Seaira- Sediment Sampling

Location: Lake Colby-Alderman Park Cassadaga, Fl.
Latitude: 28.9641534
Longitude: -81.2325607
Elevation: 26 meters above sea level
Weather conditions: 81 F, 97% cloud cover, 2.2mph wind speed, 50% chance thunderstorms.
Sample was taken on the shore of a small fresh water lake, inevitably the sample was wet from the recent rain. I observed several small fish, bivalves, and a few local birds: cranes, ducks, and crows. The vegetation surrounding consisted of pine trees, saw palmettos, fennel, and small grass and moss species.

To begin my sampling procedure I scouted the outer banks of the lake for an area with no vegetation, so I could take my control sample.
I began by measuring out a one meter by one meter space on the ground and marking with 4 posts.
I then took two cup scoops of the top layer of sediment, I placed the sediment in my appropriately labeled bags.

For my next sediment sample I selected a one by one meter square space with a vegetation percentage of about 75%. I again took two cup scoops of the top layer of sediments. The plants in my sample area were shallow rooted grasses.

As far as my continuation of my research project, I have been studying about different species of sea grasses and kelp particularly in the Canaveral National Seashore. I also took a class with a man named Andy Firk who is a native Florida plant species expert. I followed him through a typical coastal environment for almost two hours and recorded different native and invasive species in my field notebook. He gave me some ideas as to specific species that may be good to press and test salinity.