Cedar Bonnet Island: Soil Analysis on How

Moisture and Organics affect Iron

“ Analysis on the relationship between the moisture

content, organic matter, and iron presence in Cedar Bonnet
Island soil”

Report prepared for the Advanced Oceanographic Research class of 2024

Submitted by author Michelle Kagramian

Supervisor: Dr. John Wnek and Dr. Williams

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science
195 Cedar Bridge Road, Manahawkin, NJ 08050

Original Submission 11/7/2023

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Introduction
New Jersey’s salt marshes serve as a home for over one-third of the black ducks in the
eastern United States (Waterfowl and Migratory Birds in New Jersey, 2023). Waterfowl
(Anseriformes) are migratory ducks who use the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge,
Cedar Bonnet Island as a safe landing place. Cedar Bonnet Island (CBI) is a salt marsh located
near Long Beach Island (LBI), which is filled with human activity and development. The
Wildlife Refuge serves an important purpose as it provides a safe migratory location away from
the congestion of LBI. Smooth Cordgrass (Sporobolus alterniflorus), found in the refuge,
provides a cover for various species of birds such as waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds
(Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, 2023). Although they are native to and grow in
CBI, they are also planted there in order to ensure that they are growing in specific locations that
target certain wildlife (Native Plants of Cedar Bonnet Island | FWS.gov, 2021). Smooth
cordgrass are able to grow during the harsh conditions of high tide or elevated salinity (Materne
et al., 2022). However, smooth cordgrass is not able to grow in soils that have high levels of
organic matter due to the lack of stability the soil provides for the grass. As densely packed
cordgrass takes in nutrients from the soil, they produce organic matter that can be used to trap
sediment and control shoreline erosion, but it is also that very same organic matter that kills them
(Release Brochure for ‘Vermilion’ smooth cordgrass, 2018). The result of this is that cordgrass
has to be spaced between 46 and 183 centimeters (18 and 72 inches) apart. In addition to
reducing organic matter, the reduced density of the vegetation decreases the root uptake of water,
meaning less moisture is stored and maintained in the soil (Ni et al., 2019). With the change in
the layout of the environment, it is crucial to monitor the changes the grass might have on other
nutrients and minerals in the soil. Iron, as an example of a mineral, is responsible for increasing
marsh accretion by reducing dissolved H2S with the creation of mineral pyrite (Zhu et al., 2021).
Marsh accretion allows for salt marshes to continue leveling up higher as the sea level rises in
order to maintain their habitat (Williams, 2017). The significance of smooth cordgrass is just as
important as iron is to the refuge that CBI provides. This study will include soil samples from 12
sites on CBI examined for percent moisture (%), percent organics (%), and iron content (ppm).
The data will be analyzed to determine if there is a connection between the three parameters.

Summary
The focus of this study is to analyze the makeup of the soil from various spots across
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Cedar Bonnet Island. Specifically, the amount of
moisture (%), organic matter (%), and iron (ppm) found within the soil were calculated at the
Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science’s Advanced Oceanographic
Research laboratory. The research examines if changing the amount of organic matter by
rearranging the planting of the cordgrass has an effect on the amount of iron present in the soil.
The analysis provides information as to whether or not the motion to decrease the density of
vegetation such as smooth cordgrass creates an insatiable environment by putting it at risk of
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flooding due to lack of accretion from a possible deficiency in iron minerals. It is important to
maintain the health of the CBI wildlife refuge to protect the diverse range of species who live
there.

Study Site
The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey, contains over 48,000 acres
of protected coastal habitats. Of the 82% that are wetlands, 78% is the Cedar Bonnet Island salt
marsh. This area is one of the Atlantic Flyway’s most active paths for seasonal bird migration.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service monitors and maintains the plant and wildlife in order to
restore the habitat for numerous species, especially migratory birds. As some of the last
remaining undeveloped coastlines in New Jersey, this wetland provides a safe location away
from the development and congestion on Long Beach Island (Edwin B. Forsythe National
Wildlife Refuge, 2023).

Soil Analysis Methods

Twelve samples were taken from different sites along CBI (Figure 1). At each site, a 30
cm soil core sampling tool was used to collect soil from below the organic layer (Figure 2).
Additionally, at each location, a Garmin GPS was used to record the coordinates of each specific
site. Over the course of a few weeks, the 12 samples were analyzed for moisture content (%),
content of organic materials (%), and iron levels (ppm).

Figure 1. Collected samples from twelve sites on September

28, 2023, from the east trail at Forsythe Wildlife Refuge,
Cedar Bonnet Island (map by Lauren McNaboe ’24).
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Moisture (%) was determined by measuring 10 g of soil into a pan and placing it inside of
a moisture analyzer machine which calculates the moisture by weighing the sample before and
after it is dried (Figure 3). The percentage of organic materials was calculated by measuring 10 g
of soil into a crucible and then leaving it in a muffle furnace for 24 hours to burn off carbon and
coming back to weigh it once again (Figure 4). The weight was divided by 10 and then
multiplied by 100 to return the percent organics of each sample. ml of the soil from a specific site
was placed into a graduated cylinder with 30 ml of distilled water. The mixture was shaken and
allowed to settle. The water layer was separated into a separate container and vacuum filtered
numerous times to remove any debris or clay. The filtered water was tested using the LaMotte
Iron Testing Kit with a LaMotte SMART 3 Colorimeter on the Iron Bipyridyl setting to indicate
the amount of iron (ppm) present within the samples of the soil (Figure 6). An ANOVA test with
an alpha of 0.05 was run to determine is there was a significant difference between the moisture
content (%) at different sites and iron levels (ppm) at different sites.

Figure 2. Depiction of how Figure 4. The muffle furnace

Figure 3. OHAUS MB 23 soil
the soil was collected in this used to calculate organic
moisture analyzer
study using a soil core device material percentage

Results and Discussion

Soil Moisture and Organics:

Soil moisture ranged from 7% (Site 12) to 14.1% (Site 6); Site 6 had the highest mean
moisture content of 13.95%, while Site 12 had the lowest with 3.8% (Figure 6). An ANOVA test
showed there was a significant difference between moisture contents throughout the different
sites showing how various other parameters such as vegetation could have affected the moisture.
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The relationship between moisture content and iron content was represented by the R2 value of
0.0028, meaning there was no correlation between the two parameters (Figure 7).

Figure 6. The mean of moisture content (%) across twelve sites sampled on
September 28, 2023, at CBI, NJ (n=12; +/-5% error bars). There was a variety
of moisture percentages throughout the different sites. An ANOVA test was
run to determine a significant difference (p < 0.001; ⍺ = 0.05).

Figure 7. Moisture content (%) and iron content (ppm) were determined to
have no correlation across the twelve sites (R2 = 0.003). Samples obtained on
September 28, 2023, at CBI, NJ.
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The percent of organic matter found in soil ranged from 0.86% (Site 9) to 15.22% (Site 8)
(Figure 8). The relationship between organic matter content and iron content was represented by
the R2 value of 0.007, meaning there was no correlation between the two parameters (Figure 9).

Figure 8. The range of organic matter (%) found Figure 9. Organic material (%) and iron content (ppm)
across the twelve sites (n=12). Samples obtained on were determined to have no correlation across the 12
September 28, 2023, at CBI, NJ. sites (R2 = 0.007).Samples obtained on September 28,
2023, at CBI, NJ.

Iron Content:
In this research, iron content ranged from 0.19 ppm (Site 8) to 5.98 ppm (Site 11); Site 11
had the highest mean moisture content of 5.79 ppm, while Site 8 had the lowest with 0.19 ppm
(Figure 11). An ANOVA test showed that there was a significant difference between iron levels
(ppm) throughout the different sites. The preservation of Cedar Bonnet Island is important not
only for the safety of the migrating birds, but for
the rest of the species living in that habitat as well.
Iron in soil is important for the maintenance of the
coastline because it provides a defense against
rising sea level (Zhu et al., 2021). Iron minerals
and nutrients are found in the subsoil layer of the
earth's soil, which is the B horizon (Figure 10;
Reading: Soil Horizons and Profiles | Geology,
2023). This layer is reached at about 31 cm from
the surface layer of the earth. The soil core device
used to collect the soil samples in this study was
only 30 cm long. For this reason, the layer with
the true amount of iron was most likely not
reached with the device. The lack of accurate
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representation of what the iron levels were at each location at CBI supports the fact that iron may
have a different relationship with moisture or organic matter within the soil than the one explored
in this study. Additionally, the ANOVA test showing a significant difference between the
different iron levels (ppm) at various sites may also be inaccurate because it is not comparing the
iron levels from the right part of the earth.

Figure 11. The mean of iron presence (ppm) across twelve sites sampled on September 28,
2023, at CBI, NJ (n=12; +/-5% error bars). The amount of iron varied throughout the
different sites. An ANOVA test was run to determine a significant difference (p < 0.01; ⍺ =
0.05).
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Conclusion and Recommendations

According to this research, organic matter abundance (%) and moisture content (%) do
not have a connection to how much iron is present in the soil (ppm). However, this could come
from the fact that soil needs to be sampled further down the column of the earth in order to
capture the minerals in the B Horizon. If this soil is further explored and is found to be consistent
with the findings of this study, then that means reducing the density of vegetation such as smooth
cordgrass does not have a negative effect on the amount of iron levels present in the soil. Smooth
cordgrass, and other types of native vegetation, can continue to be planted in their designated
areas to provide habitat and nutrients for migratory birds and other species without creating too
much organic matter to the point where it becomes harmful. Overall, the maintenance of Cedar
Bonnet Island through vegetation and erosion protection will benefit all creatures who live there.

1. Vegetation: Maintain the practice of planting native vegetation as it provides a cover for
migratory birds and a home for fish and shellfish.
2. Alerts: Provide many noticeable signs that alert visitors of what not to do when at the
wildlife refuge. It is important that individuals keep away from littering or polluting the
area due to the amount of sensitive populations of species that accumulate there during
the migrating season.
3. Refrain From Development: As one of the only areas left undeveloped on the coastline, it
is imperative that it remains safe from any development because such industrial changes
are more likely to harm wildlife through air pollution, water pollution, and sound
pollution.
4. Continued Research: The area should continue to be monitored and analyzed to ensure
the safest conditions for all the living organisms.

Acknowledgments
Appreciation goes out to the staff and students of the Marine Academy of Technology
and Environmental Science who assisted in collecting the data necessary to conduct this
research. A thanks to the staff at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who continuously look after
Cedar Bonnet Island and protect it for the variety of species who live there.
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References

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. (2023, October 31). FWS.gov; U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/edwin-b-forsythe
Materne, M., T. Bush, M. Houck, and S. Snell. (2022). Plant Guide for smooth cordgrass
(Spartina alterniflora). USDANatural Resources Conservation Service, Louisiana State
Office. Baton Rouge, LA. ​https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/plantmaterials/njpmcpg13933.pdf
Native Plants of Cedar Bonnet Island | FWS.gov. (2021, October 7). Www.fws.gov; U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service. https://www.fws.gov/media/native-plants-cedar-bonnet-island
Ni, J., Cheng, Y., Wang, Q., Ng, C. W. W., & Garg, A. (2019). Effects of vegetation on soil
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Release Brochure for ‘Vermilion’ smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora Loisel. (2018,
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https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/plantmaterials/lapmcrb13365.pdf
Waterfowl and Migratory Birds in New Jersey. (2023, August 21). NJDEP; Department of
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(2021). Small-Scale Geochemical Heterogeneities and Seasonal Variation of Iron and
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