Rock’n Shorelines, Happy Seaweed

0.0/5
Assessing rockweed in False Creek to help restore natural urban ecosystems.

School:

UBC

Department:

Earth and Ocean Science

Course:

ENVR 400

Instructors:

  • Tara Ivanochko
  • Michael Lipsen

City of Vancouver:

  • Angela Danyluk | Sustainability
  • Nick Page | Park Board

Student Team:

  • Jodie Nowell
  • Carlina Kim
  • Lisha Ge
  • Christina Yan

Strategy:

  • Greenest City Action Plan

City goal area:

  • Clean Water
  • Access to Nature

Summary

We are helping gather information on intertidal ecosystems for the redevelopment of Northeast False Creek for the City of Vancouver. For our research project, we studied a common seaweed called Fucus gardneri (Rockweed) in three different locations: Stanley Park, East of David Lam Park and Creekside Park. We collected data at the sites three times each between December 2017 and February 2018 at night-time low tides. The following variables were measured: the size and type of substrate (rocks), the presence of other species, the water quality, and the length, reproduction, percent cover and abundance of F. gardneri. We then analyzed out data and compared the results between the three locations. From this we found that Stanley Park had significantly more Fucus gardneri present, significantly lower salinity, and significantly more substrate variety. Further analysis showed that having a variety of substrate sizes is the most significant factor affecting the amount Fucus gardneri found at a site. This information can be used by city planners to design complex and natural shorelines to help support diverse urban intertidal zones.

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