Coastal Laboratory
Reid State Park

ORGANIZATIONAL OUTLINE OF COAST FIELD TRIP

During this field study we will visit a variety of coastal habitats occurring at Reid State Park. Our visit will begin with a walking tour of mud flat, salt marsh, sand dune, sand beach, and salt-tolerant tree and shrub communities where we will observe zonation patterns and specialized adaptations of representative plant and animal species found in these diverse areas. At the midpoint of the field study, we will explore a protected rocky cove where the class will divide into groups to collect representative organisms from each of the various intertidal zones. Afterwards, the class will traverse a short ridge to observe differences in the distribution of organisms found at a section of rocky intertidal area exposed to direct high-energy wave action. Finally, we will return to the protected intertidal site to display and identify the organisms collected earlier.



LAB OBJECTIVES:

  1. Walking tour of mud flat, salt marsh, sand dune, sand beach, and salt-tolerant tree and shrub site
    1. Learn general components of mud flat ecosystem
    2. Learn physical factors influencing salt marsh ecosystem
    3. Become familiar with some salt marsh plants and zonation patterns.
    4. Learn importance of dune system and how it can become endangered, and learn some dune plants.
    5. Learn general components of high-energy beach sand ecosystem.
    6. Learn some biotic components of salt tolerant tree and shrub zone.
    7. Study interrelationships among species and adaptations of organisms to life in these habitats.

  2. Protected intertidal area
    1. Learn biotic components of an intertidal ecosystem.
    2. Become familiar with vegetational zones of a protected intertidal area.
    3. Collect and identify typical plant and animal species.
    4. Study adaptations and interrelationships among plant and animal species.

  3. Intertidal area exposed to open coast
    1. Observe impact of severe wave action on intertidal plant and animal communities.
    2. Study adaptations and interrelationships among plant and animal species.

CLICK HERE FOR FLORA AND FAUNA LIST

CLICK HERE FOR MARINE ANIMALS SLIDESHOW

CLICK HERE FOR MARINE PLANTS SLIDESHOW

Download slides from this year's laboratory trip: Tuesday or Wednesday

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