Description
This paper aims to help the learner learn how to write a scientific research report or dissertation by attempting to provide a solution to the following prompt:
Harbour Baseline Survey for Environmental Status
Baseline studies are fundamental in evaluating the health of an environment… This baseline study was carried out in July 2009 and the results must be seen in the context of a single temporal interpretation. The sampling design and objectives were discussed with stakeholders and the results have been disseminated through the same route. Twenty-nine sites were collected along a transect extending from the inner bay towards its mouth, using a Van Veen grab (See Map 1). Three samples were taken at each site. Water samples were also taken to measure a range of parameters relating to the nutrient status of the water and the presence of enteric bacteria.
A wide range of chemicals was measured in the sediment. These included the elements arsenic, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel and zinc. Oil was also measured by evaluating the concentrations of the petroleum-type fraction and also the weathered “difficult to degrade” fractions. In the excel spreadsheet you will find the following variables: Site No (an identity code for the sample location), pH (refers to that of the sediment), SS (suspended solids in the water), % organic C (percentage organic carbon), Ps %<63 (particle size below 63), Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Zn (elemental analysis carried out with acid digest and analysis by ICP-OES; values as mg/kg dry weight of sample; three independent replicates were taken per site), PAH ng/g (poly nucleated aromatic hydrocarbons as ng/g (ug/kg) by solvent extraction and LC-MS), alkanes (aliphatic fraction of hydrocarbons less than C30 by solvent extraction and GC-FID as ng/g or ug/kg dry weight of sample), TBT ng/g (tributylin by GC-MS after derivitizations as ng/g or ug/kg), DBT ng/g (dibutyltin by GC-MS after derivitization as ng/g or ug/kg), MBT (monobutyltin by GC-MS after derivitisation as ng/g or ug/kg), fecal coliform (levels measured in samples), total bacterial load.
Here is sample raw data:
Here are the other prompt instructions.
Here is a preview of the paper.
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