My+Paper

**Kailua Beach Park Tide Pools Ecosystem Study** **//Abstract//** - In summary, my ecosystem study took place at the Kailua Beach Park Tidepools. The research question was whether or not variation in animal life in the tidepools could be observed over a period of many days? The results of this study showed that there were differences in the amount of animal life in the tidepools dependent on where the tidepool was located. The conclusion to this study is that there can be many variables that can change or influence the balance of the ecosystem. These variables are weather conditions, ocean conditions, the make up of the surrounding environment ( rock and sand ), people, and animals. Because we live in Hawaii, both the weather and ocean conditions are very consistent and constant, therefore the possible changes in either is rare. There were only a few people and one or two dogs at the area of this study and neither caused any changes to the area of this study. Therefore, my conclusion relative to all of the results I have discussed is the Kailua Beach Tidepool Ecosystem will continue to be consistent and without much change. **//Introduction-//** The purpose and importance of this Ecosystem Study was to observe a specific ecosystem over many visits. These visits would provide information that would allow us to better understand the plant life, animal life and the varying conditions that are prevelant where the ocean meets the shore. My location was the Kailua Beach Park Tide Pools, or sometimes called Lanikai Point. I chose this location because there was a large area that had many tidepools, it was easy to get to and walk around, there was available parking, and it was also a safe location. For this study it provided an area that had direct access to the ocean, was covered over at high tide, and therefore would be a good location to achieve the goals of this project. The goal of my study was to get as many observations regarding the animal life in these tide pools, and to observe how much life ( number of fish, crabs, whatever I could observe ) was in the tidepools on the different days that I visited this area. **//Procedure-//** This study was conducted at the Kailua Beach Park tidepools. To keep this study consistent we went to the tidepools at the same time, 2pm in the afternoon. This study was conducted during the months of October and November of 2008. We went to the tidepools on some of the Saturdays and Sundays, and during thanksgiving week ( 11/27 and 11/28 ). I also took my digital camera to take photos that I could post to my website. In all, I made 7 visits to the tidepools ( 10/5,18 and 11/9,22,27,28 and 30 ) During this process I collected data on the weather conditions, hightide and lowtide, animals in the tidepools, the amount of water in the tidepools, the amount of salf that could been seen on the surface of the water in the tidepools which was also related to how much sun there was, competition between the animals in the tidepools, and any evidence of predators( mongoose, cats, dogs and people ) trying to eat the animals in the tidepools ( fish and crabs ) My dad went with me on my observation trips, not only to drive me but because he was very interested in what I was doing. My entire study was focused on observing and identifying changes in the tidepools: ( different species of fish, ocean conditions ( tide levels ), weather conditions ( sun, wind, rain ), tide conditions ( high or low ), plant life ( dried up or green and living ), the conditions of all the different tidepools ( quantity of animal life, quantity of water, quantity of salt on the surface, quantity of plant life, quantity of sand and loose gravel, signs that a predator had tried to eat the animals in the tidepools ) All these changes were the result of the ongoing evolution of the tidepool ecosystem. **//Results-//**  Some rock formations were dry, and you could see evidence of salt on the pool surface. As you got closer to the ocean they all had more water on them and the pools were clear with no signs of salt. Close to shore there was hardly any animal life in the tidepools, and as you moved to tidepools closer to the ocean there was an increase in the animal life in the tidepools. There were fish in the tidepools at lowtide, after or close to a high tide there were no fish in the tidepools. The tidepools that were close to shore had little to no plant life in them ( brown in color ), and as you got to tidepools closer to the ocean the plant life increased in the tidepools and was green in color. The results of this experiment were: • The rise and fall of the tides kept the tidepools inhabitants constant and alive. We did not see any dead animal life but some remains of crabs that had been eaten by something • The weather conditions varied over the days of observations. What varied was the amount of sunshine, wind, humidity, people and dogs. There was no rain on any of the observation days. • The tidepools closer to shore had the most salt, less water, less oxygen, and less plant and animal life • The rock formations predetermined the variations in size for all the tidepools There was little ( remains of a crab )or no evidence that any predators had invaded the tidepool life

**//Free Journal Observations//** - This area was about 50ft to 100ft wide between the ocean and the shore where high tide would rise to. The area was approximately 50 yards in length. This area was almost completely rock, with very little sand which was only in the tidepools close to shore some 50-60 feet away from the ocean. Some of the tidepools were disconnected from the ocean, others were not and ranged in size, shape and the amount of water that was in them. The inhabitants and plant life also ranged in size, color and shape ( fish, crabs and see snails ) too. In the 14 tidepools I observed, I counted just 9 fish. As I continued to observe on other days, I noticed animals fighting, so competition was happening for food and living space. The changing tides and weather also affected the amount of water and sand in these tidepools. I also observed how many people, pets and any wild animals might be around or evidence they had been around, and there was nothing that suggested that any predators were trying to catch or eat the animals in the tidepools. In summary, every single tidepool was its own miniature ecosystem, and a part of the larger ecosystem that included all the tidepools in this given area. **//Assigned Journal Observations//** - The niches of organisms ( there were numerous varieties ) in this ecosystem were many. There were different types of fish ( scavenger fish, fighter fish, small tide pool fish, and many different colored coral fish ) There were also different types of hermit crabs ( scavenger, fighter, foragers, tide pool crabs, coral reef crabs and some from the ocean ) I also observed predator-prey relationships. I saw the remains of several dead crabs, which suggested that something had attacked and eaten them for food. I would deduct that this was the result of the tidepool being exposed at low tide and making all the animals vulnerable to predators. I also noticed competition between hermit crabs in one tide-pool environment. These hermit crabs were fitting over a dead fish. When animals or creatures are in such a small secluded area their natural instinct is to compete over things such as: food, living space, etc. So watch the cool video of hermit crabs fighting and jumping all over each other to get (eat) this dead fish (FOOD!). ( You can see this on my website of my study ) Another area of concern were the environmental pressures that could be driving natural selection in this tidepool ecosystem. An environmental pressure that could be driving Natural Selection in my eco-zone would probably be the fish and there mating habits. Fish can produce more fish than any other sea creature in the tide pools. They make up to 400-500 babies at one time. They have the ability to survive longer and produce more off spring then others.......(The theory of its action was first fully expounded by Charles Darwin and is now believed to be the main process that brings about evolution). Another area of concern is the biological process and geochemical process. This has to do with my ecosystems carbon cycle, and what it would look like. The carbon cycle in this area had CO2 coming from the atmosphere in the ocean, from the ocean the CO2 would get into the rocks through photosynthesis, then this rock would end up eroding and putting the CO2 back into the ocean. The other process would have ocean life feeding on plants or the fossils of these plants decaying, and in both cases releasing CO2 back into the ocean. In some cases volcanic activity would also release CO2 into the atmosphere. The results of this experiment were: • The rise and fall of the tides kept the tidepools inhabitants constant and alive. We did not see any dead animal life • The weather conditions varied over the days of observations. What varied was the amount of sunshine, wind, humidity, people and dogs. There was no rain on any of the observation days. • The tidepools closer to shore had the most salt, less water, less oxygen, and less plant and animal life • The rock formations predetermined the variations in size for all the tidepools There was little or no evidence that any predators had invaded the tidepool life **//Discussion-//** The results of this study suggested that there was not that much change over all of the days that I observed the Kailua Beach Tidepools. The reason for this was due to there being very little change in the ocean conditions and the overall weather conditions over all the days of this study. There was only one day that had high tide and we did not see any animal life in these tidepools that day. On 11/27/08, when it was low tide, I observed 9 fish in the tidepools. On 11/28/08, when it was low tide again, I observed 16 fish in the tidepools. The process of low tide had been gentle enough that fish were able to stay in the tidepools as the water receeded. On 11/30/08, when it was high tide, I observed no fish in any of the tidepools. I also observed this day that the waves and water conditions were rough, therefore these conditions made it impossible for any fish to stay in the tidepools. To bring a comparison to this study I did some research on the Tidepools at Pupukea which is located on the north shore of Oahu, about one mile from Waimea Bay. These tidepools are have similar ecosystems to the Kailua Beach Tidepools and I was interested in comparing both areas. I went to the website that showed pictures of the Pupukea Tidepools and suprisingly, this area is a great deal larger, but I was seeing very similar observations between the Kailua Beach Tidepools, and the Pupukea Tidepools - Here are some of the observations I made from the Pupukea Tidepools website photos -The tidepools ranged in size from very small to large enough for people to swim in. The tidepools were about 50% rock area and 50% sand area. ( Pupukea Tidepools Website 2008 )The tidepool area was about 300 yards long and 150 yards wide from shore to ocean ( personal visits with family ) At low tide you could see many fish of all sizes in all of the tidepools. ( personal visits with family )The plant life was greener nearer the ocean and turning brown and dryer by the shore ( personal visits with family ) The weather and ocean conditions are similar to Kailua Beach ( Pupukea Tidepools Website 2008 )Both tidepool areas are exposed to the open ocean ( Pupukea Tidepools Website 2008 )Both areas had people and animal traffic ( Pupukea Tidepools Website 2008 ) **//Works Cited// -** Website for the Pupukea Tidepools Fry, Kathleen. "Pupukea Tide Pools - North Shore of Oahu." __Hawaii for Visitors - Hawaii Travel Web Site - by Kathie Fry__. 17 Dec. 2008 < [|__http://www.hawaiiforvisitors.com/oahu/attractions/pupukea-tidepools.htm__] >. **