User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
The area of study selected for this field project is part of Hermitage park in Edmonton, AB. The first observations were conducted on October 7th at 16:00h under mostly sunny weather conditions with a feel-like temperature of 7° Celsius and winds at 26km/h. The surface area studied has a pond on one side facing a hiking trail. It’s exact coordinates according to Google maps are 53.5853937, -113.3729873.
Surrounding the pond are Broad leaf cattails (Typha latifolia), and further around the pond are coniferous trees, mostly Jack pine trees (Pinus Banksiana).
Around the pond, and on both sides of the hiking trail, birch trees (Betula papyrifera) are also a dominant species within the area’s vegetation. So are wild rose (Rosa Woodsii) bushes, which in this fall season, carry ripe red berries as displayed in the picture below. Near the pond, compared to the area surrounding the hiking trail, although similar species are observed, the main difference is that the trees are more widespread and exposed to sunlight as opposed to clustered (by the hiking trail).
During the field trip, two bird breeds were observed; the black-billed magpie, and the black-billed gull. They seemed to be accustomed to human presence as one could approach them easily to take a picture, and they would not budge. Also, during the trip, many hikers were observed, few of which were walking dogs. In this light, both on the trail area and the grass area, few dog feces were observed.
Other traces of human activity are rather obvious in this area, as trash can be found in the grass and along the hiking trail. Items can vary from used tissue paper, empty beer cans, plastic bags and more. In addition to that, on a grass area, one very clear trail left by a motorized vehicle can be seen. The weeds in the tire trails appear dry and damaged.
Following these first observations alone, few questions arise;
- What is it about the vegetation in this area that draws the presence of the black-billed magpie and how does human activity impact it?
- How does the sunlight and cluster pattern impact the growth of birch trees and jack pines?
- How does the presence of human litter and dog feces impact this ecosystem?
Regards,
H. Zulfiqar
