1.
The organism I plan to study is the killdeer (Charadruis vociferus) in my study area. I am curious about the abundance of this organism in my yard based on my three environmental gradients.
Which include:
Gradient 1: Road, Culvert, & Ditch
Gradient 2: Wetland area
Gradient 3: Grassland area
2.
Ongoing observations from field notes:
3.
There could be many factors that influence the abundance of this organism including:
- Vegetation coverage – which is highest in Gradient 2.
- Competition with other birds
- Predation, my property has many predators including snakes, hawks, foxes, and coyotes.
- Human Disturbance from road and the path my family has mowed through the grassland.
Hypothesis:
A high amount of vegetation cover will lead to an abundance in killdeer.
Prediction:
If killdeer rely on a higher amount of vegetation, then the abundance of killdeer will be higher in gradient 2 (wetland) in comparison to the other gradients.
4.
Response Variable: The presence/absence of killdeer in the selected environmental gradient – this would be categorical.
Explanatory Variable: The amount of cover provided by vegetation – this would be continuous.
interesting
I have always seen killdeer not only on the edges of wetlands but also in parking lots, gravel pits etc. So I think you might find killdeer like different kinds of habitats
take a look at the literature, as there will be home zones for breeding
be careful not to disturb the killdeer ! (or as little as possible) in sampling method please