Procedure
During the research phase, you found that the factory is not using nutrient-removal treatment on the water it releases. Excess nutrients in the water encourage algae growth, which can smother coral. To monitor the water quality and health of the coral reef, you will collect data on five factors: water clarity, dissolved oxygen levels, percentage of live coral coverage, number of juvenile parrot fish observed, and number of mature parrotfish observed.
Data (10 points)
Week
Water Clarity (m)
Dissolved Oxygen Level (mg/L)
Percentage of Live Coral Coverage (%)
Number of Juvenile Parrotfish
Number of Mature Parrotfish
0
6(m)
14.00(mg/L)
35%
8
12
1
4(m)
12.00(mg/L)
30%
7
12
2
3(m)
10.00(mg/L)
25%
7
11
3
3(m)
9.00(mg/L)
25%
5
11
4
2(m)
9.00(mg/L)
20%
4
9
Analysis (5 points)
Select one abiotic factor that was monitored, either water clarity or dissolved oxygen level, and create a line graph showing the measurement of the abiotic factor over time. Then select one biotic factor that was monitored, either coral coverage, juvenile parrotfish, or mature parrotfish, and create a line graph showing the measurement of the biotic factor over time.
For the abiotic factor, let's create a line graph showing the measurement of water clarity over time:
Week Water Clarity (m)
0 6
1 4
2 3
3 3
4 2
Now for the biotic factor, let's create a line graph showing the percentage of live coral coverage over time:
Week Percentage of Live Coral Coverage (%)
0 35
1 30
2 25
3 25
4 20
Overall, the data shows a decrease in both water clarity and live coral coverage over time, indicating potential negative impacts on the coral reef ecosystem. Monitoring these factors regularly will be essential for assessing the health of the reef and identifying any necessary interventions to protect it.