Journal of Student Initiated Research
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Barna Volume VI Spring 2019 BARNA Journal of Student Initiated Research Volume IV Spring 2020 1 CIEE Perth Photograph credits Front Cover: Alicia Sutton Title page: Alicia Sutton Biography Photos: Kate Rodger, Alicia Sutton, Faith Lundberg, Avery Zartarian, Jesse Girolamo Table of contents: Rick Stuart-Smith- Reef Life Survey, providencetrade.com, Daniel Norwood Back Cover: Alicia Sutton Editors Editor-in-Chief: Alicia Sutton Text Editor: Kate Rodger Format Editor: Alicia Sutton i Barna Journal of Student Initiated Research CIEE Perth Biology and Ecology Field Studies Volume IV Spring 2020 ii FOREWORD Students who participated in the Independent Field Research Project for Biology and Ecology Field Studies were given the opportunity to showcase their research in the student journal Barna: Journal of Student Initiated Research. This course was part of a semester program that took place at Perth in Western Australia. Given the unfortunate occurrence of COVID-19 during this time, students were required to return to their home state and complete their studies online. This meant developing a research project based off previously collected and freely available data. What the students missed out on in terms of field work, they gained from learning how to manage large datasets, larger than what they would have been able to collect themselves in short window of field work. Lectures and weekly meetings with each student allowed for the formulation of project ideas and project design, and students gave feedback to each other which meant they received exposure to a number of different research topics and research methods different from their own. Since 1947, CIEE has helped thousands of students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to live and work in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world by offering the most comprehensive, relevant, and valuable exchange programs available. This particular Biology and Ecology Field Studies course has equipped students with knowledge on how to design and conduct an independent research project, how to problem solve and adapt to changing conditions, and how to write a scientific publication. Thank you to the students and staff for participating in the program and creating a successful and enjoyable experience. To the students, best of luck on your journey through research and discovery and we hope you had a unique and memorable experience in Australia! Dr Kate Rodger iii Barna Volume VI Spring 2019 FACULTY AND STAFF Dr Kate Rodger With a background in wildlife conservation Kate’s research areas of interest looks at the social aspects of biodiversity conservation including governance and protected area planning and management. Past projects include human-wildlife interactions in the marine and terrestrial environment, identifying and minimising visitor impacts through visitor management techniques in protected areas, improving links between science and policy, and integrating ecological and social sciences in nature-based tourism research. A key focus of her work now focuses on exploring human values, perceptions and attitudes, all of which are of particular importance to the sustainable management of our natural areas. Dr Alicia Sutton Alicia is a marine scientist specialising in zooplankton and biological oceanography. Alicia's research has been conducted primarily throughout the Leeuwin Current system and she has an in depth understanding of the marine environment and physical processes off the Western Australian coast and the wider Indian Ocean. Alicia has worked on a diverse range of projects involving zooplankton, seagrasses, fishes and cetacean communities, and is an experienced field scientist having collected a variety of biological and oceanographic data from tropical and temperate environments. She also has a keen interest in citizen science not-for-profit organisations that have a focus on conserving marine biodiversity. iv STUDENTS Faith Lundberg Avery Zartarian Oakland University University of Colorado Rochester, Michigan Boulder, Colorado Jesse Girolamo Wofford College Spartanburg, South Carolina v TABLE OF CONTENTS Sea star and sea surface temperature impacts on invertebrate species richness at Ningaloo Reef Faith Lundberg..…………………..…...………..1-7. Rick Stuart-Smith Plastic pollution patterns on the ocean interface around the northwest and southern coasts of Australia Avery Zartarian……...…………………..……..8-15. providencetrade.com Visitation of Lemon Sharks and Blacktip Sharks at Mangrove Bay’s nursery, Ningaloo Reef Jesse Girolamo…..…………….…..…………..16-21. Daniel Norwood vi Barna Volume VI Spring 2019 RESEARCH PAPER SeaRESEARCH star and sea PAPERsurface temperature impacts on invertebrate species richness at Ningaloo Reef Faith M. Lundberg - Oakland University - [email protected] Abstract exception of most corals, many marine invertebrates are not well understood or Coral reefs contain many diverse species and researched. marine invertebrates play an important but not well understood role in its ecosystem. This Some of the most prevalent research on study examined sea stars and other understanding the roles of marine invertebrate species using a line transect invertebrates dates back to Robert Paine’s survey at various sites around Ningaloo Reef, iconic study of the sea star, Pisaster and acquired remotely sensed temperature ochraceus, in which he discovered its role as data. The analysis showed no increase in sea a keystone species (Paine, 1966). This study star abundance over time, nor did it show any showed the sea star’s importance in relationship between sea star abundance and maintaining diversity in the intertidal region invertebrate species richness. There also by controlling the spread of lower trophic appeared to be no relationship between levels through predation. Ever since, sea stars temperature and abundance or invertebrate have become a species of interest due to their species richness. This could mean that the important role in ecosystems and their Ningaloo Reef system is balanced and interspecific diversity. Sea stars are relatively unaffected by the environmental echinoderms of the class Asteroidea, and pressures faced by other reefs. Ningaloo although often thought to be carnivores which provides an interesting opportunity to feed on bivalves, they can be classified as compare the diversity and resiliency of its omnivores and detritivores (Jangroux & marine invertebrates to other affected reefs Lawrence, 1982). Additionally, some around the world. carnivorous species feed on other sea stars or corals (corallivores), one of the most Introduction voracious being Acanthaster planci, Coral reefs are one of the most well-known commonly known as the crown of thorns sea and diverse ecosystems in the world, and star (COTS). Although a native species, support 30% of all known marine species population explosions of COTS have done (Mather, 2013). Recently, in response to the significant damage to the Great Barrier Reef, growing effects of climate change, many attributing roughly 50% of coral loss to these species of corals and fishes have become outbreaks (Uthicke et al, 2015). flagship species for protecting reef systems Among other anthropogenic factors, climate and bringing awareness to their plights. change appears to be increasing the survival However, there are many other species rate of sea star larvae by 240%, causing their supported by coral reefs that are often population to explode. Climate change has overlooked. It’s estimated that 99% of all also contributed to the bleaching of many animals on earth are invertebrates (Mather, tropical coral reefs, which has been linked to 2013) and these ratios likely extend to the a decrease in species diversity, especially in makeup of a coral reef system, yet, with the species which depend on coral reefs for 1 Barna Volume VI Spring 2019 Table 1: Names and coordinates of the sites surveyed around Ningaloo. Site Name Site Coordinates Site Name Site Coordinates A&D’s Dilemma -21.9, 113.94 Monck Head North -23.18, 113.76 Bruboodjoo -22.93, 113.78 Monck Head South -23.16, 113.77 Cardabia Patch -23.1, 113.79 Monck Wall -23.1, 113.76 Coral Bay Central -23.14, 113.75 Pelican -23.33, 113.78 Coral Bay DEC1 -23.13, 113.75 Pelican North -23.32, 113.78 Coral Bay Offshore -23.13, 113.74 Point Maude Inner -23.12, 113.76 Dugong -22.87, 113.76 Point Maude Outer -23.11, 113.75 Kate’s Corner -21.98, 113.92 Oyster Rocks Buoy -23.04, 113.82 Maud RZ1 -23.21, 113.76 Oyster Rocks South -23.05, 113.82 Maud RZ2 -23.21, 133.76 Rick’s Folly -21.92, 113.96 Maud SZ External -23.18, 113.76 Yalobia Bommie -23.2, 113.76 Maud SZ North -23.09, 113.74 Yalobia Passage -23.2, 113.76 Monck Bowl -23.16, 113.76 Yalobia South -23.21, 113.76 Monck Head -23.18, 113.76 Outside Yalobia North -23.19, 113.75 Monck Head Inner -23.18, 113.76 Outside Yalobia South -23.22, 113.75 Monck Head Outer -23.16, 113.76 shelter and food (Letcher, 2009). The rising of invertebrate species richness was predicted to average sea surface temperatures continues to decline, since as a keystone species, many sea threaten reefs and the populations which stars regulate the abundance of species in depend on them, and much research has been lower trophic levels. Additionally, due to dedicated to repairing damaged reefs and rising ocean temperatures, it was predicted implementing preventive protections. the abundance of sea stars would increase due to the increased survival rate of larvae in While there have been several studies warmer temperatures, while invertebrate regarding sea stars and climate change at the species richness was predicted to decline in Great Barrier Reef, not as much is known response to coral bleaching. about these factors within the Ningaloo Reef system. Ningaloo Reef has a similar tropical Methods climate to the Great Barrier Reef, as it is Marine invertebrate data was collected at 31 located on the north-western coast of sites around Ningaloo Reef by Reef Life Australia, so it is important to understand Survey divers (Table 1). Data was collected at whether these same risks could impact various times, typically in July and August, in Ningaloo.