In my research project, I aim to explore the factors influencing the distribution of yellow and gray lichen on tree bark along the Churchill Drive Park Trail in Winnipeg, Manitoba. My hypothesis—that lichen growth is influenced by sunlight exposure—touches on several key ecological processes and concepts. These include species-environment interactions, microhabitat variation, and the impact of abiotic factors like sunlight and shade on organism distribution. Microclimatic variations on tree trunks, such as differences in sunlight, moisture, and bark texture, create diverse habitats that shape lichen distribution. Environmental gradients, including those caused by transitions between riverbank, roadside, and residential areas, expose lichens to varying levels of sunlight, pollution, and disturbance, affecting their growth patterns.
Keywords for the Research
Lichen Ecology
Sunlight Exposure Gradient
Microhabitat Variation
Sounds like a good start to the background for your intro to your paper!