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Hypoxia: A Case Study in R

Author(s): Derek Sollberger

Princeton University

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Summary:
Aquatic ecosystems are home to a complex intersection of physical and biological factors and an intersection of natural and anthropogenic factors. In the Chesapeake Bay, low oxygen events have occurred periodically and may be connected with harmful…

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Aquatic ecosystems are home to a complex intersection of physical and biological factors and an intersection of natural and anthropogenic factors. In the Chesapeake Bay, low oxygen events have occurred periodically and may be connected with harmful algal blooms, fish kills, heavy flooding/runoff events, and warming temperatures. Careful monitoring of the system by the Chesapeake Bay Program since 1984 allows scientists and policymakers to evaluate the causes of the events and monitor improvements in the health of the ecosystem.

Licensed under CC Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International according to these terms

Version 1.0 - published on 27 May 2022 doi:10.25334/DSKZ-AM45 - cite this

Adapted from: Hypoxia in Coastal Marine Ecosystems (Project Eddie) v 1.0

Keywords

  1. data analysis
  2. Oceanography
  3. Project EDDIE

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Description

Students will use a multi-variable 10-year data set from the Chesapeake Bay to investigate the change in dissolved oxygen concentration over time. To determine the possible cause(s) of hypoxic events, students will analyze additional variables and will need to relate and apply their understanding of natural and anthropogenic processes affecting the ecosystem. Students will support their conclusions with evidence from their analyses.

Students will be able to:

  • Support a conclusion using evidence and their understanding of relevant scientific concepts.
  • Explain how environmental factors in aquatic ecosystems can cause hypoxic or anoxic events.
  • Make connections between natural and anthropogenic processes that affect aquatic ecosystems.
  • Students will have practiced their data analysis techniques (sample statistics, regression and correlation, probability distribution, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing) in this guided case study.

Project EDDIE Environmental Data-Driven Inquiry & Exploration) is a community effort aimed at developing teaching resources and instructors that address quantitative reasoning and scientific concepts using open inquiry of publicly available data.

 

Notes

Adapted materials:In addition to switching the computer processes from Excel to R, I have rearranged the materials to be more modular.  Students encounter the introduction and definitions on their own in pre-lecture assignments.  After the in-class labs with the coding and calculations, students synthesize their findings in brief writing tasks to finish the week.

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