MY ONGOING OBSERVATIONS

Initial Observations

Organism or Biological Attribute: Douglas Fir, Pondersoa Pine, Blue Fescue, Apache PLume, Dogwood

Field Journal Observations: Documentation of the density of Douglas Fir and Pine trees along an environmental gradient in Knox Mountain Park.

Observations along the gradient: I chose three locations along the gradient and observes and recorded changes in the distribution, abundance, or character of Douglas Fir and Pine trees.

Field Journal Observations: Base of the Mountain (Lower Elevation): 

Location: The lower elevation, near the park entrance.

Observations: All the plant species were abundant except the Dogwood. The base of the mountain seemed to receive direct sunlight and all the water flowing down from the slopes seemed getting collected over there. Soil was loamy soaking a lot of water still wetter in texture than other locations. pH when measured came out to be neutral.

Location: Midway up the mountain, on a moderate slope.

Observations: Trees become more abundant. The soil texture seems to change, and there are variations in sunlight exposure, mid slope does not receive extreme sunlight, water collection was moderate.

Location 3 – At the top of the mountain

Observations – Trees are sparse, scattered particularly the drainage of the water is too much. The soil is rockier, and exposure to wind and elements is prominent.

1. Underlying Processes, Hypothesis, and Prediction: Hypothesis – The density of the plant species is more at the mid-slope which is influenced by its topography that seems more suitable to support growth of the plants as compared to other slopes. Variations in soil nutrient levels, erosion levels, pH, water availability, and its capacity to hold the water across the environmental gradient are all affecting the growth of the plants, but slope becomes the major part to hold all these factors altogether.Formal Prediction: Higher soil nutrient levels, low erosion levels will correlate positively with increased density of all the five plant species.
2. Response and Explanatory Variables:
   • Response Variable: Density of Douglas Fir, Pine Pondersoa, Dogwood, Apache Plume, Blue Fescue
   • Explanatory Variable: Topography, soil nutrients, water availability, pH of the soil, and some other environmental factors.