User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
This was my first time designing and carrying out a field research project / natural experiment to this extent. Reflecting on the process, I think I would have chosen a different site, something with a bit more variability and ease of access. I am genuinely interested in riparian ecosystem studies so this was a great experience to make observations and test hypotheses on a local stream.
The most difficult part about implementing my field research was creating a study design that I felt accurately captured the study area. It was difficult because this project scope was meant to be simple, and I had limited time, but I would have really liked to expand the study area to capture more of the riparian corridor, or even sample further up the stream where less human disturbance (e.g. recreation) was present.
Getting out there and engaging in the practice of ecology has been really rewarding. It was truly difficult to carry out a natural experiment based on observation alone. Reading the discussion papers, the textbook, and the literature for my final project really opened my eyes to the breadth of knowledge and hard work that is put into studying the natural environment. My experience in BIOL 3021 was equal parts challenging and rewarding.
Thank-you Professor Elliot for a great course!
