User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
20-01-2020, 1300hrs-1600hrs.
Wakamow Valley, Moose Jaw, SK
Mid Winter, sunny day, -3degrees C
The area that I am going to study is Wakamow Valley in Moose Jaw, SK, my hometown. It is an urban park situated on Treaty 4 land, with 20kms of trails, and 500 acres of land (www.wakamow.ca). Within the valley runs the Moose Jaw River, at approximately 506m elevation (www.mapcarta.com/24501910). The area of Wakamow Valley that I will concentrate on includes Kingsway Park Ecological Reserve, Conor Park camping and recreation area, and Tatawaw Park (old Wild Animal Park) on the southern most edge of the park. There are four distinct ecological zones within just Kingsway Park: woodland, grassland, valley walls, and marsh. Conor Park and Tatawaw Park have been largely altered by tourism but both contain woodland, grassland and valley walls as well. At this time, it is mid-winter in the park, and I am finally able to do some research after a long haul of around -35 degrees C. There has been a mild amount of snowfall, and the park is easily accessible at this time.
Things I thought about on my hike through:
The road that cuts through the ecological zone and stream bed to access Tatawaw Park has been there for 80+ years. Some of the same marsh vegetation can be observed on both sides of the road but I wonder if there are distinct species that are present on only one side of the road now.
Do berries degrade differently naturally? Different colours of berry exist on the same branch but are both obviously rotten in the winter. Is this a normal differentiation or is it caused by disease/mold/etc.? Can it be observed everywhere in Wakamow or is it contained to the marsh area?
Does thorn length and distribution vary among berry bush populations based on location/sun/proximity to water/stream? Those closest to the river seemed to have significantly more thorns compared to those in marsh areas. Is it the exact same species or very similar but different species? Is it a product of age?
Distribution of berries: why is the marsh covered in berry bushes while stream-side it was hard to find any?
Distribution of mushrooms/fungus on trees: Majority of visible fungi found on trees east valley walls and marsh area while only two sightings on trees by stream bed. What affect does heat, shade, wind shelter have on distribution of fungi/mushrooms?
It is very difficult to find things to study in the dead of winter but will continue the search for something concrete to continue with.
