Welcome to the first installment of our natural history observation project. In this blog post, we will embark on a journey to explore the ecosystem right in my front yard in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Through careful observation, we will uncover fascinating aspects of the area and identify potential research subjects that will shape our future investigations.
Description of Study Area: My front yard serves as an ideal location for our natural history observations. Nestled in the heart of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, it provides a unique perspective on urban ecology. Spanning approximately 40m x 60m, it features a diverse range of elements. The topography of the area is relatively flat, with scattered flower beds, a neatly trimmed lawn, and a variety of trees and shrubs. While it may not be a vast wilderness, this microcosm of nature within an urban setting offers valuable insights into the local ecosystem. It is important to mention that this yard is located across the Assiniboine River and is only about 50 meters away from the river shore.
My first observation was recorded in the morning of April 17th (Early Spring), the weather was sunny and hot, with plenty of precipitate from the prior week. The seasonality influenced the presence of certain organisms and influenced the overall appearance of the area. For instance; during colder months of the year cayotes were seen around the neighborhood, which are presumed to have been pushed southwards out of their native habitats due to scarcity of food. These cayotes have not been seen in this area in the past 2 months. Moreover; as the seasons progress and certain plants start to produce blossoms and flowers, or enter new phases; new populations of pollinator insects are expected to gravitate to my front yard. As the weather becomes warmer new species of birds are also expected to make appearances.
Potential Research Subjects:
Based on my initial observations, I have identified three intriguing aspects of the ecosystem that could form the subjects of our research project. These include:
- How does the urban environment affect insect diversity and abundance in my front yard?
- What impact does the presence of ornamental trees and shrubs have on animal species richness and behavior within an urban setting?
- How does the interplay between native and non-native plant species contribute to the overall biodiversity of my front yard?
Conclusion: In this initial blog post, we have explored the natural history of my front yard in Winnipeg. The description of the study area highlighted its urban characteristics, including the flat topography, diverse and non native vegetation, and its role as a microcosm of nature in the midst of an urban landscape. Based on these observations, we have generated three intriguing research questions that focus on the impact of the urban environment on insect diversity, the influence of ornamental trees and shrubs on bird species richness, and the interplay between native and non-native plant species in shaping biodiversity.
Stay tuned for upcoming posts as we delve deeper into each of these research subjects, conducting further observations and collecting data to unravel the secrets of the natural world right in my front yard.
Plants along the side of the yard
Sounds like your yard could be a great place for a study. I like your question on insects as when you have a small area like a yard having a small study species can help with sample size. Remember if you want to look at the impact of urban environments or ornamentals vs. natives you need to have a comparison between native and non native areas or urban and non urban areas. You may be able to keep the topic of those questions but have to reword them to something you can test in your study area.