User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
Throughout the final stages of this project, I have come to realize how valuable pilot studies could be. I have found that it wasn’t until well after the research project was underway that I really delved deeply into the existing literature. Doing so brought to light a lot of information that would have changed how I approached this project. I realized that my hypothesis included two “leaps” or assumptions that were being tested: Pollution reduces transpiration in Prunus leaves; If transpiration is reduced in Prunus leaves, the leaves will be prematurely abscised. If I could go back, I would have reduced the number of steps that my hypothesis was taking here and aimed for something simpler.
One of the more profound realizations to come from this project is the realization of complex processes occurring in plain sight, and most of the time going unappreciated. Since beginning my project, I have walked by the study site several times for unrelated reasons and reflected on all of the activity going on in this seemingly ordinary and plain street. I struggled at the beginning to find a topic because there were so few signs of those typical “ecological” environments. However, I realize that I am simply conditioned to look for ecological relationships in environments that meet my definition of “natural.” Seeing those relationships in an urban environment was a big challenge in this project but has been an enlightening experience.
