I plan to use a total of eight replicates in each of the three areas of study (quadrant A1, A2 and A3) that I have divided in my front yard. Each replicate varies according to time of day, temperature, weather conditions, human interaction and other wildlife present. My initial two replicates were taken on Dec.15, 2023 at 1am and on Dec.25, 2023 at 10am. The second set of replicates were taken on Jan.8, 2024 at 6am and Jan.18, 2024 at 2pm. I will be making small adjustments (such as the addition of birdseed, nesting materials and water) for my next sets of replicates.
You can’t manipulate animals – you can’t use birdseed. This requires animal care which we do not have for this course. This has not been mentioned in your assignments to date. I note this in my course welcome emails and also the field course makes it clear it is a natural observational study along a natural gradient.
Also, why not do more replicates?