Post 3: Ongoing Field Observations

I plan to study the vegetation and biodiversity along the environmental gradient in Edworthy Park focusing on proximity to the Bow River and the impact of human recreational activities.

I will document observations at three locations within Edworthy Park:

1. Beside the Bow River: Close to the riverbank where water availability and soil moisture are high.

2. Picnic Sites: Areas frequented by visitors for recreational activities such as picnicking.

3. Parking Lot: A highly disturbed area with human traffic and potential pollutants.

Observations:

• Beside the Bow River:

  • High plant species diversity and density.

• Picnic Sites:

  • Moderate plant species diversity.

  • Some trampling and damage to vegetation due to human activities.

• Parking Lot:

  • Low plant species diversity.

  • Less green spaces

Hypothesis: Proximity to the Bow River positively influences plant species diversity and health in Edworthy Park’s riparian zones, while human recreational activities negatively impact native vegetation in the park.

Formal Prediction: Plant species diversity and health will be highest beside the Bow River, moderate at picnic sites, and lowest at the parking lot. Human recreational activities will result in reduced native vegetation and increased presence of non-native species.

Variables:

• Response Variable (Continuous):

  • Plant species diversity (measured as the number of different species present).

  • Plant health (measured as average plant vigor and presence of stress indicators).

• Explanatory Variable (Categorical):

  • Location: Beside the river, picnic sites, and parking lot.

  • Level of human activity: High (parking lot), Medium (picnic sites), Low (beside the river).

The study will involve sampling at the three locations. At each site, I will:

1. Mark out a defined area of study (e.g., 10m x 10m plot).

2. Assess plant health based on visual indicators such as leaf color.

3. Assess how many types of plants/trees are in each area.

4. Compare the data collected across the three locations to identify patterns and correlations.