Location: Spring Creek, Saskatchewan, Canada
Research Questions and Organism of Interest: Based on my initial questions from Blog Post 1, the questions I’m delving into are as follows:
How do native and nonnative wetland plant species compete for space and resources in Spring Creek?
What role does soil salinity play in shaping the distribution and diversity of wetland plant communities in this ecosystem?
Are specific plant species thriving in areas prone to erosion, and if so, what factors contribute to their success?
To answer these questions, I’m planning to observe the existing plant species of Spring Creek over the course of the summer and early fall of 2023.
Field Journal Observations: Over the past few weeks, I’ve been documenting observations at several locations along Spring Creek, each tied to one of my identified research questions:
Location 1 (Native vs. Nonnative Competition): In this area, we’re focusing on the interactions between native and nonnative plant species. We’re documenting their presence, abundance, and signs of competition.
Location 2 (Soil Salinity and Plant Distribution): This zone is dedicated to the study of perceived soil salinity and its influence on plant distribution of native versus non-native plant species. This location is a known city snow dumping area. The species at this location are assumed to be in areas of higher salinity. The species here are observed for presence, size, abundance, and other visible health factors against their counterparts in other zones.
Location 3 (Erosion-Resistant Plant Communities): For studying erosion, I’m examining areas prone to erosion and the plant species thriving there. I will be looking at the environmental factors that contribute to their resilience in native versus non-native species.
Hypotheses and Variables: I think that the plants native to Spring Creek will often outcompete non-native plants. This means they might grow more and spread out more in places where the soil isn’t too salty.
Non-native plants, on the other hand, might do better in areas with saltier soil because they don’t have to compete as much with the native plants.
In areas where the land is eroding or washing away, I believe the native plants will be tough and stick around, while non-native plants might struggle.
Both native and non-native plants might do well near the water, but native plants might have a bit of an advantage.
I’m going to gather data to see if these ideas are right or if there’s something else happening with the plants in Spring Creek.
Response Variable:
Abundance of Plant Species (Continuous): This variable represents the number or density of both native and non-native plant species in various locations within Spring Creek. It’s measured on a continuous scale, allowing for precise comparisons.
Explanatory Variable:
Plant Status (Categorical): This variable categorizes plant species into two groups: “Native” and “Non-native.” It indicates whether a plant species is indigenous to Spring Creek or introduced from elsewhere.