Post 3: Ongoing Field Observations

I plan to study the Spruce Beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis, and their impacts on the spruce tree community in Kluane, Yukon.

Site 1 is right off a road with lots of dead trees and bush in the area, 840m elevation

Site 2 is similar to Site 1 with low tree density and same elevation

Site 3 has more open space than other sites but has less human interference than Site 1 and 2, same elevation

Site 4 is on the edge of a ridge that is just east of other sites. High tree density with forest floor covered in moss and has elevation of 860m.

Hypothesis and prediction:

If the tree density increases, then there will be a greater density of dead spruce trees meaning a denser population of spruce beetles.

Based on the 4 areas chosen, with Site 1 having the smallest tree density and Site 4 having higher tree density, I predict that Site 4 will have a greater amount of dead trees compared to the other sites chosen.

The response variable is the percent of dead trees within the plot area which are continuous because it is an infinite amount since the impact of the spruce beetle could increase or decrease the amount between seasons and/or years. The predictor variable is the total number of spruce trees in the plot and it categorical because there is a finite number of trees within the plot area.