Blog Post #5 Design Reflections
Having finished taking the first five replicate samples for my project, I can honestly say it is not as easy as I had originally thought it was going to be. Firstly, measuring in meters to each simple random location generated in a 20m-by-20m area is not easy as the longest tape measure I have is only about 8m long. This means measuring the accurate locations within the study area is hard. Additionally, I realized that once I measured out the distance from the x and y-axis, I had to decide where around the intersection I would place my quadrat. I just decided to do it the same way for all five replicates and place the quadrat square with a corner touching the point of intersection on the outside. However, I am unsure if this is correct or not according to my initial location coordinates. Additionally, I did not see any real results that would support my hypothesis in the first five replicate samples.
Looking at the initial data, I may need to not just measure the presence/absence of moss in the quadrats but also moss cover in quarters of a 50cm2 quadrat. This may better show the results I am looking for by illustrating if there are large or small amounts of moss present in each replicate. I may also play around with the total number of replicates and the sampling method to further refine the results into something tangible. For instance, stratified transects may help if I think other factors such as shade and elevation are influencing my results too much.
I found your examination of the variation of moss coverage within a specific study area to be very intriguing and insightful. Your commitment to adjusting your methodology as you encounter practical challenges is commendable. It is critical that the hypothesis be specific and readily testable; perhaps you could revise it to identify the environmental factors expected to influence moss distribution, such as “Moss coverage is significantly higher in areas of the quadrat that receive less sunlight.” Addressing the logistical challenges of measuring in a 20m x 20m space using an 8m tape is difficult. Standardizing the quadrat placement at each sampled location is a practical approach, but it is critical to ensure that this procedure is consistent with the precise objectives of your study. Quantifying moss cover in quarters of a 50cm^2 quadrat provides a more thorough examination of moss density and environmental interactions. Incorporating stratified transects to account for potential confounding variables such as shade and elevation is also a good idea, since it can improve the reliability of your findings by correcting for environmental gradients. Increasing the sample size or changing the sampling process to improve your results shows a proactive attitude to study. Your adaptability and comprehensive attention to methodological minutiae exemplify the essence of effective scientific inquiry. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to seeing how your project progresses!
Sounds like you are having a very common experience – things in the field never work exactly as planned but sounds like you have some good problem solving going on.