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Blog Post 5: Design Reflections
My initial data collection took place July 14/19 at 13:00 hours. I used 5 replicates of 1m2 quadrats with locations chosen using a simple random scheme. The response variable was % coverage of species within the quadrat and the predictor variable is elevation along the slope. To determine the % coverage of each species within each quadrat, area was calculated using measurements from a tape measure, compared to the entire area of the quadrat, and converted to a percentage. The only difficulty I found with this method was that it can sometimes be difficult to get accurate measurements for the irregular shape of plants. My data indicated that less complex plant species (ferns and clover) were more abundant near the base of the slope, and I began to find more complex species (Saskatoon berry) at higher elevations. I was not surprised by these results. I predicted that complexity of species along the elevation gradient would increase. This was because I figured that the hedges on the opposite side of the field would block sunlight from reaching plants at lower elevations, leaving them without enough access to the resource, resulting in stunted development. I will continue to use this method of data collection as I determine % coverage at higher elevations.
