This area I would like to study is a storm drain canal with East/West flows, into a larger pond with another storm drain branch water canal flowing to the South and SW. The main study area will be the East/West arm into the larger pond. The topography is mostly flat, with a gentle slope of about 1-1.5m elevation drop into the water.
The canal is bordered by bulrushes in the water mostly, then into a grass area that is bordered by a walking pathway. On the outside of the walking pathways are houses on the East/West canal, the pond has 2 flows of water previously mentioned. The larger pond area is bordered by houses, construction areas and the water canals that branch off. It works out to be that the larger pond has roughly 33% houses on the border, 33% construction activity/dirt mounds and then the remainder are the water canals that flow into and out of it.
Species distribution that exists in this area that I have observed are various grasses, shrubs and some aquatic plant life such as bulrushes and a few marsh marigolds. There are various trees around including larch, evergreen and poplar. Animal species distribution that I have observed in this area consist of coyotes, jackrabbits, and squirrels. There have been sightings of bears, bobcats and even a wolverine recently in this area as well.
The bird and waterfowl species I have observed so far are mallard ducks, Canadian geese, robins, sparrows, chickadees, starlings, and red-winged black birds.
The East/West flow distance is 578.123m with a GPS of 51.2898991, – 114.0299910. The area of the larger pond is 180299.6ft squared with a perimeter distance of 616.636m with a GPS of 51.2846682, – 114.0346983 (this GPS is the middle of the pond).
I would like to study the various types of birds found in 4 different locations along this drainage canal. These are my proposed study locations with descriptions of the area:
Area 1 GPS: 51.2880826, – 114.0309164 – Description: North facing the canal with an empty lot (no house) behind it. There are various shrubs that border the canal in this area, it is quiet and well covered and protected.
Area 2 GPS: 51.2894181, – 114.0308607 – Description: South facing the canal with a house behind this and lots of plan life in the water and some trees and shrubs bordering the canal.
Area 3 GPS: 51.2854311, – 114.0361923 – Description SW facing the larger pond area, has some trees and shrubs around it but directly behind is residential construction/development. Lots of large graters and earth moving machinery behind this area.
Area 4 GPS: 51.2839569, – 114.0334102 – Description NE facing the larger pond. Has new housing directly behind it with immature trees, is quieter though and looks across at the construction mentioned in Area 3.
Distance from Area 1 to 2 is 462.211m
Distance from Area 2 to 3 is 1310.138m
Distance from Area 3 to 4 is 263.679m (Across pond, unable to walk directly from Area 3 to 4 unless walk back around)
Distance from 4 to 1 is 574.821m
I would like to find out how many types of birds are visually seen in each area after studying for 5-minute intervals at each location at the same time daily for 4 days in the morning, as well as 5-minute intervals daily for 4 days in the evening. My hypothesis is that Area 3 will have less activity due to the construction likely, but there is also slightly less plant life in that area. I believe Area 4 also will have slightly less activity and types of species with Areas 1 & 2 having the most types and abundance due to quieter location and more plant life. Interestingly Area 1 & 2 have the most foot/human traffic and Area 3 & 4 have the least amount of human/foot traffic.
I will note what species of birds are seen, how many are seen, what the temperature, humidity and noise in dB are in each location at the times of study. I am including noise levels due to the construction noise levels.
Included in the post are photos in order of Area 1 looking towards canal, Area 2 looking towards canal, Area 3 looking towards pond and Area 4 looking towards pond. These areas are all connected by the same water and there are no dams or obstructions in the flow or area.
This seems like a good study site. I am not totally clear on the gradient between the 4 sites you have chosen? Is it level of disturbance or noise? But also how did you choose the areas, were they chosen for their levels of disturbance? Make sure to keep each area a similar size or have your sample unit a similar size. What is your sample unit, is it a point count of a certain size? You could also sample each area more than once, this would be good as you only have 4 locations and so having more data on each location will help with the quality of your data and ability to find any differences. I don’t see a specific hypothesis, prediction or variables.
Make sure you take all of the above into account when doing the first two small assignments.
Hello,
Sites have been chosen on level of disturbance, noise levels (dB) will be tested at each site. Sample unit is yes, a point count that I will count 8 times total at EACH site for a total of 32 counts. There will be 4-point counts in the morning (at the same time) and 4 in the afternoon/evening (at the same time).
My hypothesis is that noise levels and disturbance will cause a decrease in activity and abundance of birds. I believe there will be a difference as there are 2 primary noise sites – regular human activity (walking on the pathways) and construction (large machinery operating). I will sample each site 8 times total, 4 times in the am and 4 In the pm. I will purposely sample at a time when this machinery is operating as well as when it is not to see what the difference is. I will also count people walking by or other disturbance during my point counts.
The prediction is there will be less activity at the more disturbed sites. Activity in this study is defined as types and abundance of birds seen.
Does this help answer the questions? Thank you!
Hi, this all looks good. Remember to look at the tutorial for hypothesis vs. prediction. Otherwise your sampling strategy sounds good.
Will do, thank you!