I would like to study the relationship between elevation, slope, and flower bloom distribution for my field research project. The gradient I plan to use is a hill in Nose Hill Park, which has a flat bottom followed by a gradual slope and upland plain.
In my field observations, I found blooms focused toward the top of the hill near the plain. Blooms in general, were sparse. However, I was able to identify four species, only one of which was primarily in the more downhill area.
I hypothesize that insect-pollinated flowering plants have a higher distribution at the top of a slope and in plains. Many underlying processes may have an effect on this such as angle of sunlight, soil erosion, and insect activity.
Hypothesis: Insect-pollinated flowering plants are more abundant at the top of slopes and in upland plains.
Prediction: The top of the hill and upland plain will have the highest distribution of insect-pollinated flowering plants.
Response variable: number of insect-pollinated flowering plants (continuous)
Explanatory variable: position on slope (continuous)
Field Journal:
Sounds like a good topic and study site. Your hypothesis would be that slope position influences the abundance of insect pollinated flowers. Then your prediction is more specific.
I’m not clear on your levels of your predictor variable, be sure to be clear in small assignment 2.