I have chosen to study an oak forest along the La Salle River in Manitoba 10km East of Starbuck. The area is approximately 30 acres set between two farms on the South and North sides, with a grain field to the East and the La Salle River to its West. The topography is relatively flat with lower ground near the river (approx. 10-foot drop in elevation). The area can be described as an oak forest with an understory of shrubs with few aspen trees. The site was last visited on May 11th at 10:30 am there was an overcast of clouds where the temperature was 18 degrees Celcius. It is springtime and trees and shrubbery are beginning to bud and there is fresh green grass. Potential subjects I would consider studying include the different understory species nearing the river where it floods every year compared to the species at the higher elevation. Or maybe the size or growth patterns of the bur oaks at the two different elevations.
Questions
There are not many oak trees side by side at what maturity and distance from others would the oak tree begin to suffer from competition?
How does the distance of the vegetation from the river change its growth patterns?
Are there more weeds on the lower ground by the river due to nearby agricultural fields?
JL Observation (high elevation looking towards river)
