Lake Munson vs' Lake Jackson

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Lake Munson vs. Lake Jackson
Comparison of Plant Species
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Lakes Investigators
Terrence Scott
Seleste Cooper
Jabari "JB" Butler
Airrelle Gonzalez
Natalye Williams
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Research Question
How does the plant composition of Lake Munson
compare to that of a Lake which possesses similar
water quality?
Hypothesis
Lake Munson and Lake Jackson experience excessive
storm water and wastewater runoff, containing
very poor water quality. With urban runoff being
common in both lakes, the plant composition of
both lakes should be relatively low, containing
few plant species in the surrounding area, due to
the pollution from urban runoff.
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Background Information

• Lake Munson has experienced excessive storm
  water and wastewater runoff which was leading to
  the steady pollution of the Lakes water quality.
  In response to this, a water treatment facility
  has been established at Lake Henrietta, which
  provides for water quality improvements by
  capturing sediments and through trash removal.
  Nevertheless Lake Munson still is the destination
  for much of Tallahassee urban runoff, which
  continues to lead to the pollution of this lake.
• Lake Jackson is a lake in which the water quality
  is very similar to that of Lake Munson. Lake
  Jackson has experienced a decline in water
  quality for the last past 30 years, which
  ultimately began with the building of Interstate
  10, which increased storm water runoff. The
  building of commercial areas in the watershed of
  Lake Jackson also contributed to the increase
  storm water runoff. In response to this,
  restoration of Lake Jackson includes the removal
  of accumulated muck, debris, and nuisance aquatic
  plants.

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Materials

• 1 meter stick
• 12 stakes
• Logbook
• Pens
• Camera
• Yarn
• Scissors
• Plant Identification Table/Key

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Procedure
Quadrat Assembly 1.Identify a point along the
shoreline of each lake, and mark this point with
a stake 2. From this specified point, measure 1
meter to the left and mark this point with a
stake 3. Repeat step two twice more (be sure that
the latter stakes are marked at points along the
shoreline) NOTE the stakes may not be placed in
a uniform line as the shoreline will not be in
perfect symmetry 4.From each stake marked along
the shoreline, measure 1 meter out into the water
and 1 meter out onto the land, marking each point
with a stake (at this point there should be 12
stakes in the ground that outline a semi
rectangular quadrat of 3 meters long by 2 meters
wide) 5.Using yarn, connect each stake so that 6
boxes are visibly defined 6.Repeat steps 1 5
twice more at each lake Field Work 1.Once the
quadrat has been established, identify each
species found within the quadrat 2. Photograph
each species that is identified, being sure to
provide a label in the picture 3.For each specie
identified, count the number of that specie
within each individual section and record this
data 4.Repeat steps 1 3 for the two additional
quadrats that will be established at each lake
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Observations
Upon our initial commencement of the experiment
at Lake Munson, we noted that the water appeared
to be in a murky composition. The murkiness of
the water served as a challenge in counting the
plants. During the course of counting the plant
species in the quadrat, we noted many interesting
interactions between plant species and the
environment. Plant species A for example
increased in abundance as the species neared the
water, almost tripling in quantity once
completely immersed in the water. Furthermore we
noted that there was competition between plants K
and J, as they were found in clusters competing
for the sunlight to survive. Water at Lake
Jackson had less turbidity, as thus made counting
the different plant species more convenient.
Although the water was in less of a murky state,
there was a noticeable decrease in the amount of
plant species found at here opposed to Lake
Jackson. There were a few plants that were found
in both lakes however we noted that the plants
that were similar between the two lakes were
found in greater abundance a Lake Munson. There
did not appear to be much plant competition
taking plant between the plants at Lake Jackson.
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Data
Total Plant Population at Lake Jackson
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Data
(Continued)
Total Plant Population at Lake Munson
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Conclusion
To conclude this project turned out to be more
difficult than the group expected. Although
everyone took part in the field work it still was
difficult because of many different species and
the amount of each species that needed to be
counted. There were more species that existed at
Lake Munson which made it easier at Lake Jackson
because there wasnt as many plant species to
count. Our hypothesis was sort of correct but
Lake Jackson had less plant composition which
concluded this lake to have a lower plant
composition than Lake Munson. Each plant species
that were found turned out to be unique in its on
way and tended to make the project more
interesting as it was conducted.
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Source of Error

• We did not provide accurate labels when initially
  identifying the plants
• High tide and low tide were not taken into
  consideration. During the course of counting
  plants in the final few sections of a quadrat, we
  noticed water levels began to rise. This raise in
  water level may have skewed the results as we may
  have not counted plants that may have been
  submerged due to the high tide.
• Each plant species was only counted once per
  section, instead of multiple times
• We had trouble distinguishing between each
  section within the quadrat as the yarn was darkly
  colored, blending in with the environment
• Unprepared to count deeply submerged plants

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Improvements

• More accurately labeling plants not identified in
  the plant identification table
• Being aware of times for high tide and low tide
  for each lake so that a change in water level
  will not occur while counting is taking place
• To provide more precise results, count the
  species with the quadrat more than once
• Make each section within the quadrat more defined
  by using a brightly colored yarn
• Survey the land prior to conducting the
  experiment, as this will allow for procedures to
  run with ease once the experiment commences
• Wearing latex gloves while counting the water
  plants, so that an accurate count of plants
  deeply submerged under the water can be taken

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The End
Natalye Williams Made PowerPoint Field
Work Seleste Cooper Lab Write Up Field
Work Airrelle Gonzalez Lab Write Up, Action
Plan, Field Work Jabari JB Butler Lab Write
Up, Action Plan, Field Work Terrence Scott Lab
Write Field Field Work