An Oyster Growers Dilemma
Research Question: Where along the Thames River are temperature levels best for oyster growing? Make sure you consider how conditions will change seasonally.
Part A: Background
Water Temperature
Water temperature is very important because it helps to determine what kinds of organisms we expect to find in the estuary. Air temperature, tide and time of year all influence the water temperature. The temperature of the air can influence the water temperature because heat can be exchanged between the air and the surface of the water. Tide influences the water temperature in coastal areas like Long Island Sound because water flowing into Long Island Sound from land via rivers and streams may be a different temperature than water flowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. Time of year influences the water temperature, because Long Island Sound gradually heats up in the summer and then gradually cools in the winter.
Water temperature is measured in degrees Celsius (℃). You may be more familiar with the Farenheit scale. You can convert Celsius to Fahrenheit by multiplying the Celsius temperature by 1.8 and adding 32.
Oysters and Water Temperature
Water temperature has a large effect on oyster growth rates, and thus the productivity of your oyster farm. In New England, oysters do their growing in the summer, and slow or stop growth during the cold winter months. This means that New England oysters can take 4-5 years to reach market size, compared to less than two years for oysters grown in the Gulf of Mexico. Read about the life of a New England Oyster in this article from a Rhode Island oyster farm. According to NOAA, optimum temperatures for oyster growth are 20-30˚C.
Part B: Prediction and Reasoning
If you haven’t already, take the Google Earth tour and think about how the Thames River might vary from its headwaters (where it starts, in Norwich) to its mouth.
Write the answers to the following questions on your sheet of paper.
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Make a prediction. Where along the Thames River do you expect the temperature to be the highest in the summer? Specify a sampling location (labelled A-F on the map).
2. At the location you chose above, what season of the year do you expect the temperature to be the highest?
3. Explain your reasoning. WHY do you think the temperature will be highest at that location/season?
Part C: Analyze the Data
Click this link to open a spreadsheet of water temperature data, then click "file" and "download" to download this spreadsheet to Microsoft Excel. Alternatively, save this spreadsheet to your Google Sheets by clicking "file" and "make a copy".
Use the dataset to make a graph. The type of graph is up to you - decide what would work best to show the result. Your graph should have clear labels on both the x-axis and the y-axis. Hint: You will likely need to process the data (for example, by calculating some averages) before you are able to make your graph. If you have not done this type of data processing before, view this tutorial to learn how.
Part D: Interpret the Results and Make Arguments from Evidence
Write answers to the following prompts on your sheet of paper.
1. Make a claim that answers the research question at the top of this section (one sentence).
2. What evidence was used to write your claim? Reference specific parts of your graph.
3. Explain your reasoning. Make sure to connect your answer to what you have learned about oyster biology, temperature, and seasonal variation.
4. Was your prediction supported by the results? Use evidence to explain why or why not.
5. Are these readings within the normal range for this area? Standard Ranges for Water Chemistry
6. Revisit the prediction you made at the very beginning, about where might be the best place for an oyster farm. Has your choice of location changed based on what you have learned about oysters, temperature, and seasonal variation? Explain why or why not.e of location changed based on what you have learned about oysters, salinity, and seasonality? Explain why or why not.
7. How does temperature change with seasons in the Thames River, and how would you expect these seasonal changes to affect oysters?
8. How would you follow up to learn more about the potential impacts of temperature on your oyster farm? Describe a new question that should be investigated to build on these results, and what future data should be collected to answer your question.
Congratulations! Your final analysis should include the following components:
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Your initial prediction and reasoning about the best location for an oyster farm.
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A statement of the research question that you chose/were assigned
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Your prediction and your reasoning about the research question
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Your labeled graph
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Your answers to the results questions
Share your results with your teacher!