Analysis
Task 1.
Using the data provided in the periwinkle spreadsheet create a kite diagram for the percentage cover of the three species of periwinkle at each sampling point. (A kite diagram graphs the percentage cover data for each species at each sampling point either side of a central axis. The result is a series of parallel lines representing the distribution of each species along the transect with symmetrical 'kites', as the species fade in and out according to their distribution. This can be drawn by hand, however, there are software packages, such as Merlin www.heckgrammar.kirklees.sch.uk/index.php?p=10310, that have been developed to produce these from Excel spreadsheets.). You can view an example of a kite diagram as the data for the barnacles and mussels have been pre-analyzed. The data will be most useful if you sort the species in order of their first appearance along the transect
Task 2.
Returning to the original periwinkle spreadsheet, take the temperature data of the water within the rock pools and present this as a bar chart of temperature against distance along the transect.
Task 3.
Firstly, examine your kite diagram. Are the species organised into distinct zones? Can they be used as indicators of the abiotic conditions along the transect? (You might want to use MarLIN weblink, http://www.marlin.ac.uk/sah/species_information.php, here to explore the species and marine habitats along with information about their ecology).
Task 4.
Think of ways the temperature data from the rock pools might be used to explain the patterns you observe.
Further Analysis
Suggest the factors responsible for the zonation down the shore and suggest ways it might be tested experimentally.
