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Post 1: Observations
The area chosen for this project is a managed nature park approximately 75 m2 that is part of a larger 4,460 ha watershed. Located in Queens County, Prince Edward Island, this is an area of mixed Acadian forest, riparian and agriculture land. There is a small freshwater pond that feeds the Westmoreland River, that eventually leads to the Northumberland Strait. There is a man-made fish ladder and artificial waterfall to help migratory fish species. The elevation is at sea level, with rising elevation of 10 meters to the northeast. The first site visit was April 8th, 2020, on a clear day, with no precipitation, slight wind, and a temperature of 4°C. The area had been completely covered in snow up until 3-5 days prior, with some snow still present.
Live animal sightings and sign included:
- American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)
- American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
- Water Boatman (Garridae, spp)
- Various passerines
- Frog sounds-unidentified
- Unidentified Aquatic Eggs-most likely macroinvertebrate…TBD
- Signs of mice or vole over-wintering.
Some thoughts on research projects include:
- Water quality testing to determine the effect of agriculture on the local ecosystem, particularly amphibians.
- Amphibian inventory to determine how their health correlates with the health of the ecosystem
- Amphibian inventory to assess which habitat is being used the most and how to best improve that habitat and discourage human interference.
I do know that I want my research to include amphibians, as there is a gap in information on Prince Edward Island about local amphibians, their numbers, and their health. I plan on using a vlog to take temperature readings, but I am not sure how I will use that data. I am hoping to find egg masses that belong to frogs or salamanders, and possibly put the vlog there-maybe I can draw a correlation between water temperature and hatchings.
Figure 1: View from the south facing northwest
Figure 2: Egg masses-ID TBD
