I have chosen my study area to be in my own backyard. I have a house on 100 acres of land and because my move to this property has been recent, I feel like this is an opportunity for me to gain a better understanding of the ecology within this property. My property is located near Arnprior Ontario and contains a residential area where my house is situated and mixed hardwood forest comprised mainly of Ash, Trembling Aspen, Balsam Poplar, and Sugar Maple. Spruce and Balsam Fir can also be found within the understory and canopy, but are not dominant. This forest has experienced anthropogenic changes due to logging that had occurred over 15 years ago (exact time unknown) which has changed the composition of the forest from being Maple dominant to having a large presence of Aspen and Poplar (indicitave of past disturbance). The Emerald Ash Borer (an invasive insect that targets Ash trees) is also infesting this forest and causing the Ash to die off. Both of these factors have influenced changes in this forest composition over time. There are also human created trails throughout the property which creates corridor habitat.
The questions I have about this study area in relation to ecology are as follows:
- Are wildlife tracks primarily found along the human created trails or within the thick forested area?
- Are there more birds observed (both audibly and visually) within the residential property where bird feeders are present or within the natural forested community?
- Are woodpeckers primarily found foraging on Ash species within the forest due to the Emerald Ash Borer? Or is there a preferred tree species?