Marine Biology Statistics Analysis Report, November 2017, University

This report presents a statistical analysis of marine species distribution across different zones (low, high, and middle). The analysis uses box plots to visualize and compare the distribution of various species, including Ascophyllum nodosum, Filamentous Green Algae, Fucus serratus, Fucus vesiculosus, Bare mud, Fucus spiralis, Pelvetia canaliculata, and Corallina Officinalis. The report examines the length and characteristics of the box plots (e.g., whisker length, median position) to infer the distribution patterns of each species within the quadrats. The findings highlight variations in species abundance and distribution, offering insights into the ecological dynamics of the marine environment. The report concludes by summarizing the thriving conditions of each species within the zones.

Running head: Marine Biology/Statistics 1
Marine Biology/Statistics
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01 November 2017

Marine Biology/Statistics 2
Low zone
Ascophyllum nodosum had the longest box plot of fairly equal size with a long top whisker. The
equal long length of the box plot suggests an even distribution of the species across all quadrats
but in varying higher percentage. The only long upper whisker depicts a discrete distribution
amongst the positive quartile group.
Filamentous Green Algae had the shortest box plots of equal lengths and top longer whisker
compared with the bottom whisker. Comparatively short box plots with equal lengths suggest
low level/absence of vegetation cover across all the quadrants and longer top whisker means the
species distribution is varied amongst the most median group, whereas a short bottom whisper
implies minimal/no species distribution below the minimum score.
Fucus serratus is represented by a short box plot with equal boxes and with the lower whisker
being fairly shorter than the upper whisker. A comparatively short box plot suggests that the
distribution of the species is low while a shorter bottom whisker ending at the minimum score
but within the median and the longer top whisker shows a wide range of scores outside the
median. These suggest that the distribution of the species is wide spread above the median while
few plants cover areas below the mean (but within the first quartile).
Fucus vesiculosus has comparatively short boxes with both whiskers of varying lengths. The top
whisker is longer than the lower one. The rather short box plots imply that overall species has a
low level of distribution with most of the plant dominating the median area of distribution as is
represented by the longer top whisker than the bottom one.

Marine Biology/Statistics 3
Ascophyllum nodosum thrives well in the low season followed by Fucus serratus, Fucus
vesiculosus, and lastly Filamentous Green Algae. The four sections of the box plot are of an
uneven size to depict that the species are at some point were found in all the quadrats, but in
other scales, they are more varied.
High Zone
Bare mud had comparatively unequal short box plots with a long upper whisker and no bottom
whisker. The relatively short box plot suggests that overall the species is evenly distributed
across all the quadrants but in varying low percentage. The maximum box plot is longer than the
rest to imply that most of the species were found in the upper quartile group of the quadrants
under study.
Fucus spiralis had unequal and short box plot. The top whisker was long with no bottom whisker.
A relatively small asymmetrical box plot is an indication of low and uneven distribution. The top
long whisker indicates that the species distribution is varied amongst the most positive quartile
group.
Pelvetia canliculata had the longest box plots with fairly equal lengths. The relatively long box
plot suggests that overall the species is evenly distributed across all the quadrants but in varying
higher percentage.
The top long whisker of all the species indicates that the species distribution is varied amongst
the most positive quartile group, and has almost the same distribution for the least positive
quartile group in the high zone with Pelvetia canliculata being highly distributed across the high
zone.

Marine Biology/Statistics 4
Middle zone
Ascophyllum nodosum had unequal and short box plots with a longer top whisker compared to
the bottom whisker. The asymmetrical short length of the box plot indicates that overall the
species is sparsely distributed across some of the quadrants and in varying low percentage. The
bottom whisker extending below the first quartile means that most of the species is located
amongst the least positive quartile group.
Corallina Officinalis had relatively equal box plot lengths with a longer top whisker and a shorter
bottom whisker between the minimum and median scores. The top longer whisker implies that
the species distribution is varied amongst the most positive quartile group, while the shorter
bottom whisker between the minimum and median scores can imply a poor or absence of
distribution in the lower quartile group.
Fucus spiralis had fairly equal and tallest box plots with a top long whisker and a short bottom
whisker hanging between the median and minimum score. The tall box plot with relatively equal
length suggests that overall the species is evenly distributed in most of the quadrants but varying
higher percentage. The top longer whisker implies that the species has higher distribution
amongst the most positive quartile group and vice versa.
Fucus vesiculosus had unequal and taller box plots with a top long whisker and a short bottom
whisker hanging between the median and minimum score. The tall box plot with unequal length
suggests that overall the species is much more distributed regularly in almost all of the quadrants
and varying higher percentage. The top longer whisker implies that the species has higher
distribution amongst the most positive quartile group and vice versa

Marine Biology/Statistics 5
Pelvetia canaliculata had fairly equal and the shortest box plots with a longer top whisker
compared to the bottom whisker which extends a little bit below the minimum score. The
asymmetrical short length of the box plot indicates that overall the species is sparsely distributed
across some of the quadrants and in varying low percentage. The bottom whisker extending
below the first quartile means that most of the species is located amongst the least positive
quartile group.