Data Mysteries

Data Mysteries

The Connecticut Reserve is part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, a network of protected estuaries along our coastlines. Each Reserve has a System-wide Monitoring Program that measures water quality, weather, and nutrients to see how human activities and natural events are affecting coastal habitats. This allows us to visualize short-term events like hurricanes and learn more about long-term events like warming climates.

Reserves around the nation have created NOAA Data Mysteries using data from actual events, collected through their Monitoring Program. Each mystery contains background information and recommended data to use in the data-graphing tool.

The Connecticut Reserve was designated in 2022 and is still working on getting our Monitoring Program up and running. Until this data is available, we’ve created our own Data Mysteries, using data that’s been collected by researchers, organizations, and volunteers in and around the Reserve.

If you have questions about Data Mysteries, please email our Education Coordinator at CTNERR.Education@uconn.edu.

What’s That Smell?!: The Case of the Sinking Salt Marsh

Kate, a student, has been monitoring salt marsh sparrow nests with a researcher to see how they are being impacted by sea level rise. She learns about restoration efforts to help drowning salt marshes and solves the mystery of what restoration will be best to help salt marsh sparrows.

Grade Level: 7-12
Time Required: 2-3 class periods
Topics Addressed: Threats and pressures of ecosystems; Habitat restoration;  Biotic/abiotic interactions

Teacher Resources:

Activity Lesson Plan & Teacher Background Link Here
Student Activity Sheet Link Here
Part 1 of the mystery: The Polar Bear of the Salt Marsh? Link Here

Solve the Mystery

What’s That Smell?!: The Case of the Sinking Salt Marsh

Kate, a student, has been monitoring salt marsh sparrow nests with a researcher to see how they are being impacted by sea level rise. She learns about restoration efforts to help drowning salt marshes and solves the mystery of what restoration will be best to help salt marsh sparrows.

Grade Level: 7-12
Time Required: 2-3 class periods
Topics Addressed: Threats and pressures of ecosystems; Habitat restoration;  Biotic/abiotic interactions

Teacher Resources:

Activity Lesson Plan & Teacher Background: Link Here
Student Activity Sheet: Link Here
Additional lesson (Part 1 of the mystery): The Polar Bear of the Salt Marsh?: Link Here

Data Mystery: Link to Data Mystery Page