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Title: How do the salinity levels of the Sarasota Bay on the South Lido Beach shore correlate to
the density in plants at different intervals (meters) along the beach shore?

DESIGN
Problem: Plants have different tolerance levels for salinity. In this case, plant life on South
Lido Beach is exposed to salty water. Salt from the bay is most majorly composed
of NaCl (Sodium Chloride) as well as smaller concentrations of magnesium,
sulfur, and calcium. As salt is soluble compound, it is dissolved in water. When
this happens, the sodium and chloride ions are separated. When soil and sand take
in salty water, the nutrients that plants need are replaced by the sodium, making
them unavailable to the plant. Some of these nutrients are the same as those in the
water, such as calcium and magnesium. While the sodium replaces natural ground
nutrients, the chloride ions are absorbed by the roots of plants from the soil. The
chloride ions travel through a plant into its leaves. In the leaves, the chloride ions
negatively affect the production of chlorophyll and the rate of photosynthesis. All
these factors affect the density of plants based on their tolerance to varying
salinity levels.

In order to find the effects of the salinity levels of the bay on the density of surrounding
plant life, the different variables will need to be tested. Salt levels at different
areas of the beach and correlating areas of soil at different intervals from the shore
will need to be tested. This will be done with a salt level test kit. Data will be
compared in order to find correlations between salt levels and plant densities.
Plant densities will be compared in three different zones of the South Lido Beach
on Sarasota Bay. Densities will be tested at different intervals from the beach
shore through belt sampling of 20 meters.

There are many applications for this research and its supplementing data. Finding the
affect of water salinity on different plant densities can be used in landscaping both
privately and publicly. Governments and private companies can use the data
collected in order to determine what kinds of plants can be planted in different
areas along a body of brackish or salty water. The data will also aid in knowing
what types of fertilizers and de-icing sprays, based on their salinity, should be
used on or near particular plants, as the affect will be similar to a plant being
planted near salty water.

Hypothesis: At South Lido Beach, the density of plants will differ based on the salinity level
(Parts Per Thousand) at each 20 meter interval along the shore, and in effect, per
meter from the shore of the beach. Salinity level will relate to density of trees in
this way because trees have different levels of tolerance for salt. This will cause
different numbers of trees to grow at different distances from the shore of the
beach.

Variables: Independent: Salinity level (ppt) of the water at separate intervals of thirty meters.
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Dependent: Number and distance (meters) of trees from beach.

Controlled: Time of day, location, trees used, test used.

Assumptions: It will be assumed that water levels will remain the same throughout data
collecting, the weather will be the same all day, and that salt from the water is
present in the soil in which recorded plants are tested.

Materials: Salinity Test

Paper
Pen
Pencil
Tape Measure
Camera
Plant Test
Computer
Calculator

Procedures: 1. Gather materials to complete project.

2. Measure three 20 meter ‘zones’ along South Lido Beach Shore.
3. In each separate zone, photograph the plant life.
4. In each twenty meter zone, record the species of plants.
5. Count number of trees on the tree line in the separate belts.
6. Measure their distance from the shore using a tape measure.
7. Record findings.
8. Test salinity along each 20 meter zone of the shore using a salinity test
9. Record findings.
10. Compare number of plants with the distance from the shore and record.
11. Evaluate hypothesis based on data found.

DATA COLLECTION & PROCESSING

Data
Collection:
Zone One: Bay Side
Average Salinity in Each Zone (ppt) 32.4
Tree Line Distance from Shore (meters) 37.4
Number of Trees 26

There were quite a few trees on the tree line in this zone. Plant
life was somewhat abundant as well, although not as dense as
other areas along the shore.

Zone Two: Point

Average Salinity in Each Zone (ppt) 32.5
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Tree Line Distance from Shore (meters) 3.64

Number of Trees 0

There were no trees along the shore line in this zone. However,
there was an abundance of plant life, which was closer to the
shore in this zone than any other.

Zone Three: Gulf Side

Average Salinity in Each Zone (ppt) 32.5
Tree Line Distance from Shore (meters) 106.7
Number of Trees 54

This zone had the largest number of trees, although the tree line
was the farthest from the shore as compared to the other two
zones. Plant life in this zone was scarce and farther away from the
shore than in the other zones.

See appendix for complete Data Collection.

Data
Processing:
Salinity Levels in ppt
Standard Deviation: 0.0578, TI-83 used.
Mean: 32.47, TI-83 used.
Number of Points Tested: 3
T: 974, TI-83 used.
Degrees of Freedom: 2 (Total number of points minus 1)

Tree Line Distance from Shore in meters

Standard Deviation: 52.54, TI-83 used.
Mean: 49.25, TI-83 used.
Number of Points Tested: 3
T: 1.62, TI-83 used.
Degrees of Freedom: 2 (Total number of points minus 1)

Number of Trees per Zone

Standard Deviation: 27.01, TI-83 used.
Mean: 26.67, TI-83 used.
Number of Points Tested: 3
T: 1.71, TI-83 used.
Degrees of Freedom: 2 (Total number of points minus 1)

Combined
T: 326
Degrees of Freedom: 6 (n1+n2+n3)-3
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This graph shows the relation between the salinity in each zone of the beach and
the number and distance from the shore of trees in each spacific zone. This graph
shows a lack of correlation between the independent (salinity of the water) and
dependent (distance and number of trees) variables.

Error Analysis:
H0= There is no direct correlation between water salinity and the distance and
number of trees on South Lido Beach.

HA= Water salinity and the number and distance of trees have a direct correlation
when compared on South Lido Beach.

Critical t= 2.447 < Calculated t= 326 Therefore Null is rejected.

CONCLUSION & EVALUATION

Conclusion: Based on the data in which it was shown that tree densities were higher farther
from the shore and lower closer to the shore, the hypothesis that “at South Lido
Beach, the density of plants will differ based on the salinity level (Parts Per
Thousand) at each interval along the shore, and in effect, per meter from the shore
of the beach. Salinity level will relate to density of trees in this way because trees
have different levels of tolerance for salt. This will cause different numbers of
trees to grow at different distances from the shore of the beach” was supported.
The hypothesis was supported because it matched the science as was expected. In projects
similar to this one, the same results were seen. Trees and plants near bodies of
salty water displayed similar behavior. While other factors can be considered in
the health of plants, a running trend in which plants are naturally found at similar
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distances from salty water suggests a direct correlation between salinity levels and
plant environment. This, again, was supported in both this lab and others like it.

Evaluation: This lab was fairly simple to carry out. The variables of the lab were easy to control
as time of day is regulatory, trees do not change position, and salinity is easy to test.
I measured the distance of trees from the shore with a tape measure, continuously
placing it down. This was a tedious exercise. Finding and comparing data in this lab
was simple, although somewhat time consuming. The results I found were as I
assumed they would be. I was limited in the length of shore that I used. The data
would have shown either more or less support for the hypothesis with a larger range
of data, especially salinity levels of the bay. Using a tape measure to measure shore
to tree distance, while acceptable for this lab, was not the best way to find these
variables. The tape measure was hard to keep in a straight line, which may be
reason for distances not to be exact. In order to better this lab, I have a few
suggestions. I would first and foremost suggest a larger testing area in order to gain
more data points. In finding the actual data points, there are variations that can be
made in order to have more viable data. Using two people and an extremely long
tape measure to find distance would be more accurate than using a meter stick.
Measuring salinity of both the water and soil surrounding a plant would be
appropriate to show salinity decreases with distance from salty water. Finding data
on how salt affects each plant and finding supporting material of this data would
also be appropriate to include and use for comparison in this lab. Doing this lab in
various locations is encouraged in order to compare data to see trend and patterns
more clearly.