1. The Relationship of Wetland Soil Chemistry to the Appearance of the bog turtle, Clemmys muhlenbergii Kayla Kyle, Department of Biology, York College of Pennsylvania Introduction Methods -Determine wetland boundaries on the 2 adjacent wetland sites. -Set-up transects along the sites. -At every sample point a 3 foot hole was dug. -Soil collection -a sample from the top and bottom -Water Table Readings -Munsell Analysis -Chemical Analysis -N-P-K test kit -Statistical Analysis Results Conclusions Future Studies References - Wetlands can be defined by studying vegetation, soils, and hydrology. - Wetlands are important habitats to many unique species; this includes Clemmys muhlenbergii, the bog turtle. - Bog turtles have been on the decline throughout their historic range, which is from southern New England to Georgia. - As habitat specialists, anything causing change in the wetland can have a harmful affect on the bog turtles’ survival. Research Question -Can a difference in soil nutrients (N-P-K) between 2 adjacent wetlands suggest why bog turtles appear on one site and not the other? Schematic of Site -Different analysis technique needed to support/reject results. -Significant vegetative differences may be present. Munsell Soil Color Charts by Munsell Color. 2000. Macbeth Division of Kollmorgen Corporation, New Windsor, NY. Table 1. Water table measurements in wetland 1. A1A1 BCDE 1a1a -9.5-8-10.25-12.25-13.5 22-0.251.5-0.25-14.5 32.52.252.5-14 4-1.252-5.51.25-8.25 5-1.5-3.5-42---- 6-2-----5.25-4.25---- 7 -10-8.25---- a 1-7: Hole numbers 1 A-E: Transect lines *Positive value is inches of water above surface. *Negative value is inches below surface to get to water. Table 2. Water table measurements in wetland 2. A1A1 BCDEF 1a1a -18.25-12.5-11-8.5-5-11 2-161.5-2 -1.50.25 3-513.531.50.5 41.25440.52-2 511.522-2 62.52 -8.51.5-10 7-511----1-10 8---- -10-----10---- a 1-8: Hole numbers 1 A-F: Transect lines *Positive value is inches of water above surface. *Negative value is inches below surface to get to water. Table 4. Wetland 2 Munsell readings at 1' below ground. A1A1 BCDEF 1a1a 10 YR 3/310 YR 3/4 2 10 YR 3/310 YR 2/2 10 YR 3/410 YR 3/3 310 YR 3/210 YR 3/310 YR 2/2 10 YR 3/3 410 YR 3/210 YR 2/210 YR 3/3 10 YR 3/4 5 10 YR 2/210 YR 3/3 10 YR 4/4 610 YR 3/410 YR 3/210 YR 3/410 YR 4/410 YR 3/310 YR 4/4 710 YR 3/610 YR 3/410 YR 4/3---10 YR 2/210 YR 4/4 8--- 10 YR 3/6---10 YR 4/4--- a 1-8: Hole numbers 1 A-F: Transect lines -Nutrient levels in the soil cannot suggest a significant difference between the wetlands to account for the appearance or lack of appearance of the bog turtle. Acknowledgements I would like to thank Dr. Smith and Bob Bull for their help throughout this project. Mann-Whitney test Nitrogen- p-value= 0.4176- not significant Potassium- p-value= 0.7513- not significant Phosphorus- p-value= 0.0645- not quite significant Tiner, R.W., Jr. 1988. Field Guide to Nontidal Wetland Identification. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, MD and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Newton Corner, MA. Cooperative publication. 283 pp. + plates. Table 3. Wetland 1 Munsell readings at 1' below ground. A1A1 BCDE 1a1a 10 YR 3/3 10 YR 3/410 YR 4/4 210 YR 3/410 YR 2/210 YR 3/210 YR 3/310 YR 4/6 310 YR 3/410 YR 3/310 YR 2/27.5 YR 2.5/110 YR 4/4 410 YR 3/47.5 YR3/210 YR 2/27.5 YR 2.5/110 YR 3/6 510 YR 2/210 YR 3/410 YR 2/27.5 YR 2.5/1--- 610 YR 2/2---10 YR 3/410 YR 3/3--- 7 10 YR 3/4 --- a 1-7: Hole numbers 1 A-E: Transect lines