User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
My initial experimental design and strategy took some significant re-thinking. After initial data gathering session in my study area, I realized I was unable to gather accurate enough data that I could then compile in a useful way. I therefore decided to switch from surveying for mule deer prints using transects, to using a plot system.
The problem with the transect system I originally planned to use was that I would have been unable to accurately monitor any individual trail created by mule deer through the snow. That is to say, keeping track of what I defined primary trails and secondary trails in my report would have been very difficult. Also, I believe transects would have provided better randomization, but made it difficult to accurately count individual deer tracks.
So, I switched from transects to five plots, four of which had a anthropogenic snowshoe trail that ran the length or width of the plot. I surveyed for mule deer presence in the plot by counting individual tracks. I counted tracks on the established anthropogenic trail, on well used, previously created deer trails (primary trails), and on newly created trails (secondary trails).
