples from E106 (Paine, Connell)

6. Methods
We’ve talked about different ways to survey – common to use quadrat and transect

7. Data Sheet
Piper
Piper
Piper
10/19/2017
09:30

13. Data Sheet
Piper
Piper
Piper
10/19/2017
09:30 5 30 10 40 20

15. Data Sheet 30 10 20 40 75 20 40 Piper Piper Piper 10/19/2017 09:30 510 20 40 75 20 40

16. Calculating % Cover We can use proportion of live cover
Quadrat 1
Quadrat 2
Rock 30
Algae 10 20
Mussels 40 75
Barnacles
Live Cover 70
135
In our first quadrat we had 30% bare rock so the % cover of mussels is 40/70 = 57.1%
In the second quadrat, we had 0% bare rock so the % cover of mussels is 75/135 = 55.5%

18. Data Sheet 3 1 1

19. Introduction to Dataset
Surveyed 15 rocky intertidal sites along the West Coast
At each site, we surveyed ten transects from the edge of the ocean to bare rock
Surveyed three quadrats per transect in the low, mid, and high

20. Field Set Up
30 meters
3 meters
0.25 m2

21. Field Set Up BARE ROCK HIGH – BARNACLE ZONE MID– MUSSEL ZONE
LOW – ALGAL ZONE
MID– MUSSEL ZONE
HIGH – BARNACLE ZONE
BARE ROCK
OCEAN

22. Recorded Data Percent cover of sessile species Bare Rock Algae
Anemones
Small Barnacles
Large Barnacles
Gooseneck Barnacles
Mussels

23. Recorded Data
Counts of mobile predators
Whelks
Sea Stars
Crabs

25. Data

26. Writing a Proposal What is a research proposal?
A research proposal is a justification for your study
What are you proposing to do? How will you do it? Why is it important?
Provides an outline for your paper

27. Proposal Components
Introduction: Provide the necessary background and context for your project
Frame your project in the context of other scientific literature
Present the broader questions that you want to address

28. Questions What are the questions you will address with your research?
Be specific! Only include questions that can be answered in the scope of your project
What are your hypotheses? What do you expect to find and why.

29. Methods How do you plan to tackle the research problem?
Specifically, how will you answer your research questions. Should provide enough information to determine if the experimental design is sound
Methods “for surveying populations of intertidal species”
Explain how you will analyze the data – upcoming stats lecture next week

30. Significance What is the potential impact of your research
Why is your research important and how will it advance the broader questions your raised in your introduction
Don’t forget to include your references!

31. From Proposal to Paper
A good research proposal should form an outline for your final paper
Familiarize yourself with the literature
Develop your questions and methods
Form the basis for your introduction, methods, and discussion sections

32. Group Activity
In groups of 4, review the questions from the papers on koala abundance and Siberian squirrel populations.
Why are these questions appropriate for the studies? How do the authors frame the significance?

33. Activity
For the rest of class, you’ll have time to think about research questions
Working in groups of 2-3 people, come up with two potential research questions
Data and sample proposals are loaded on the class website

34. Proposals Research proposals are due Tuesday, October 31 by 5 pm
Proposals can submitted by but must be received by 5 pm for full credit