User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
The organism(s) I plan to study for my field research project include waterfowl and their allied species. During my subsequent field visits, I have observed different species of waterfowl (e.g., wood duck, mallard) utilizing the smaller waterways of the park where emergent vegetation is present. Underlying processes that may cause this pattern include the use of the emergent vegetation by waterfowl for foraging purposes and for protection from predators.
Although there are multiple environmental gradients within the park, I have only observed waterfowl within specific aquatic habitats, inclusive of the drainage ditches and one pond/marsh area. This could be due to habitat preferences of individual species, life stage, foraging potential and presence of predators. Waterfowl may occur within the old field habitat adjacent to the drainage ditches and marsh area, however, abundance and height of grasses within the park at this time of year greatly reduce visibility. As such, I will only be using the visible waterways as potential study areas.
Based on these observations, my initial hypothesis is that waterfowl prefer to use aquatic habitats where emergent vegetation cover is present. I predict that relative abundance of waterfowl will increase where emergent vegetation is present and decrease in areas where emergent vegetation is absent. A potential explanatory variable is percent cover of emergent vegetation (continuous). A potential response variable is waterfowl abundance (categorical).
Hello,
I find your hypothesis to be very intriguing. The potential explanatory and response variable, and the prediction are clear and falsifiable. My only concern would be how to quantify the level of emergent vegetation versus absent vegetation. This may make the explanatory variable difficult to measure in a field setting.
Good luck!