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Blog Post 3
- Identify the organism or biological attribute that you plan to study.The organism I have chosen to study is the common Jack pine – Pinus banksiana.
- Use your field journal to document observations of your organism or biological attribute along an environmental gradient. Choose at least three locations along the gradient and observe and record any changes in the distribution, abundance, or character of your object of study.
Gradient 1 – Boreal forest . Many species of plants and moss present. Tree distribution moderately spaced. Trees include , birch, larch, white and black spruce. Jackpines scarce. Low lying plants include Labrador tea and Crowberry.Soil dry. Low elevation. Some areas slightly elevated with rocky terrain
Gradient 2- Marsh – Open area. Tall grasses. Larch species and spruce surround waters edge. Jackpines scarcely distributed .
Gradient 3- Open rocky area. Plant life scarce, Jackpine seem to be scattered along rock face. White spruce and Birch also present.
- Think about underlying processes that may cause any patterns that you have observed. Postulate one hypothesis and make one formal prediction based on that hypothesis.
Hypotheis :Jack pine of the Northwest Territories grow in open arid areas.
If this is true, then it can be predicted that Jake pine will be found growing in areas of low tree density with exposed substrate.
- Based on your hypothesis and prediction, list one potential response variable and one potential explanatory variable and whether they would be categorical or continuous. Use the experimental design tutorial to help you with thiss
Response variable : Jackpine distribution – continuous ( quantitative measurements of Jackpine per areas)
Explanatory Variable: Terrain/substrate – categorical
