User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
I did have some difficulty with implementing my sampling strategy in the field. I had previously selected several locations on a map of the area found from google maps that when I was onsite, I would measure and 2×2 foot square and assess the area for mosses as well as record the temperature. On site, I used my cell phone with the google maps app to find the locations I had previously selected. Even though I had visited the site before, I did not have extensive knowledge of the terrain and soon realized that some of the locations I had selected were on private property or very difficult to get to in order to survey them. For the data I did collect, I took pictures of the specimen with my cell phone – that automatically geotagged them – and used iNaturalist to identify them before completely filling in my field data sheet. I was also overwhelmed by the number of species present that I was not comfortable identifying, so I think that I should choose a few types to collect data on instead of trying to document everything I see. I definitely need to modify my approach since I did not get nearly enough data points to make any inferences due to the poorly selected locations on inaccessible terrain, and my lack of confidence identifying species. This data was collected a few months ago now, and due to the recent health environment I have left the city I had started the study in, and have decided that I will be continuing and using data collected by observers on iNaturalist. This way, I will still be able to collect species and location data without being present in Victoria, B.C.I will also be able to use exact coordinates of the locations I surveyed which may be helpful when it comes to displaying the data later on in the process of this project.
