Student Research Reports
The Effects of Soil Moisture in Coverboard Diversity
Organization(s):Pajaro Valley High School
Country:United States of America
Student(s):Juan Escamilla, Vincente Martinez, and Diego Vazquez
Grade Level:Secondary School (grades 9-12, ages 14-18)
GLOBE Teacher:Gary Martindale
Contributors:
Report Type(s):Standard Research Report, U.S. Student Research Symposia (SRS)
Protocols:Soil Fertility, Soil Temperature, Soil Moisture - Gravimetric, Air Temperature, Relative Humidity
Language(s):English
Date Submitted:06/17/2020
● Amphibians are species that are greatly impacted by our rapidly changing environment. We see this with their high extinction rates.
● They are important to food webs at Elkhorn Slough because they transfer nutrients between bodies of freshwater and land.
● Our research project site was located at an oak woodland along the Long Valley Loop Trail at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve.
● Testable Question: Does soil moisture affect the abundance of amphibians and terrestrial invertebrates under coverboards at Elkhorn Slough?
● Hypothesis - If soil moisture increases, then the diversity and abundance of amphibians in coverboards will increase.
● Multiple variables were tested including: soil moisture, soil NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Pottasium), and soil temperature.
● Ultimately our most notable findings were those relating to moisture and weather.