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My field research project aimed to observe the impact a remediated landfill has on the surrounding environment through the measurement of percent yellowing of Polystichum munitum and Pteridium aquilinum and topsoil quality along the anthropogenic gradient.
Implementation of the field experiment was straightforward once an effective sampling strategy was conducted. A potential future replicated study would greatly benefit from having a larger sample size, since some of the soil nutrient quality results had larger than expected variations along the entire anthropogenic gradient.
With regards to selecting a plant organism to monitor if any physiological change in plants is present along the anthropogenic gradient, although P. munitum and P. aquilinum were sampled due to their large abundance along the entire area, these fern species are known for their resistance and resilience. As a result, perhaps less resistant species could have been measured to potentially observe a greater physiological change as a result of the anthropogenic impact.
Photo 1. Yellowing and/or wilting on P. aquilinum (bracken fern) frond.
However, percent yellowing of P. munitum (sword fern) was noted to be greater in locations closer to and encompassing the remediated landfill site. For both fern species, in some instances it was difficult to distinguish between yellowing and potential wilting (Photo 1), with different light discolouration patterns found (ex. tinted vs. spotted/patchy yellowing)(Photo 2). Perhaps a future experiment could accommodate for the two types of yellowing. Percent yellowing of P. aquilinum (bracken fern) was more difficult to define due to seasonal wilting already present at the time of sampling (Photo 1), therefore, it formulated a smaller role in the project than expected.
Photo 2. Tinted yellowing (left) vs. spotted/patchy yellowing (right) on different P. munitum (sword fern) fronds.
Once all soil and fern data was collected, further researching the impact of landfills on soil nutrient constituency and that impact on surrounding aboveground plants greatly helped in interpreting the found results. Moreover, at first data appeared to refute results from other research papers, particularly with soil nutrient levels being lower in the remediated landfill site than at the historically forested site, even though landfill leachate is known to have high levels of nitrogen. However, once the data was interpreted incorporating the impact of the landfill cover present underground in the remediated landfill area, the found results became more interpretable to current research.
Overall, by engaging in the practice of ecology, I have attained a much greater appreciation for the work required to organise and implement a field study, and the rewarding experience of being able to relate ecological theory to the real world environment. Through the inspiring hard work of many individuals and their field research, a valuable framework of ecological theory is developed, paving the way for future scientists and students alike to engage in learning about and appreciating the natural world around us.
