Field Observation

May 8, 2024 | Field Research at Heart Lake Conservation Area

Observer: Jagdeep Kaur
Location: South Side of Heart Lake Conservation Area

Identifying the Study Organism: Coniferous Trees

In my ongoing field research at the Heart Lake Conservation Area, I have chosen to study the abundance and distribution of coniferous trees. These trees are essential components of the local ecosystem, providing habitat, influencing soil properties, and affecting the overall biodiversity of the area.

Field Journal Observations Along an Environmental Gradient

For my observations, I have selected three distinct locations along an environmental gradient moving away from the wetland:

1. Location 1: 10 Meters from the Wetland
   • Observation: At this proximity, the soil is visibly moist, and the area is densely populated with a variety of flora. I counted 5 coniferous trees.
   • Additional Notes: The deciduous trees outnumber the coniferous trees significantly, suggesting a competitive interaction or preference for the moist soil conditions.
2. Location 2: 30 Meters from the Wetland
   • Observation: The soil here is slightly less moist compared to Location 1. The vegetation is still diverse, but there’s a noticeable increase in the number of coniferous trees, with a count of 9.
   • Additional Notes: There seems to be a more balanced distribution between coniferous and deciduous trees.
3. Location 3: 50 Meters from the Wetland
   • Observation: The soil is considerably drier, and the area has more open spaces with fewer deciduous trees. I counted 13 coniferous trees.
   • Additional Notes: Coniferous trees appear to be thriving in the drier soil, indicating a possible preference or competitive advantage in less moist conditions.

Observational Data

Hypothesis and Prediction

Hypothesis: The abundance of coniferous trees increases with increasing distance from the wetland due to their preference for less moist soil conditions.

Formal Prediction: If the hypothesis is correct, then as the distance from the wetland increases, the number of coniferous trees will increase.

Variables and Experimental Design

• Response Variable: Abundance of coniferous trees (Continuous)
• Explanatory Variable: Distance from the wetland (Continuous)

Experimental Design Considerations:

• Sampling Method: Systematic placement of transects at predetermined intervals (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 meters) to ensure representative coverage of the gradient.
• Data Collection: Each transect will involve counting the number of coniferous and deciduous trees, along with recording relevant environmental conditions (e.g., soil moisture, temperature).
• Replicates: Five replicates per distance category will be collected to ensure robustness and statistical power in the results.

Conclusion

Through systematic observations and data collection along an environmental gradient, I aim to understand the underlying processes that influence the distribution of coniferous trees. By testing the hypothesis with the collected data, we can gain insights into how distance from a wetland affects tree abundance, which can inform conservation strategies and ecological understanding of the Heart Lake Conservation Area.