User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
Upon field observations, I have decided that the biological attribute that I plan on studying involves species distribution. I am eager to learn and understand how species distribution (specifically looking at percent coverage, abundances, and presence/absence) differs in diverse areas, such as near the pond, and forest compared to other areas.
Based on the surrounding, the environmental gradient will start from near the forest, the second point will be around the pond, and the third point will be on the other side of the pond. Underlying processes that may cause any patterns observed include, human disturbances and maintenance/landscaping (people walking on plants, kids running around, plants being mowed), species submerging into the pond, opened versus closed land areas, and of course, seasonality and climate change.
Upon observation, I noticed that there is a lack of growth of plants and grasses around the playground and along the paved pathways. In contrast there is a higher abundance of vegetation near the pond and outside as well as inside of the forest. There are also more insects found near the pond and forest.
Based on these observations, my hypothesis is that six plant species, Carex praegracilis, Andropogon gerardii, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Elymus repens, Cyperus odoratus, and Sonchus arvensis differ in the location that they are found in Milliken District Park. A formal prediction based on his hypothesis is that the areas with less disturbances and more exposure to sunlight will host a greater number of these plant species, as compared to the areas with more disturbances and less exposure to sunlight. Thus, it is predicted that there will be species that are only found within the forest, species that are only found near the pond, and species that are found throughout both areas.
A potential response variable that I plan to use for my experiment is percentage coverage, measured at each of the three sampling sites. The response variable is considered continuous. In contrast, a potential experimental variable that I plan to use is the level of disturbance as a result of human activity/disturbance. With fewer disturbances, I believe that species will be distribution more throughout the park. The experimental variable is considered continuous. The predictor/independent variable would be the location of the vegetation present. This variable is also considered continuous.
