Category: Post 3: Ongoing Field Observations

After observing that certain lichens tend to prefer certain sides of trees, I plan to study whether it is a NSEW preference or simply a light availability preference. This is a snapshot, observational study. After the realization I had in Haida Gwaii regarding the difficulty of identifying lichens, even to the genus level, I have decided to stick to very general growth forms: crustose (dust), foliose (leaf), and fruticose (shrub).

Date: Feb 8, 2018, Time: 1130 hrs, Weather: sunny, partly cloudy, 11C

To collect my initial field data I used a stratified random sampling method. Mount Douglas is already divided into three areas including the lower forest, upper forest, and rocky outcrop, which I used as my strata. I used a distance based method to sample trees in each strata. To assure randomization I used a random number generator phone application where first I generated the amount of steps forward on the path I would take, then I randomly generated a second number that would tell me how many steps perpendicular to the path I would take, and a third number to tell me whether I would go right or left on the path.

For the initial observations I sampled 5 trees, or replicates, in each strata. In the lower and upper forest, most trees were coniferous except 1. Foliose lichens were not present in the lower and upper forests, except for the very last tree in the upper forest that I sampled that was quite close to where the rocky outcrop started. In the rocky outcrop, foliose lichens were present on all the trees, and all the trees were deciduous garry oaks (quercus garryana). The crustose lichens were present in all three strata and on all sides of each tree.

I estimated percent canopy cover to get an idea whether light availability has an effect on where the lichens grow. In the rocky outcrop garry oak ecosystem, the trees were all deciduous, much shorter, and there was much more opening in the canopy. Foliose lichens were present on all the trees, which could be a correlation.

My hypothesis will be (Ha, alternate hypothesis): There is a significant difference in percent cover of three lichen growth types depending on the aspect of the tree trunk.

Ho (null hypothesis): There is no significant difference in percent cover of lichens depending on aspect of tree trunk.

Response variable: Percent cover of lichen (continuous)

Predictor Variable(s): Aspect of tree (categorical)

I predict that I will accept the alternate hypothesis and reject the null hypothesis.

I could add more predictor variables, such as whether the tree is deciduous or coniferous, and the layer of the forest, but this might be too complicated and require too many replicates. I have to think about this one!

Since originally planning what I was going to study, it has turned from late summer to winter. So, instead of studying pollinators, I had to pick a new subject.

I really like the gradient I’ve chosen, so I thought I will still study the rabbit brush in the creek valley. But now, I want to look at the prevalence of Rabbit Brush and Sagebrush in Guerin Creek at various heights in the valley, I also plan to consider the direction of the slopes (whether they are facing south, east, etc.) to control for sun and weather exposure.

I have attached my field journal observations, and maps of the areas I plan to look at.

My hypothesis is that the process that is most influencing growth of the brush plants on the hill is access to water as the plants grow up the valley, away from the water source. Kamloops is extremely dry throughout the summer months, which would limit the growth of brush plants farther from a water source. 

Therefore, my independent (explanatory) variable is the distance up the valley from the creek at various increments. My dependent (response) variable is the number of brush plants per square meter. I think there will be more of both bushes closer to the creek, and fewest at the farthest point. Both measures would be categorical, as I will split the elevation into distinct segments and the number of brush plants is also categorical.

The latest observations were conducted on November 17^th 2017 at 3:30pm under cloudy skies and a temperature of -8°C.

For the final project, I am planning to focus my attention on the black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia) in a small area of Heritage park in Edmonton. This species prefers open areas with patches of trees and bushes such as the area I am studying. Black-billed magpies are known to be opportunistic omnivores who do not shy away from human presence.

I will observe the species’ distribution and surrounding environment amongst three different gradients of the area. The first gradient is by a parking lot where a man-made bird feeder is installed and regularly filled. The second gradient is at the entrance of the main hiking trail, where there are many patches of wild rose bushes. Finally, the third gradient is by the pond. The third gradient is the most open area, and it is where the garbage bins are located.

I plan on observing the distribution of the species in each gradient, its behavioural changes from one gradient to the other including nesting, feeding, food caching, etc. Also, I am interested in determining the influence of human presence on the black-billed magpie in the area. My hypothesis is that in this area in specific, human presence is a determining factor of the black-billed magpie’s nesting choice, and that it constitutes the main source of its feeding.

I will choose a fourth gradient within the area selected, a gradient which is not located near a parking lot, or trail, and which does not contain any feeder or any garbage bin. My prediction is that the black-billed magpie distribution in that gradient will be the lowest amongst all four.

One explanatory variable can be the frequency of human presence at each gradient, and response variables would be the black-billed magpie distribution in that gradient. The frequency of human presence is a continuous variable as it is strictly quantitative, e.g. the number of hikers passing by within an hour time frame at each gradient.

Hissan Zulfiqar

• Nov. 5, 2017
• Weather: Partly Clear Skies, 14C, 1:28pm
• I’m planning to study Canadian geese (Branta canadensis) and how different gradient sites affect their habitat
• I’ve taken a few pictures of the different gradient sites around the lost lagoon in Stanley park. The 3 sites that I have observed are west, south, and east side of the lagoon.   I’ve noticed that there is an abundance of birds on the south side of the lagoon where it’s closest to the city and residential neighbourhood. The east side of the lagoon that is near a major road has not many abundances of animals. The west side of the lagoon which is more “inside” the park, has a more diverse species abundance in comparison to the west side.
• I believe there is an impact of human interactions with certain bird species such as the Canadian geese, crows, and seagulls as there were abundance of them flocking the south side of the lagoon. It’s a possibility that the birds are conditioned to flock near humans in finding food as there maybe people feeding them while sitting on the bench.
• After observing all 3 different sites, my hypothesis is that a large number of bird species are drawn to the south side of the lagoon where the residential areas are located because of abundance of food from humans.
• Response Variable: Presence of humans, Explanatory Variable: Abundance of bird Species

I find they would be categorical variables because it takes on values that are numerical such that an “population of birds” depends on “population of humans” in a given area.

field drawing: 09091601 east

west

Blog 3: Ongoing Field Observations.

I plan to study the “nurse logs” that provide a place for new plants to grow.

I observed two stumps and one log that hosted new vegetation. These pieces of dead wood was in a line from the high elevation to the low elevation. This line goes from alders through the large firs and hemlocks and back into another group of alders. I would get a cross section of samples from the different groves.

All samples collected were from the large trees. The alder deadwood hosted some moss but no vascular plants. The amount and growth of vegetation differed among the three samples observed. One stump had a thick layer of moss and berry canes. The log had less moss and small trees on it. The second stump had a pair of cedar trees about 20 meters tall.

Hypotheses: Deadwood undergoes a process similar to succession. Fresh cut or broken wood hosts basic plants, like moss, before shrubs take roots, which are in turn replaced by climax stage trees.

The response variable is the deadwood which would be categorical. The explanatory variable would be the vegetation that grows on the deadwood. This would be continuous as it varies from basic mosses to large vascular plants.

Blog Post 3

I visited Cates Park on November 25, 2017 and the temperature that day was 11 degrees Celsius with light rain and wind coming from the northeast at 6km/hr. I plan to study the density of crows among three gradients including an open grass area with a playground (OGA), wooded area (WA) and second open grass area (OGA2). As you move from area to area the elevation increases. The OGA contained many picnic tables, garbage cans, a playground and leaf piles. The area is very flat with grass covering the entire area. The WA contained many trails within the forest. The wooded area had all the leaves gone offering not much coverage for animals. OGA2 is much smaller than the OGA but also contained two very large tennis courts at the top of the hill. The number of crows within the OGA2 only had 7 crows compared to the OGA that had 13. OGA2 contained only two garbage cans and a picnic bench. Walking between the areas the only observable vertebrates were crows, seagulls, and grey squirrels. These animals were visible in the open area, but none were observed in the forested area. The crows were seen foraging on the ground with the greatest group of them located near garbage cans, leaf piles, and picnic tables. I spent 30 mins walking around each of the areas to observe and count the number of animals in the area. Throughout the walk, there were no visible species in the wooded area. A large reason behind this may be the lack of the cover in the trees due to the colder weather. The response variable for my project will be the density of crows in each of the areas. The predictor variable will be the available food sources from humans and from trees. My hypothesis will be that crows are able to have a higher density with anthropogenic sources available to them compared to natural forested areas.

The organism I would like to study is Douglas Maple (Acer glabrum). More specifically, variation in its abundance along a spatial gradient from a mature Western Cedar (Thuja plicata).

For initial observations compass bearings of 20°, 40°, and 60° were taken from the base of the T. plicata. Along each of these bearings, plot centers were established at 5, 10, and 15 m. Each plot was 1m² and the number of A. glabum within each was recorded, as shown in the table below.

During the time observations were taken, the entire plot site that was <5m from T. Plicata was in the shade and the 5-10m part of the site was in full sun.

The entire site is located on west facing hill that is has a 12% slope.

I did the above observations before watching the study design videos and I now know that what I did is a systematic sampling method. Upon further reflection, and after watching all the vids, I’m thinking it makes more sense to do a random sample method as explained by Lyn Baldwin. So, I did a second sample methodology using an app to generate random compass bearings and paces to locate 1×1 m plots in 10 different locations within the site. The following was observed using this method:

Some processes that may be causing the variation in species abundance is the shade from the large conifer, differences in soil moisture content, differences in mineral composition, or distance from the conifer. However, my main hypothesis is that the shade created by the T. plicata reduces the stand density of A. glabrum by reducing the availability of incoming solar radiation. To help test this hypothesis, observations will be made as to how much sunlight and shade the site is in throughout the day.

The response variable is A. glabrum and all of the processes listed above are predictor variables. The response variable is continuous as it is being quantified by counting and the predictor variables are all continuous. Therefore, I infer that this is a regression experimental design and inductive methods will be utilized to test my hypothesis since initial observations of reduction in stand density as distance from the conifer increases will try to be explained.