For my field research project, I looked at arthropod species abundance in multiple types of tree conditions (stumps, fallen over, and living trees). I used five different sampling locations for each of the tree conditions and recorded the number of species in areas of 1 ft squared. For data collection, I used the haphazard technique as I chose five different sampling locations at random inside of the three different sampling categories. The haphazard technique worked well for my my project and I will continue to use it going forward. The only challenges I faced while collecting data is that it was sometimes hard to see if there were any arthropods within the sampling area and there were likely some that I missed due to hard to see places or being too small. I will need to come up with a solution to get more accurate data. Based on initial results, there were more arthropod species in the dead trees and stumps than were on the living trees. These results are what I was expecting, although, I do not know the reasons behind it. During my observations, I found many ants and beetles, but I was surprised to find that I was most commonly finding spiders.
Hi, Remember for your final paper to be a lot more detailed in your study site and sampling method. I still don’t some details about your project like how you are choosing your random trees and the sample area on each tree. You are sampling a much larger relative area on stumps vs. dead or live trees.
Are you sampling for a constant period of time to control your sample effort? Based on the initial data you submitted for small assignment #1 I recommend you complete more than 5 samples of each category as your numbers were quite low so I am surprised to see you say that you see a pattern in your data.