User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
The area I chose to do my study on is the Valleyview nature park in Kamloops. There are many hiking trails that run throughout the hills between Valleyview and Juniper Ridge. The particular area that I looked at is approximately a 45 minute walk away from the main trail entrance. The area has many rolling hills. The vegetation in this area is mostly sagebrush, a few types of grasses, fir trees and pine trees. The trees are mostly located in valleys between hills, though some are on the hilltops as well. The area is approximately 2.5 km long and varies in width.
I visited the area 10:15 – 11:15 on June 6, 2018. It was sunny and then around 11:00 it became slightly cloudy. I saw a coyote (Canis latrans) and have also seen many white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in this area before.
- Is the size of the sagebrush affected by its location relative to the hills?
2. Why are there more trees at the base of hills versus the top of hills? Is it because the rain water travels down the hills and collects there, that there is less exposure to the sun or another reason?
3. Why is there a greater density of trees at the east side of the park versus the west?
