Results*
ANOVA was used to compute the data. The ANOVA was calculated based on p=0.05. The data was computed to see if salinity and ph affected snail density It was found that both salinity and pH levels have an affect on snail density (.25m2) on some tide pools while no effect on other tide pools. The cumulative analysis of tide pools for both salinity (p-value 0.013) and pH (0.037) had a significant p-value.
Overview of Results
Figure 1a.
This chart shows the p-values for the relationship between salinity and littorina density. P-values are listed for each of the 6 tide pool analyzed and for the cumulative tide pool analysis. As you can see in the chart three tide pools had a significant p-value. The cumulative tide pool analysis also had a significant p-value.
Figure 2a.
This chart shows the p-values for the relationship between pH and littorina density. P-values are listed for each of the 6 tide pool analyzed and for the cumulative tide pool analysis. As you can see in the chart two tide pools had a significant p-value. The cumulative tide pool analysis also had a significant p-value.
ANOVA Data For Individual Tide Pools
Chart 1.
Chart one shows an overview of each of the tide pools by day. There appears to be a snail migration. The first day the data shows Tide pool 1 having 18 snails, and tide pool 3 had 54. A month later on the third data collection, tide pool 1 had 7, and tide pool 3 had 32.
Figure 1b.
This chart shows the p-value for each individual tide pool in a chart form for pH. Anything below 0.05 is significant while anything above is insignificant.
Figure 2b.
This chart shows the p-value for each individual tide pool in a chart form. Anything below 0.05 is significant while anything above is insignificant. Tide pool 5 showed a highly significant results between salinity and snail density, while pool 4 showed a high non-significant p-value. Tide pool 5 is just two meters away from tide pool 4 yet both have drastically different results.
ANOVA Data for Cumulative Tide Pool Analysis
Figure 1c.
This figure shows a comparison of salinity and snail density, when experimental data is organized from lowest to highest salinity. From this chart you can see number 6 (pool 3 day one) is an outlier from the rest of the data.
Figure 2c.
This figure shows a comparison of ph and snail density, when experimental data is organized from lowest to highest ph. In this chart you can see that tide pool 2, contained almost no snails(one snail was found on day 2).
Tide Pool Observational Results
The following pictures are of the tide pools studied in Nahant.
Tide pool 1
Tide Pool 2
Entire pool devoid of large life except larvae and bacterial/slime growth.
Tide Pool 3
Entire pool is covered in snails in outer region. In the interior region found less snails but more algae growth. Mollusk chain found!
Tide pool 4
Located near mid intertidal zone but still is in upper intertidal zone. Orange/reddish bubble gum algae or cyanobacteria present. Entire pool covered in red colored algae.
Tide pool 5
Very diverse tide pool. Ascophyllum in high density near mouth of pool. The back of pool has mostly coralline and bubble gum algae.
Tide pool 6
Interesting tide pool, the snails found here were very large but are spread out in the tide pool.
* to see the complete ANOVA data for cumulative data please click on pH or Salinity. To see the complete ANOVA data for each individual tide pools please click on Individual pools.