1. Identify the organism or biological attribute that you plan to study.
Due to the time of year and beginning of spring construction, there is two major observations I would like to focus on.
-This first would be the comparison of bird species (total number of different species) directly west of the construction area (the construction area is directly east of the study area, and 24.5 m higher in elevation), vs 250 m, Northwest of the construction area and 500 m North/West of the construction area.
-The next would be the changes in vegetation amount directly west of the construction area (the construction area is directly east of the study area, and 24.5 m higher in elevation), vs 250m North/West of the construction area, and 500 m North/West of the construction area.
The reason being for the observation of a bird diversity and vegetation focus is for a better understanding on the similarities and differences between relationship between birds and vegetation, along with the impacts that down stream construction impacts can play on the vegetative species within a wetland ecosystem.
2. Use your field journal to document observations of your organism or biological attribute along an environmental gradient. Choose at least three locations along the gradient and observe and record any changes in the distribution, abundance, or character of your object of study.
3. Think about underlying processes that may cause any patterns that you have observed. Postulate one hypothesis and make one formal prediction based on that hypothesis. Your hypothesis may include the environmental gradient; however, if you come up with a hypothesis that you want to pursue within one part of the gradient or one site, that is acceptable as well.
The patterned noticed in both observations would be, directly west of the construction zone creates a low diversity area for both birds and vegetation species, along with the total mass of bird or vegetation present. As we move farther North, away from the construction zone runoff, the diversity of both bird and vegetation increases, along with the total mass of birds and vegetation. There are many underlying processes that would impact these results. The first being how the City of Airdrie influences species diversity through human activity, light pollution, food resources and overall human activity. However, I do believe this impacts birds more then vegetation. The second would be the direct impact of sediment/pollution runoff from the active construction zone (directly East of location 1). The removal of soil, and vegetation species at a higher elevation has lead to an increase of water run off, allowing for a higher concentration of sulphates, or other sediment resting in the wetland area.
My hypothesis: Construction areas result in the decrease of bird species diversity and vegetation abundance within a wetland area.
4. Based on your hypothesis and prediction, list one potential response variable and one potential explanatory variable and whether they would be categorical or continuous. Use the experimental design tutorial to help you with this.
The response variable: The response variable would be the presence and fluctuation of migratory birds (given the time of year). The growth rate of vegetation species.
The predictor variable: The predictor variable would be the three observation locations, and the same time that the observations take place. The time of sunlight available.
Emily Marston
some interesting ideas!
for sure disturbance might be a factor here
so the predictor variable would be ‘degree of disturbance’? or something similar?
you may be getting too complicated trying to answer questions about vegetation and birds — but as you go on we will see!