Salinity

Scientists and students have been measuring the salinity (salt content) of water at different depths to learn whether Phragmites distribution within the salt marsh is controlled by ground water (water deep below the ground surface that is the source of well and spring water) or interstitial salinity (water just below the ground surface from the tide).

Each site tested contains five nests of wells (PVC pipes placed in the ground to measure salinity at different depths) that are placed in the following locations in the salt marsh:

 

Nest 1: In the Phragmites

Nest 2: In the middle of the transition zone, which is where the vegetation contains both Phragmites and other salt marsh grasses

Nest 3: In the salt marsh, generally in an area dominated by Spartina patens (salt marsh hay)

Nest 4: In the transition zone, which is where the vegetation contains both Phragmites and other salt marsh grasses, in a different location than Nest #2

Nest 5: A site that is the same distance from the uplands as Nest 1, but contains no Phragmites

 

Salinidad
Científicos y estudiantes han estado midiendo la salinidad (el contenido de sal) del agua de mar a distintas profundidades para saber si la distribución de la caña común dentro del pantano salado está controlada por el agua profunda bajo la superficie de la tierra que es la fuente del agua de pozo y manantial o por la salinidad intersticial (agua justo bajo la superficie de la tierra proveniente de la marea).
Cada sitio de prueba contiene cinco tubos de PVC colocados en la tierra para medir la salinidad adistintas profundidades. Estos tubos que se ponen en los siguientes puntos del pantano salado:
Tubo 1: En las cañas comunes.
Tubo 2: En medio de la zona de transición, que es donde la vegetación contiene tanto caña común como otros pastos típicos de pantanos salados.
Tubo 3: En el pantano salado, generalmente en una zona dominada por heno de pantano salado (Spartina patens).
Tubo 4: En la zona de transición, que es donde la vegetación contiene caña común y otros pastos de pantano salado, en un punto diferente del Tubo2.
Tubo 5: Un sitio a la misma distancia de las tierras altas que el Tubo 1, pero a donde no hay caña común.

Analysis:

Can You Predict How Fast Phragmites Will Spread?
Suggestions for analyzing salinity data by Liz Duff

Soil Salinity Can Predict Invasion Rates of Phragmites australis in Salt Marshes
A presentation given by Dr. David M. Burdick at the 2nd Annual Coastal Science Conference

Data Collected:
You can download files as stuffed Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (requires free StuffIt Expander) or Adobe Acrobat PDFs (requires Acrobat Reader).

I need help with downloading files

Participating School	Location	Restricted? Restored?	View As...
Danvers: Essex Agricultureal and Technical High School	Behind Osram Sylvania in Danvers, MA	Tidal restriction and berm. Not restored.	PDF	Not Available	Excel
Dorchester/Milton	Harbor School, Dorchester, MA	Filled marsh; restoration underway.	Not Available	Not Available	Excel
East Boston: Excel Academy Charter School	Belle Isle Marsh, East Boston, MA	No	PDF	Map	Not Available
Essex: Essex Elementary and Middle School	Conomo Point Road, Essex, MA	Tidal Restriction restored November 2000	PDF	Map	Excel
Gloucester: Maritime Heritage Essex Agriculture	Wingersheek Beach, Gloucester, MA	Berm	PDF	Not Available	Excel
Gloucester: O'Maley School	Mill Pond, Gloucester, MA	Tidal Restriction	PDF	Map	Excel
Gloucester: St. Mels Natick: Home Schoolers	Eastern Point, Gloucester, MA	Tidal Restriction; selected for restoration	PDF	Map	Excel
Ipswich: Ipswich High School (site 1)	Town Farm Road, Ipswich, MA	Tidal Restriction; selected for restoration	PDF	Map	Excel
Ipswich: Ipswich High School (site 2)	Littleneck Road, Ipswich, MA	Tidal Restriction; selected for restoration	PDF	Map	Excel
Ipswich: MAS and NMFS Scientists	Argilla Road, Ipswich, MA	Tidal Restriction Restored Fall 1998	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
Ipswich: The Proctor School (Topsfield)	Cedar Point, Ipswich, MA	Tidal Restriction Phase 1 restored Spring 1999	PDF	Map	Excel
Newbury: Newbury Elementary School Newburyport: Rupert A. Nock Middle School, River Valley Charter School	Parker River National Wildlife Refuge: North Pool	Yes, may be restored in the future	PDF	Map	Excel
Newburyport: Rupert A. Nock Middle School	Joppa Flats, Newburyport, MA	Fill removal restoration and Panne creation 1999. Tidal Restriction not restored.	PDF	Map	Excel
Outward Bound	Thompson Island, Boston, MA	Rocks impede tidal flow	PDF	Map	Excel
Revere: Revere High School	Revere, MA		PDF	Map	Excel
Rockport: Rockport Middle School	Saratoga Creek, Rockport, MA	Storm drain sediments removed, panne creation Sp. 1999 Tidal Restriction not yet restored	PDF	Map	Excel
Rowley: Pine Grove School	Batchelder's Landing, Rowley, Ma	Unrestricted site (reference site)	PDF	Map	Excel
Salem: Collins Middle School	Forest River, Salem, MA	Restricted	PDF	Map	Excel
Salisbury: Salisbury Elementary School	Old County Road, Salisbury	Restricted	PDF	Map	Excel
Salisbury: Salisbury Memorial Elementary School	Railroad bed off Mudnock Road	Tidal Restriction Transects are downstream of restriction	PDF	Map	Excel
Wellfleet:	Herring River	Restricted	PDF	Not Available	Not Available
Wellfleet: Massachusetts Audubon Society	Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary/Herring River	Unrestricted	Not Available	Not Available	Excel

If you'd like to collect research in your community:

(1) Print out the data form (zipped Microsoft Excel):

(2) Send the completed form to:

Elizabeth B. Duff, Coastal Educator/Education Coordinator
Massachusetts Audubon Society
346 Grapevine Rd.
Wenham, MA 01984
lduff@massaudubon.org