User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
My hypothesis (paper birch (Betula papyrifera) distribution changes with aspect across a hillslope) touches on habitat preference of Betula papyrifera. If my data shows that aspect is correlated to the presence of birch, I can then try and infer the environmental conditions that cause this distribution pattern. One such factor may be soil moisture. While I’m not able to directly measure soil moisture content, I can infer soil moisture conditions by using proxies such as changes in undergrowth composition.
My study may also relate to successional community development. The distribution may not be correlated with aspect but may be a more random patchy distribution of tree species that colonized the area during an initial seral stage after a disturbance. These patterns should become more apparent once I collect additional data.
Keywords: Distribution gradient, community structure, Betula papyrifera
