Annotated Bibliography

Works Cited

Banerjee, Amitav, and Suprakash Chaudhury. "Statistics Without Tears: Populations and Samples." National Center for Biotechnology Information. Industrial Psychiatry Journal, 2017. Web. 5 Nov. 2017.

Statistical studies are usually conducted using part of an entire population, called a sample. Then, generalizations are made about the population as a whole based on the conclusions of the study. Having a random sample ensures that there is less bias and makes the study more trustworthy. A population can be based off of anything, so long as everything within it fit what is being studied and has a common thread. If the study has to do with a change in the population, it is necessary to have a control group. A control group is part of the sample that does not receive any manipulation, so that the effects are more apparent in the experimental group. The bigger the sample size, the lower the potential for error and the higher the chance of having a successful study. This source will help me gain a better understanding on statistics as a whole.

Brooks, Chad. "What Is Statistical Analysis?" Business News Daily. Purch, 28 Feb. 2014. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

This source will help me when writing about my statistical analysis. It notes obviously that charts, graphs, and tables will be very useful when trying to show the statistics I have conducted. Descriptive statistics is all about deriving conclusions from observations, while inferential statistics revolves around drawing generalizations about future occurrences from data. A generalization is taking conclusions from the sample data and applying them to the entire population. In order to get to inferential statistics, one first needs to conduct descriptive statistics. It also talks about the five steps of statistical analysis. Step one is to describe the data and what I am trying to prove or disprove. Step two is to come up with a relationship between all of the data; this includes whether or not there is correlation or causation between the data. Step three is to create a model, and step four is to actually prove or disprove the study. Lastly, step five is to use inferential statistics to come up with generalizations for the future. This will ensure that I properly display and discuss everything that I do in the statistics portion of my project. 

Caduto, M.J. "Ecology & Food Webs in Wetlands." Coastal Carolina University. University Press of New England, 1985. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

This source will be used to talk about the five different food chains in coastal wetlands and how they are interconnected. The aerial food chain deals with organisms that reside above the soil, not just in the air. These include insects, birds, periwinkle snails, and marsh crabs. The benthic food chain is where the majority of the decayed matter is consumed and little is killed. This is due to the fact that the salt marsh floor is made up of dead plant matter and peat. Organisms like bacteria, fungi, fiddler crabs, and worms eat such food. The aquatic food chain is made up of fish, plankton, and shellfish. Kilifish, mummichogs, and silversides are the most common animals in this food chain on Sandy Hook, New Jersey. The avian food chain is made up of ducks and other aquatic birds like seagulls. Lastly, mammals like deer, raccoons, and muskrats reside at the top of the food chain. This information will be useful when discussing the transfer of energy in salt marshes.

Carter, Virginia. "Technical Aspects of Wetlands." U.S. Geological Survey. U.S. Geological Survey, 2017. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

Different types of coastal wetlands are formed based on the area's geology, climate, and source of water. For example, marine wetlands occur near beaches with near access to the open ocean, while estuarine wetlands are a mix of tidal saltwater and freshwater runoff. The hydrologic cycle includes precipitation, surface and ground water, and evaporation. Wetlands are constantly gaining and losing water; it is lost through evaporation, being absorbed into the ground, and by the tide going out, while it is gained through the tide coming in, tidal flooding, ocean waves, and runoff. The hydrologic cycle in the coastal wetland determines the vegetation that is able to live there, thus determining the animals living there. This source will be useful for information about the water in salt marshes, a very big influencer in the environment. 

Chatterjee, Subhasish, Debasis Mazumdar, and Susanta Chakraborty. Ecological Role of Fiddler Crabs (Uca Spp.) through Bioturbatory Activities in the Coastal Belt of East Midnapore, West Bengal, India (2015): n. pag. Marine Biological Association of India. Marine Biological Association of India, 2017. Web. 5 Nov. 2017.

This source will be used to describe how fiddler crabs and their burrowing affect the environment around them. The burrowing moves around soil, since the crabs have to dig and make pellets with the excavated soil at the base of the hole. Bioturbation is when animals move sediment, exactly what happens with fiddler crabs in coastal wetlands. This aerates the soil and allows the nutrients to be moved around. This increases soil water content and nitrogen and carbon turnover. Because of the new holes in the soil as a result of burrowing, the density of the soil decreases. The ecology of the fiddler crab habitat, coastal wetlands, depends on the crabs burrowing, which is described in this source. As a result, it will be very important to the writing of my paper. 

"Coastal Blue Carbon." NOAA. NOAA, 2017. Web. 5 Nov. 2017.

This source will be used to describe the phenomena of blue carbon and the role of coastal wetlands when it comes to carbon storage. Coastal wetlands and saltwater marshes alike reduce the effects of global warming due to the fact that the plants absorb the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and store it. This categorizes the habitat as a carbon sink. Carbon storage is defined as holding carbon for long periods of time, while carbon sequestration is capturing CO2 from the atmosphere. Mangroves and coastal wetlands hold carbon at a rate 10 times faster and hold 3-5 times more than tropical forests. Blue carbon is stored not in the plants, but in the soil; however, plants are necessary in this process, as the hold the soil in place for carbon sequestration. If coastal wetlands are lost, then the carbon that is being held in them will be released, on top of the fact that carbon in the future will not be taken from the atmosphere. With everything mentioned above, this website will be useful when talking about the benefits of saltwater marshes and how they impact the surrounding environment. 

Coastal Salt Marsh (n.d.): n. pag. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2017. Web. 5 Nov. 2017.

Salt marshes are places with halophytic plants, meaning that they can sustain the constant flooding of salt water, and are characteristic of large masses of spartina cordgrass living there. They are in a part of the intertidal zone protected from most of the elements, such as wind and strong waves. From Maine to Florida and throughout the Gulf of Mexico, there are over 4.1 million acres of salt marshes in the United States. Tropical and sub-tropical regions have mangroves rather than coastal wetlands; however, some places, like southern Florida, have both marsh and mangrove areas. The tides bring in sediment needed for accretion, and the halophytic plants living in the low marsh trap it. As the marsh grows older, accretion slows. This source will enable me to write about where salt marshes occur and some of the characteristics of this environment. 

Coultas, Charles, and Yuch-Ping Hsieh. "Ecology and Management of Tidal Marshes." Google Books. St. Lucie Press, 1997. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

Salt marshes have a minimal layer of rich soil over limestone. The low marsh has a lot of sulfur in the soil that, once oxidized, becomes toxic. Ironically, the richest soil also contains the most sulfur. When the soil is oxidized, its pH goes from almost neutral to less than 3, meaning it becomes exponentially more acidic. The salinity of the water ranges from 5-18 parts per thousand, all the way up to a more brackish 40 parts per thousand. These brackish salt marshes occur mostly at the end of river deltas. The most fresh marshes are at the bases of mountains, as they provide glacial runoff. Fiddler crabs prefer a low salinity, as closest to freshwater as possible. This source will be useful when talking about the more technical parts of salt marshes, like its chemical make up.

"The Effect of Sea Level Rise on Salt Marshes." University of Rhode Island Office of Marine Programs. University of Rhode Island, 2015. Web. 5 Nov. 2017.

This source will be useful when talking about the future of salt marshes and, thus, the future of fiddler crabs, as if the future looks grim for salt marshes, as does the future of fiddler crabs. With global warming causing an increase in water and atmospheric temperatures, ocean acidity, and sea level rise, there is concern for salt marshes. The ocean is predicted to rise one meter by 2100, so besides the fact that 70% of the world's population lives within 100 miles of the ocean, 2/3 of wetlands would be drowned by this rise. Because salt marshes act as a nursery to lots of different marine organisms, a water filter for pollution, a flood and erosion prevention method, and as a carbon sink, this loss would not only be detrimental to the surrounding areas, but to the biodiversity and to nature as a whole. Climate change would alter salinity, dissolved oxygen levels, turbidity, and temperature, potentially causing extinction or migration of different species and changing what salt marshes are forever. 

Fagherazzi, Sergio. "The Ephemeral Life of a Salt Marsh." GeoScienceWorld. The Geological Society of America, 01 Aug. 2013. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

With global warming leading to the sea level rising, salt marshes may be underwater soon if the coastal accretion does not keep up with the sea level rise. Higher sea level rise means waves have more energy, thus creating more erosion. Coastal accretion is when sediment is trapped, increasing the elevation of the area. With this being said, if accretion occurs at a quicker rate than sea level rise and erosion, then the salt marsh will increase in size; if the opposite occurs, then the marsh will diminish. Due to the fact that the spartina and other cord grass in salt marshes grow at rapid rates, the marsh can grow several meters a year. This source will help when talking about the role of cord grass in the topography of the salt marsh.

Fiddler Crab Planet Documentary. Land of Dragons. Planet Documentary, 2014. Web. 5 Nov. 2017.

The fiddler crab's name comes from the male's large claw, which is almost equal in size to the rest of its body. They use their walking legs to put sediment in an organ next to their mouth. This organ sifts through and separates the sediment from the organic, food matter. The fine hairs inside of the mouth transport food into their mouths and the sediment is expelled in pellets as they walk. The male's large claw is so big that it is useless for feeding, only being useful when attracting a mate and fighting off other crabs encroaching on their territory. There is usually many different species of fiddler crabs in one coastal wetland habitat, but they are colored differently and every species has a different mating dance. This source will be useful to discuss how fiddler crabs feed and how the different species in one coastal wetland environment identify themselves. 

Fisher, Bethany. "Uca Minax." Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan, 2017. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

This source will be used for general descriptions about the Uca minax species; this includes their horizontal indents behind their eyes, the fact that their eyes are on a stalk, and that their carapace is brownish-gray with red claw joints. It also talks about how they can be either right or left-clawed, meaning that the larger claw males have can be on either side of their body. Because of their larger claw, or cheliped, males take two times longer than females to feed. They use these claws, combined with the quality of their burrow, to attract a female to mate with. This website continues to describe fiddler crabs’ diet; since they are detritivores, they eat algae, decaying vegetation, and sometimes other fiddler crabs. During the winter months, there are few, if any, fiddler crabs spotted since they “hibernate” in their burrows then. The source will allow me to learn basic information about the species and its tendencies.

Gilman, Edward, and Dennis Watson. "Myrica Cerifera: Southern Waxmyrtle." EDIS New Publications RSS. Environmental Horticulture, 06 Nov. 2014. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

This website will allow me to describe a plant that lives in saltwater marshes in great detail: Myrica cerifera. This plant has twisted branches with grey bark and green leaves. It has blue berries with a waxy texture that attract different wildlife, such as birds and deer. This shrub grows rapidly and can reach twenty-five feet in height, although it averages between ten and twenty feet. It is also native to North America and is an invasive species, meaning it takes up as much space as possible. The website will allow me to bolster my information of the different plant species in coastal wetlands. 

Heard, Richard. "Fiddler Crabs Of the Northern Gulf Coast." University of Southern Mississippi. Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, 2017. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

Fiddler crabs are semi-terrestrial crabs that live in tidal marshes and the surrounding mud flats. These types of crabs are named after their mating dance, waving their big claw in the air, which resembles a person playing the fiddle. This dance is interpreted in different cultures to have different meanings and symbolism; Japan thinks it looks like somebody sewing, while Brazil says the crab is asking for the tide to return. The Uca minax species has a square body and lives in a cylindrical burrow in colonies. They also have segmented bodies; most have 20 segments, but rarely a crab will have 21. These include a head, thorax, an abdomen, and five pairs of appendages. Their abdomen is completely underneath their thorax. To feed, they put the sand into their buccal cavity and sift out the organic matter, which is moved into their mouths, with their settae on their maxillipeds. It was studied that a fiddler crab can go through .4 grams of sediment every six hours. All of the information in this source will be used to discuss the morphology and anatomy of fiddler crabs. 

Heyward, Shenek. An Introduction to Basic Statistics and Probability (n.d.): n. pag. Print.

Probability is defined as the likelihood of an outcome. Sample space is any outcome that has the potential to occur, while an event is any type of outcome that pertains to one's interest. This means that if someone were to role a dice, the sample space would be all six sides, while an event could be it landing on 1. Two outcomes being mutually exclusive means that both cannot occur at the same time; this can be related back to the dice example, where all the outcomes are mutually exclusive, since the dice can only land on one side each role. This source talks about the probability side of statistics and gives multitudes of definitions for types of statistical analyses and explanations for commonly used notation.

Hogarth, P.J. "Uca Fiddler Crabs." Encyclopedia of Life. Encyclopedia of Life, 2017. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

This source will be used in order to describe how the fiddler crabs use their claws and appendages for several different activities, as well as to describe their reproductive habits and life cycle.  Males use their big claw to wave around and attract a mate. Once they find a mate, the male traps the female in his burrow for two weeks, until it is time for her to release some hundred thousand larvae into the ocean. They live in this state until they molt into immature crabs. Both sexes look the same until the males grow their cheliped. Fiddler crabs use their walking legs to feed themselves, by placing sediment into their setae- hair-like structures- to filter out the food. If the crabs should lose their legs, they will regrow them in their next molting process. Should a male lose their cheliped, their remaining small claw will either grow bigger or they will regrow it in the next molt; the process to regrow it varies between fiddler crab species. All of this information will help to bolster the part of my paper that has to do with the morphology and biology of fiddler crabs.

Hyman, Orren. "Adventures in the Life of a Fiddler Crab." Google Books. Washington Government Printing Office, 1922. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

The Uca minax species prefers brackish to nearly fresh water. They are larger than most of the other fiddler crab species and have red markings on their carapace and on their joints, giving them their common name- red-jointed fiddler crabs. They rely on burrowing for protection against tides and predators. Fiddler crabs usually stray away from going into the water, but remain close to it, as it is where most of their food is and they cannot swim. When it comes to morphology, the abdomen of males is small and has two pairs of appendages to transfer sperm to female crabs, while females have a bigger abdomen with four pairs of genital appendages underneath. When fertilized, females hold so many eggs that they walk awkwardly. This source will be used for information on the morphology and biology of fiddler crabs, specifically the Uca minax species.

Isotalo, Jarkko. Basics of Statistics (1997): n. pag. Print.

There are four steps to statistics: data collection, analyzing the data, interpreting the data, and drawing conclusions. Scientists use statistics to come up with hypotheses and to test them based on observations in the field. In order to begin a scientific study, one must first come up with a problem, define the population and sample being tested, collect data, conduct descriptive and then inferential analysis, and report the findings. Descriptive analysis deals with the data obtained, while inferential analysis is drawing generalizations about the entire population based off of the descriptive analysis. This source tells me how to go about conducting statistical analysis for scientific studies, as well as gives me a good amount of information about basic statistical processes.

Jackson, Alex. "Features of Deposition." Geography AS Notes. Geography AS Notes, 2017. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

Spits are usually near coastal wetlands on the eastern coast of the United States, and the salt marsh on Spermaceti Cove is no different. Spits are eroded by the constant crashing of waves, but the ocean current deposits sediment; this current is called the longshore drift. Coastal accretion is when sediment is accumulated through the ocean currents, thus increasing the elevation of the surrounding land mass. Plant roods and spartina blades trap the sand and mud and prevent the tide from taking it with the water. Due to the fact that Spartina alterniflora is an invasive species and spreads rapidly, this is helpful to the marsh for keeping sediment. More plants mean more sediment and a higher elevation, meaning high tide floods less and less land, allowing for more mammals and freshwater-only plants to live in the region. This source will be useful when talking about the topography of salt marshes. 

Kille, Leighton. "Statistical Terms Used in Research Studies." Journalist's Resource. Journalist's Resource, 12 Jan. 2017. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

This source will be very handy when I begin to work on my statistics portion of this project and have to analyze my data. It provides lots of definitions of common statistics terms, which will help me to not mess up terminology and be able to speak smartly about my analysis. Correlation is when two variables have the potential to relate to each other, while causation is when one of the two variables drives the other. Sample variance is included in every study, even with lots of data, which is where margin of error comes in. As the margin of error increases, the confidence level decreases, and vis versa. The goal is to have a high confidence level and a low margin of error. Positive correlation is when both variables either rise or fall together, while negative correlation is when one rises while the other falls. Lastly, the p-value is a way to prove how unlikely it is that the null hypothesis is correct. It is calculated as a decimal less than one. All of this will help me when writing my research paper so that I am able to use the right terminology.

Levin, David. "Wetlands." Florida Waterfront. Florida Waterfront, 2017. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

Coastal wetlands are defined as an environment with lots of different types of organisms where water covers the ground for some or all of the year. They filter out of the water, protecting both the environment and organisms living within it from harmful pollutants. They also prevent erosion of the shoreline by absorbing the energy from the ocean. Saltwater marshes are characterized by having cord grass and other grass-like plants, such as the Spartina alterniflora and glasswort found at Spermaceti Cove on Sandy Hook, New Jersey. If the sea grass is thriving, it is a good indicator that the coastal wetland is very healthy. This ecosystem is also a great location for baby fish to nurse and grow into adults. With this being said, this source will be used for more basic information on coastal wetlands and salt marshes alike. 

Mahajan, Deepti. "Salt Marsh." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 22 Oct. 2013. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

Salt marshes are low, relatively flat, and poorly drained, sometimes extending for miles on end. They are flooded periodically and are a home to many different types of grasses. They pepper coastlines with elevations bordering the sea level. Salt marshes are also near barrier bars, beaches, estuaries, and on deltas. A more surprising place to find them is in deserts and other dry places, as rainwater floods them periodically, the salt coming from the surrounding area. The continual flooding of seawater gives rise to a rich soil, enabling massive amounts of plants to grow successfully. This source will help to write about where salt marshes are geographically. 

Marks, Karen. "Wetlands Web." Texas Parks and Wildlife. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 28 Sept. 2009. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

This source will be used to further expand on the food chains in salt marshes. The primary producers in this habitat include all types of plants, as well as algae. The decomposers are made up of organisms like bacteria and fungi, while the primary consumers are made up of insects, periwinkles, and deer. This means that the primary consumers eat the plant matter. The secondary consumers include raccoons, muskrats, and birds, who eat primary consumers. With all this considered, this website will be used to go into more detail about the food chains in coastal wetlands. 

Massie, Frederick. "Fiddler Crabs." Fiddler Crabs. University of Rhode Island, 2017. Web.

The University of Rhode Island’s students have written up a comprehensive website about fiddler crabs and their basic characteristics. Male fiddler crabs have one large claw and one normal-sized claw, while the female has two regular-sized claws. All species look different, but they all have the same, general shape of a smooth and square body. They burrow near the water’s edge, and males attract a female by waving their large claw in front of their burrow. Their burrows are dug using the crabs’ walking legs, are slanted, and can be up to three feet long. Fiddler crabs, especially the minax species, are very territorial, willing to fight over burrows and food supplies. They go in thousands to feed, as well. All of this information will be used in the beginning of my paper to introduce fiddler crabs generally, which will allow me to dive deeper into the Uca minax species thereafter. 

Moffett, Kevan, and Steven Gorelick. "Relating Salt Marsh Pore Water Geochemistry Patterns to Vegetation Zones and Hydrologic Influences." AGU Publications. Washington State University, 2016. Web. 5 Nov. 2017.

Salt marshes do not survive the constant bashing of waves and tidal flooding and draining without the plant roots holding onto the sediment. The plants are food for different species, while the roots help to hold onto and trap the sediment. This prevents the salt marsh from being eroded more than it already is. This information, combined with the fact that this is a scientific paper, is helpful for my research paper. It is useful for me to see what an actual research paper looks like and how to write one, so that mine is as professional as possible. 

Pagad, Shyama. "Gracilaria Salicornia." Invasive Species Specialist Group. Invasive Species Specialist Group, 2017. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

Gracileria salicornia is a red algae commonly found in salt marshes. It ranges from bright yellow and orange to brown and green, and has a cylindrical thallus; a thallus is the name of the body of an alga plant. They live in different environments and acquire their nutrients to live from the sediment they are anchored to. If the temperature of the water reaches 41° Celsius or a salinity of 50-75%, this algae will die. In the presence of an abundance of nutrients, it will rapidly reproduce by means of fragmentation. This phenomenon is known as an algae bloom and takes up massive amounts of oxygen, increasing the hypoxia problem in salt marshes. This source will be useful when talking about the different types of plants living in a salt marsh.

Pendleton, L. "Coastal Wetlands." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 02 Aug. 2017. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

This source talks about the protection of salt marshes and how they are constantly being destroyed by both human and natural activities. Coastal wetlands are destroyed at twice the rate they are replaced. There are five types of coastal wetlands: salt marshes, bottomland hardwood swamps, freshwater mangroves, mangrove swamps, and shrubby depressions. The world has 40 million acres of coastal wetlands, with 38% being in the United States and 81% of that being in the southeastern part of the country. Between 2004 and 2009, coastal wetlands were lost at a rate of 80,000 acres a year on the eastern coast of the country. The most was lost in the freshwater wetlands. This has been caused by both erosion and sea level rise, but also due to urban and rural development and filling in the land to be used for agriculture and silviculture. However, coastal wetlands are beneficial to their surrounding area, as they prevent flooding, take up the energy of the ocean waves to prevent erosion, are a place for commercial fishermen to catch fish and other forms of recreation, and hold massive amounts of carbon. For these reasons, this source will be useful when it comes to talking about the future of coastal wetlands. 

Rembert, Dennis. "Dynamics of the Salt Marsh." South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 2017. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

Salt marshes are common along the southeastern coast of the United States with mixed semi-diurnal tides, meaning that there are two low and two high tides in a single day. The rich soil and constant sunlight, combined with the flooding of salt water periodically, greatly increases the productivity of the marsh. The flora has to deal with lots of changes throughout the day, whether it be tidal, salinity, or temperature, so only certain plants are able to survive here. Adding onto this, most plants cannot live in salt water, so they either die off or adapt to the conditions. Spartina cord grass have adapted by having thick stalks with tough roots and special glands to rid themselves of excess salt, allowing it to dominate the lower marsh. In late fall, the spartina browns and fiddler crabs and periwinkles shred its remains, with bacteria decomposing the remaining bits. This source will be useful when talking about the Spartina alterniflora and its life cycle in a salt marsh, as well as to discuss the other organisms living in this environment. 

Rimsa, Charly. "Sea Lettuce." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 14 Mar. 2017. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

Commonly called sea lettuce, Ulva lactuca is a green algae found in saltwater marshes. It is rich in iodine and vitamin A, B, and C, which is part of the reason it is used in soups and salads in Northern Europe, Japan, and China. The thallus, or body of the algae, looks like a lettuce leaf, hence the common name of the plant, and can be up to a foot long. Sea lettuce reproduces using asexual reproduction by the use of spores, but it also reproduces by accidental fragmentation. This means that should a piece of the algae break off, it has the potential to grow into a new algae plant. This source will be useful when describing the different species of plants in coastal wetlands that are seen at Spermaceti Cove on Sandy Hook, New Jersey. 

Rosenberg, Michael S. "Systematics and Taxonomy of Fiddler Crabs." OUP Academic. Oxford University Press, 01 July 2001. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

Fiddler crabs are very small crabs that live in the intertidal zone of coasts. The males are known for having a major claw, which can grow to be a third to half of their body mass. It is used for fighting off predators and competition for mates, as well as to attract a female to reproduce with. They wave their major claw around to show aggression and to show off how fit they are to reproduce in hopes of catching the eye of a female. Fiddler crabs live mostly in the tropics, however they range from the tip of Massachusetts all the way to South Africa. They have compound eyes, and should a crab lose an appendage, they regrow them when they molt. This source will be used for basic information about fiddler crabs, such as where they live and their morphology. 

Rumsey, Deborah J. Statistics Essentials for Dummies. Indianapolis, IN: Wiley, 2010. Print.

This book describes the wide range of statistical processes and tests that can be conducted. There are a few chapters that go in-depth when describing how to test hypotheses and how to use each of the different testing options. These options include t-tests, p-values, and z-scores. On top of this, the book provides examples, if the description it not helpful enough. Continuing, the book talks about how to calculate margin of error and confidence levels, as well as the importance of both. A scientific study can most definitely not be trusted without a margin of error being brandished on the paper, or else nobody would be able to trust it. I will use this source primarily for the hypothesis-testing portion, in order to accurately draw conclusions from my data set and prove that either my regular or null hypothesis is correct. 

Rumsey, Deborah J. Statistics for Dummies. Indianapolis, IN: Wiley, 2010. Print.

This book talks about common mistakes that are made when conducting statistical analysis, which is helpful in order to prevent myself from making them. These include having wrong or lacking labels on figures, charts, and graphs, not having a margin of error calculated and attached to every statistical answer, and not accounting for differences based on sample size. It also describes how to judge an experiment. It is helpful to know what the outside reader thinks of one's scientific paper, so that it can be revised to fit the image of the writer and portray the message the writer wants. The book is very helpful because it describes the test, then provides many different worked examples for many different scenarios. For these reasons, this source will grant me a better understanding for statistical analysis as a whole. 

"Salicornia Europaea." World of Succulents. World of Succulents, 24 Dec. 2016. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

This source will be useful when discussing the different types of vegetation in coastal wetlands. Salicornia, commonly known as glasswort, sea asparagus, sea pickle, and common glasswort, is an annual succulent. It can have stems that grow up to a foot long and has leaves that look like tubes. It flowers in August and the seeds are ripe come September. This succulent also has small flowers with both sex organs, making the species a hermaphrodite. Lastly, glasswort requires rich soil and lots of nitrogen and water. With this being said, it is evident why it thrives in saltwater marshes. As a result of all of the above information, this source will help me to talk about the ecology of coastal wetlands. 

Schmuller, Joseph. Statistical Analysis with Excel for Dummies. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2016. Print.

This book gives an in-depth explanation to a multitude of statistical analyses and when to use each, as well as provides copious amounts of examples. It starts by giving basic background information on statistics and on excel. Then, it dives right into talking about how best to create a graph, table, or chart, to minimize confusion and maximize effectiveness. The book tells the reader when to use each of the three models and what type of data each is most effective when conveying. This source will be useful when conducting statistical analysis and then showing the mathematical calculations in a way that the reader will be able to easily understand, such as through an excel graph, table, or chart. 

Sweat, L.H. "Atlantic Mangrove Fiddler." Smithsonian Marine Station. Smithsonian Institute, 2017. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

Red-jointed fiddler crabs are large compared to other fiddler crabs, with their carapace having the ability to grow 2.3 centimeters in width. They get their name from the red joints that connect their claws and other appendages to their body. The minax species mostly lives in muddy sediment in the intertidal zones near glassworts and other types of grassy plants, with brackish to almost fresh water. They range from Massachusetts to Northern Florida and Louisiana. Continuing, they take part in a process called ecdlysis, which is when they molt in order to grow bigger; before shedding the exoskeleton in one piece, they pump water into their bodies to increase their size. If one or more appendages need to be regenerated during the molting, the crabs may not grow bigger, but rather shrink. This is caused by them using so much energy to regrow the missing body parts and not having enough to also grow. With all this mentioned, this source will be useful when talking about exactly where red-jointed fiddler crabs can be found, as well as how they molt.

Topke, Katrien. "Marine Biodiversity Wiki." Salt Marshes. Fianders Marine Institute, 2009. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

The specification of my project deals with the ecology of the Uca minax fiddler crab. This means that it has to do with its habitat and how they interact with said habitat. They reside primarily in the coastal wetlands, in the intertidal zone between the land and the ocean. The intertidal zone is the part of the shore that is periodically covered by seawater as a result of the tides. Grasses, shrubs, and succulents make up the flora of the coastal wetlands, with very few flowers. Coastal wetlands replace the mangroves in temperate and arctic regions of the world. They also occur on sand and mud flats, sometimes being dominated by algae, like the Ulva lactuca found on Spermaceti Cove on Sandy Hook, New Jersey. This source will be used for information about coastal wetlands and their properties.

 

Wenner, Elizabeth. "Fiddler Crabs." South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 2017. Web. 5 Nov. 2017.

This source will be used to talk about the taxonomy of the fiddler crab species Uca minax, as well as to discuss how they interact with their habitat. They are in the order Brachyura, comprised of the most advanced decapods that have a short, wide, and flat body. Going further, they are part of the family Ocypodidae, with other decapods that have eyes close together and on a stalk. U. minax fiddler crabs are usually bigger than U. pugnax and U. pugilator. Fiddler crabs are known as environmental indicators, meaning that if there is a high amount of fiddler crabs in the area, the coastal marsh is experiencing a high level of productivity and fertility. Continuing, their burrowing increases the growth of marsh grass and other plants living in coastal wetlands due to the aeration of the soil. Fiddler crabs span along the east coast and Gulf of Mexico to Cape Cod and Texas, and are able to live in the low oxygen conditions that come with a coastal wetland habitat. With this being said, this source will be a massive asset to the writing of my paper and fiddler crab ecology. 

 

"Wetlands." North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, 2017. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

Wetlands are defined as land saturated or covered with water for at least part of the year. They can be marshes, swamps, wet flats, pocasins, and bottomland hardwoods. When they are flooded, the soil has no access to oxygen, so plants must be hydrophytes, meaning they are able to live with their roots submerged. Runoff from storms, land, and roads all find its way to the wetlands. Thankfully, plants in wetlands trap sediment and nutrients, while detoxifying the chemicals in runoff, protecting the environment. The soil stores massive amounts of water and gradually releases it, preventing the surrounding area from being flooded all at once. Continuing, there is an insane amount of vegetation both above and below the surface, preventing erosion. This being said, this source will be helpful when discussing how coastal wetlands regulate themselves and the area around them.

"Why Are Wetlands Important?" EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 27 Feb. 2017. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

Many different characteristics of coastal wetlands make their productivity similar to that of coral reefs and rain forests. The detritus made from decaying plant matter are shredded and eaten by insects and periwinkles, while bacteria and fiddler crabs eat the scraps. The ample food supply in the habitat makes it an important place for migrating animals to take a break, as well as for baby fish to nurse. The plants' ability to hold in extremely high amounts of carbon and nitrogen lessen the affects of global warming. By absorbing the ocean's energy, they prevent flooding and land erosion. Continuing, they are a boost for the economy, as they provide a place for commercial fishing, cutting down timber, and trapping mammals for fur. With all this stated, one-third of organisms that are threatened and endangered live in coastal wetlands; thus, it is very important to conserve them. This source will be useful when discussing how coastal wetlands impact the area around them. 

 

Woodward, Susan. "Salt Marsh." Biomes of the World. Radford University, 1997. Web. 05 Nov. 2017.

This source will be used to discuss the different types of flora in coastal wetlands, where fiddler crabs live, as well as give me more information about coastal wetlands in general. There are three parts of a coastal wetlands ecosystem: the high marsh, mid-shore, and the low marsh. The high marsh contains cord grass, reeds, and glassworts. It is usually only underwater during high, spring tides, as it is that far from the water’s edge. Succulents mostly cover the mid-shore, and the low marsh has plants with low roots that are specialized for low oxygen conditions. Periwinkles eat the dead plant matter, and the fiddler crabs, snails, and other organisms feed on the scraps. During high tide, fiddler crabs plug their burrow with mud to leave themselves air and protect themselves from the rushing water. They also use their burrows to prevent themselves from drying out and to escape predators. The information found in this source will be helpful in talking about the different areas within a coastal wetland and how they pertain to the ecology of the fiddler crab.