User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
I plan to study the Douglas Fir trees found at the junction of Johnny’s trail and Douglas Fir trail in Canmore, AB.
Notable locations along the environmental gradient of my location include: a flat, open forested area; a more densely forested area on a slope; and a rocky, sparsely vegetated spring run-off gully.
The first location has a variety of shrubbery, clover, and rose bushes; along with randomly dispersed Douglas fir trees in low abundance. The trees appear to grow as individuals. On average, there appears to be more Douglas fir saplings in comparison to older trees. All Douglas fir trees present appear to have branches evenly dispersed around the tree’s radius.
The second location has less of a variety of shrubbery, clover, and rose bushes. There are more densely dispersed Douglas fir trees in great abundance. The trees appear to grow in clumps. There appear to be more older trees than saplings.
The third location has very few plants. There are a few immature Douglas fir trees growing around the edges of the gully, along with a few shrubs. The Douglas fir trees grow alone and are nearly all older trees. The trees are widely dispersed and in low abundance.
My hypothesis I wish to test is as follows: do Douglas fir trees better resist cooling temperatures of changing seasons in groups or as individuals? I predict that the trees will fair better against the temperature change in groups.
A possible responding variable is the abundance, distribution, and size of the Douglas fir trees in each location. This variable is continuous. A possible predictor variable is the ambient air temperature and weather. This variable is also continuous.
