Blog 6

Describe your field data collection activities.

  • Sampling strategy:
    • Area sampling method using a 1m2 quadrat.
    • Simple random sample placement
    • My hypothesis: changes in weather reduces the abundance of Birdsfoot Trefoil plants in grasslands.
    • Sample unit: lawn (grassland area infront on my apartment)
  • I carried out the experiment on 5 days over the space of 8 weeks as the weather/season changes from summer (sunny and warm) to fall (chilly, cool, windy).
  • I took my quadrat and randomly dropped it 15 times and counted the number of birdsfoot trefoil plants that fell inside the quadrat.
  • My 5 replicates were taken on 5 different days
    • August 1st: 27℃ sunny, warm
    • August 15th: 27℃ sunny, warm
    • August 30th: 25℃ sunny, warm
    • September 10th: 20℃ chilly, cool
    • September 20th: 16℃ chilly, cool

How many replicates did you sample?

  • 5 replicates on 5 different dates
    • August 1st
    • August 15th
    • August 30th
    • September 10th
    • September 20th

Have you had any problems implementing your sampling design?

  • I had no problems as I went out to carry out my experiments when it was not windy so the wind doesnt move my quadrat and affect my data.
  • This was my way of avoiding any statistical bias

Have you noticed any ancillary patterns that make you reflect on your hypothesis?

  • My hypothesis: changes in weather reduces the abundance of Birdsfoot Trefoil plants in grasslands.
  • I am more confident in my hypothesis now because I can see that there is a reason why Birdsfoot trefoil plants die off before winter approaches while other plants have a slower reaction to the change in weather

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *