Soil Quality Trends at the Edwin B.
Forsythe Wildlife Refuge: Cedar Bonnet Island
Abstract
Cedar Bonnet Island is a sector of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife
Refuge located in New Jersey between Manahawkin and Long Beach Island.
Formerly a dredge spoil disposal location, a reconstruction project was
recently enacted and completed on the island in order to create a more suitable
ecosystem for wildlife and reverse the damage of a nearby roadway. However,
the elevated salinity and acidity of the soils in the area needed to be reversed
before any re-vegetation could occur. To solve this conflict, clean soils were
imported and piled on top of the original contaminated soils in the area,
allowing for the newly planted native vegetation to grow. Multiple issues can
potentially arise from this method of mitigation, including the contamination
of the new topsoil by the soil underneath. In this experiment, soil from various
areas of Cedar Bonnet Island was collected and tested for multiple chemical
properties including soil conductivity (μS), moisture potential (%), sand
fractions (%), sulfate concentration (ppm), and iron concentration (ppm).
Then, values obtained were compared to data collected last year in order to
establish trends and to project the future of Cedar Bonnet Island if no actions
are taken. Results indicated a worsening or stableness of soil parameters
between the two years suggesting that the soil is not trending toward self-
sufficiency and can potentially negatively impact the diverse flora and fauna
in the area.
Figure 1: Cedar Bonnet Island in Manahawkin, New Jersey on December 12,
2018. Ten sites were visited in order to collect soil samples and gauge the
overall health of the ecosystem after a restoration project was recently
implemented
Path 3
Path 1
Path 4
Figure 3: Northern Diamondback Terrapin Figure 4: On November 19, 2019, Cedar Bonnet Island in
nesting sites (red) and soil sampling sites (blue) at Manahawkin, New Jersey was visited to collect soil samples. Five
Cedar Bonnet Island during the 2018-2019 sampling sites were utilized to collect soil samples at and most
research season testing was completed at the school’s laboratory. Locations were
then designated by path number for comparison purposes.
Introduction
• Cedar Bonnet Island is a sector of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
located in New Jersey between Manahawkin and Long Beach Island (Miller 2018).
In previous years, portions of the island served as dredge spoil disposal areas,
heavily degrading the wetland habitat. Recently, extensive restoration projects have
been enacted in order to alter Cedar Bonnet Island into a more suitable ecosystem
for wildlife. Beginning back in February 2015, this plan involved the formation and
mitigation of wetlands, creating nearly 20 acres of tidal salt marsh (Miller 2018).
Additionally, nature trails and overlook pavilions were constructed in order to
increase public access to the area for walks, wildlife observation, and photography
(Perry 2017).
• In order to construct new wetland space on Cedar Bonnet Island, sediment was
imported from a local landfill and was piled upland directly on top of the original
soils (Moore 2014). Previously, when the area served as a dredge spoil disposal
area, the soils gained a high acidity and salinity. Over time, the elevated salt
content and high acidity of the original soil spreads to the clean topsoil, causing
plant growth to halt since the plants are not able to obtain the nutrients necessary
for growth. Additionally, water retention can be affected in the contaminated soils,
dehydrating the plants present in the area.
• Furthermore, sea level rise and the substantial rise in the water table over the
previous years can cause soil components including sulfate and iron to be forced
through the horizons of the soil. This event could cause the contaminants in the
dredged soils below to rapidly influence the topsoil as the water table shifts further
inland.
• The experiment conducted involved testing the topsoil from Cedar Bonnet Island
for conductivity and multiple other contaminants in order to determine trends in the
quality of the soil. Data was collected and analyzed from multiple sites in order to
conclude whether soil contamination occurred from the high salinity bottom soil.
These results could be utilized to determine whether the soils are trending towards
self-sufficiency, given past data collected in a previous research project.
The objective of this study was to analyze multiple soil quality parameters at Cedar Bonnet Island in order to
compare the results obtained to past measurements, thus determining the quality trend of the soil.
Soil Collection at Cedar Bonnet Island
• Collection at Cedar Bonnet Island, Manahawkin occurred on December 12, 2018 and November 11, 2019
• Soil was collected from ten sites in 2018 and five sites in 2019 at Cedar Bonnet Island located at varying distances from the water’s edge.
• Three separate paths were be utilized for sampling.
• Samples were collected in Ziploc bags and a GPS coordinate device was utilized to record sample locations.
• A soil corer was used to obtain soils.
Laboratory Testing of Soil Samples
• Gravimetric analysis tests were run on all samples in order to determine percent composition of sand, silt, and clay for soil collected at each sampling site. Using a suspension method,
15 mL of volumetric soil sample was mixed with water and allowed to settle over various periods of time. Sand settled out of the mixture in approximately 30 seconds, silt settled in 30
minutes, and the remainder was assumed to be clay. Soils could then be categorized using the Soil Texture Triangle.
• Distilled water and volumetric soil samples were combined in a 3:1 ratio to conduct the conductivity tests using a YSI-85 multimeter. The soil mixtures were measured in a graduated
cylinder and the meter’s probe was inserted into the sample. Three tests were conducted per sample site last year and six tests were conducted per sample site this year.
• Iron and sulfate concentrations were determined using a Smart 3 colorimeter and the accompanying testing kits. The water mixture created for the conductivity tests was first run
through a vacuum filtrator to remove suspended soil particles. Tests procedures were then followed using the remaining fluid sample to obtain chemical concentrations
• Using a moisture-analyzing scale, water-retention of each soil sample was recorded by measuring the samples’ moisture percentages. Soil samples remained in Ziploc bags prior to
testing in order to ensure moisture retention. Then, 10g of soil were measured on the scale and the sample was left in the analyzer until a moisture percentage was reached. The scale
heated up to 120℉ until the soil’s moisture was completely burned off.
Figure 2: Cedar Bonnet Island in Manahawkin, New Jersey on November
19, 2019. Five sites were visited in order to collect soil samples and gauge
the overall health of the ecosystem after a restoration project was recently
implemented
Figure 6: Comparison of soil conductivity (μS) readings and path number at Cedar Bonnet Island. Each
increasing path number is father from the water’s edge. When a regression test was run with 95% confidence
interval, an R2 values of 0.8449 and 0.9734 was obtained. This indicates a positive correlation is present for
the first day and a negative correlation is present for the second day.
Path 2
p=0.0998
Figure 5: Northern Diamondback Terrapin
nesting sites (red) and soil sampling sites (blue) at
Cedar Bonnet Island during the 2019-2020
research season
Figure 9: Mean soil conductivity (μS) readings (n=6) obtained from Cedar Bonnet Island soil. A t-test
showed p=0.0998, indicating no significance between the mean soil conductivity (μS) value for each testing
day (α=0.05). Five-percent error bars were utilized to display significance.
Figure 12: A Soil Texture Triangle demonstrating the fraction composition of sand, silt, and clay in the
Cedar Bonnet Island sample collected on December 12, 2018. Results measured showed that soils at all ten
sites were predominately composed of sand, ranging in the Fine Sand, Loamy Sand, Sandy Loam, and Sandy
Clay Loam triangle designations.
Objective Discussion
• To analyze the data, Cedar Bonnet Island was first partitioned into four separate paths, the fourth path only being
utilized for one sample and thus not being included in this study (Figure 4). Data collected pertaining to soil
conductivity (μS), soil sand fractions (mL), and soil moisture potential was then averaged for each path and
compared between the two years in order to determine the extended impact of the restoration project on the
environment. Additionally, sulfate concentrations (ppm) and iron concentrations (ppm) were also measured and
compared to conductivity (μS) for the current research season to compare these numbers to the vitality of the soil
as a whole.
Procedure • Conductivity was measured to be significantly high last year, the values topping at 1476 ppm. When a t-test was
run between last year’s values and this year’s values, a p-value of 0.0998 was obtained, indicating no significance
amongst the data (Figure 9). At the same time, soil fractions have shifted to a higher fraction sand over silt and
clay, contrasting the high conductivity seen. This could be due to increase compaction of the soil as the topsoil
settles, decreasing pore space to allow impurities to leach out (Dejong-Hughes, 2018).
• Pertaining to soil fractions, higher portions of sand were seen over silts and clays. New Jersey soils are known to
consistently display two traits: it is very acidic and sandy (“State Soils: New Jersey”, 2017). However, when a t-
test was run between the measurements obtained this season and last season, a p-value of 0.0263 was returned,
indicating a significant difference between the measurements (Figure 10). A possible reason for this increased
soil porosity could be due to the topsoil settling over time. (Nimmo, 2005). While the rising water table have
pushed some impurities to the surface, high porosity at the A horizon of the soil has also allowed greater
infiltration of surface nutrients and plant matter.
• Soil moisture potential also experienced a sharp increase when compared between the two years. When a t-test
was run, a p-value of 0.0096 was produced, indicating significance between the testing years (Figure 11). The
trend in moisture potential can potentially be due to an increased amount of plant matter and compaction of the
topsoil. Additionally, as aforementioned, the weight of the new topsoil may be causing increasing compaction of
the soil, decreasing pore space between the sand particles and allowing more moisture to be captured (Dejong-
Hughes, 2018).
• Sulfates and iron are both chemical components in soil that can impact the overall conductivity measurements in
a particular area.. When both chemical components were compared to conductivity from the November 2019
testing day, correlations were observed with R2 values of 0.5739 and 0.3053 respectively (Figure 13).
Conductivity is the measure of ion concentration in a solution, so increased amounts of sulfates and iron in a soil
sample can contribute to these increased conductivity measurements.
• The overall results of this study indicated either a consistency or decrease in some soil quality parameters over
the past year. The continuous monitoring of these soil parameters is essential to not only the vegetative life in the
area, but also to the survival of various migratory birds and terrapins that inhabit the area. When sampling areas
were compared to Northern Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) nesting sites documented in
2018 and 2019 at Cedar Bonnet Island, the aforementioned trends in soil parameters were seen in their primary
nesting areas. Diamondback terrapins tend to nest in sandier areas, but high conductivity and lower overall
moisture in the soil can affect the development of a hatchling terrapin (“Northern Diamondback Terrapin,” 2020).
Results
Additionally, alterations in soil composition can affect the heat retention of the soil. Terrapin sex is dependent on
the temperature of the soil around it, so any fluctuation in soil temperature can be detrimental to the survival or
terrapin in the habitat. All in all, more needs to be done to revitalize the soil at Cedar Bonnet Island given the
beauty of the wildlife area and its importance to a plethora of diverse species.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the soil quality at Cedar Bonnet Island is assessed to be trending in an
undesirable direction as conductivity remains consistent to high values in the past.
Additionally, the soil’s sand composition has only become sandier as silts and clays
infiltrated through the soil horizons. Soil compaction is also observed to be increased
compared to last season, as seen by the increased soil moisture potential. If the soil at
Figure 7: Comparison of soil sand fraction (mL) measurements and path number at Cedar Bonnet Island.
Each increasing path number is father from the water’s edge. When a regression test was run with 95%
Figure 8: Comparison of soil moisture potential (%) and path number at Cedar Bonnet Island. Each
increasing path number is father from the water’s edge. When a regression test was run with 95% confidence Cedar Bonnet Island is left to be self-sufficient after the conclusion of the project, the
confidence interval, an R2 values of 0.2500 and 0.8807 was obtained. This indicates a positive correlation is interval, an R2 values of 0.1399 and 0.9552 was obtained. This indicates a negative correlation is present for
present for each day soil samples were collected. each day soil samples were collected. island will digress into the degraded state it was previously in. Given the area’s
importance to species such as the Northern Diamondback Terrapin, it is
overwhelmingly important that actions are taken to ensure the health or the soil at
p=0.0263 p=0.0096
Cedar Bonnet Island.
Acknowledgements
Figure 10: Mean soil sand fraction (mL) readings (n=6) obtained from Cedar Bonnet Island soil. A t-test
showed p=0.0263, indicating significance between the mean soil conductivity (μS) value for each testing day
(α =0.05). Five-percent error bars were utilized to display significance.
Figure 11: Mean soil moisture potential (%) readings (n=6) obtained from Cedar Bonnet Island soil. A t-test
showed p=0.0096, indicating significance between the mean soil conductivity (μS) value for each testing day
(α =0.05). Five-percent error bars were utilized to display significance.
I would like to thank my advisor for his unwavering patience and guidance as I
completed this research project. Over the four years that I have studied soil properties,
my advisor has been instrumental in helping me gain an understanding of
Conductivity (μS) Compared to Chemical environmental science and absorb the impact of the projects I have undertaken. I
Concentrations (ppm) at Cedar Bonnet Island,
would also like to thank the school for supplying the scientific tools necessary to
Manahawkin on November 19, 2019
20 complete this project.
Chemical Concentrations (ppm)
15 R² = 0.5613
10
5
R² = 0.3682
References
0
0 50 100 150 200 250
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Retrieved January 14, 2020, from https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_5
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/NWRS/North_Zone/Edwin_B_Forsythe/CBIDraftEnvironmentalAssessment_%20
Figure 13: Comparison of conductivity (μS), sulfates concentration (ppm) and iron concentration (ppm) on
November 19,2019 at five sites at Cedar Bonnet Island. When a regression test was run with 95% confidence
Figure 14: A Soil Texture Triangle demonstrating the fraction composition of sand, silt, and clay in the
Cedar Bonnet Island sample collected on November 19, 2019. Results measured showed that soils at all five 060614_Package.pdf
interval, R2 values of 0.5613 and 0.3682 were obtained. This indicates a positive correlation is present
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