Sampling Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park

I returned to conduct some more sampling at Lois Hole Park. In this round of sampling, I made more observations about the distribution of the Dogwood species along the upland gradient. I observed the following and made some new inferences:

1. The center contains moister soils due to the slight dip in elevation, the canopy cover of mature trees, and the increased understory.
2. Edging effects create microclimatic conditions on the edge of the upland where there is less understory and the presence of a younger stand, resulting in drier conditions due to more radiation and wind exposure.
3. The urbanization of the park and the trail system has intensified the habitat-edging effects.

I set up five transects running from the edge of the upland to the edge of the emergent plant zone. I observed that the dogwood species were more abundant in the middle of the upland region. I decided to divide the transect into two treatment areas. One treatment was the edge of where the upland begins to the intersecting walking path. The other treatment was on the other side of the walking path through the middle of the upland to the edge of the transition area where the emergent plant zone began.  In each transect, I sampled two quadrats from each treatment area for ten replicate samples in each treatment.

I did not experience any problems implementing my sampling this time as I was sure to have a good plan in place and spent time in advance preparing for my field visit.

Based on my observations and Dr. Elliot’s recommendations, I am considering two potential new hypotheses. I may combine them into one hypothesis.

H_a The distribution of the Redwood osier dogwood in the upland gradient at Lois Hole Park is controlled by the urbanization disturbance.

H_o The distribution of the Redwood osier dogwood in the upland gradient at Lois Hole Park is not controlled by urbanization disturbance.

or

H_a The distribution of the Redwood osier dogwood in the upland gradient at Lois Hole Park is controlled by the habitat edging effects.

H_o The distribution of the Redwood osier dogwood in the upland gradient at Lois Hole Park is not controlled by the habitat edging effects.