Category: Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives

Blog Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives (Robyn Reudink)

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For my research project I studied the growth rate of sunflower plants based on two different watering regimes, including: a high-water and a low-water treatment group. In the high-water volume application treatment, the plants received a total of four times the amount of water, then the low-water treatment group. The sunflowers were grown over a 40-day period and weekly measurements of the shoot height and the maximum basal diameter (mm) were collected for each plant. My hypothesis is that the growth rate of the sunflower plants, measured by the shoot height and the maximum basal diameter, will be influenced by the water availability/ treatment. My prediction is that the average size of the sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus) will be smaller in the low-water volume treatment group when compared to the high-water volume treatment group. The ecological process that relates to my research is the influence of water levels (or water stress) and their relationship to measures of plant growth.

Keywords: plant growth, water stress, soil moisture

Blog Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives

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My research project is on the frequency of western sword ferns in Mundy across three district zones (uplands,  transition, and swamp area) as a result of soil moisture. My hypothesis is that the frequency of western sword ferns in Mundy Park is significantly different in the uplands, upland transition, and swamp area due to changes in soil moisture. The ecological process behind my research is biological fitness as it relates to the survival and reproduction of ferns in different environmental conditions as well as zonation. Some underlying factors that may also be at play in this project include soil acidity, soil nutrition, and competition.

Three keywords that describe my research project: soil moisture, western sword fern, wetlands.

Blog Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives

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For my research project, I observed how the presence of dogs might impact the time an American Robins (Turdus migratorius) spends foraging at Derby Reach Regional Park in Langley, BC. I observed the foraging time at two locations: in the dog park and the nearby meadow. I hypothesize that the amount of time a Robin spends foraging in the meadow will differ from the dog park. I predict that the length of time a Robin spends foraging in the meadow will be greater than in the dog park due to the greater number of dogs present in the dog park than in the meadow. The ecological process reflected from the study focuses on community ecology and the interactions between species.

Keywords: American Robins, dogs, foraging, and parklands. 

post 7: theoretical perspectives

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For my research project I am exploring the relationship between soil moisture and bracket fungi (Polyporales) growth in a section of Boreal Forest in the southern Northwest Territories. My study site is comprised of mixed wood trees, a creek that drains into the Great Slave Lake and a boggy area south of the creek; I have taken soil samples and bracket fungi counts from these three distinct areas. Bracket fungi can be saprophytic or parasitic, meaning they absorb soluble organic nutrients from the host species, which in my case are intact trees, snags or stumps (Allaby, 2019). Through my hypothesis I am exploring the theoretical perspective that increased soil moisture is positively correlated with polypore quantity on trees in this region.  Extrapolating on this, the research also explores the possibility that moister environments lead to higher rates of decay, as evidenced by greater fungi quanity. My hypothesis therefore touches on the biotic processes of parasitism, decay, decomposition and fungi reproduction as well as the abiotic factors of soil moisture and position of affected trees within the study area. Based on the theoretical idea that fungi proliferate in moist environments which promote a more rapid rate of decay, my prediction is that there will be an increased count of polypores in wetter areas.

Keywords:  fungi growth, polypore/bracket fungi, soil moisture

Allaby, M. (2019). A Dictionary of Plant Sciences (4 ed.). Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/acref/9780198833338.001.0001

Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives

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For my initial observations, I explored a section of intertidal zone (ITZ) on a beach at the north of Vancouver’s West Side. Oysters did not seem to be evenly distributed on the intertidal zone, and at I observed that they were more prevalent near rocks. The ITZ is subject to wave action from tides, weather, and frequent boat activity moving through this busy stretch of water. Rocks are able to act as breakwaters to absorb some of the kinetic energy of the water movement. (Dodaran and Park 2019) Oysters are fairly hardy, but they are still susceptible to the stresses of hydrodynamic force. (Wall et al 2005, Theuerkauf et al 2017) Relevant ecological processes that my study touches on are interactions between abiotic and biotic factors (water movement and oyster resilience) and ecological stressors (tidal action, wave energy).

From this theoretical basis, I hypothesized that oysters in the intertidal zone receive protection from rocks, which interrupt wave action and therefore reduce the force of water movement. To test this hypothesis, I observed oysters in the ITZ at four different sites between Kitsilano and Jericho beaches. For each oyster, I recorded whether it was behind or to the left or right of a rock (within a “shadow” the length of the rock’s height), or if it was not in any rock shadow (either because it was not near a rock or if it was in front of or on the front or top faces of the rock).

Key words: oysters, hydrodynamics, intertidal zones

 

 

Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives

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My study investigates the effect of soil moisture on Polystichum munitum abundance along a slope gradient. After collecting my data, I realized that my hypothesis was wrong so while my main focus is soil moisture, I will also have to take into consideration how other factors such as slope and canopy cover affect both soil moisture and fern abundance. It’s important to understand that species growth and abundance is dependent on a number of different factors. Some other ecological influences that I might briefly touch on in my paper and that underpin my research are soil pH, soil nutrition, interspecies competition, and disease. Therefore, my study would fall under a form of population ecology that focuses on how both abiotic and biotic factors affect a species or organism.

My keywords are the following: Polystichum munitum, soil moisture, slope gradient 

Percy Herbert Blog Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives

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My research project is an observation of vegetative bud spacing in wild roses (Rosa acicularis).My hypothesis is that the physical spacing between vegetative buds on Rosa acicularis at the Queen Elizabeth Park duck pond is unrelated to the height of the individual plants. My prediction is that spacing of vegetative buds will be consistent for individual Rosa acicularis plants of all heights. I believe that this will be the case as I believe there is an ideal spacing between the buds as to maximize the amount of sunlight exposure to leaves. I predict tall plants will have vegetative buds in the same density as shorter plants as all plants will follow the same ideal spacing at their highest regions to maximize sunlight capture. The optimal vegetative bud spacing should be determined by maximizing leaf surface area at the highest regions of the stem while limiting self-shading. Plants must balance the above factors with the energy cost of producing supporting branches to most efficiently use carbon resources to position foliage in a process referred to as crown architecture.

Key Words: Self-shading, Light Capture, Crown architecture

Blog Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives

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My project is focused on understanding how site conditions effect the ability of invasive species to colonize new habitat. A species’ “invasiveness” is directly related to their ability to out compete native species. In the Capital Regional District of B.C. , Hedera helix is arguably one of the most detrimental and pervasive alien species. Unlike many other local invasives, H. helix easily penetrates undisturbed or relatively undisturbed habitats, such as the second growth forest of Cuthbert-Holmes Park where I carried out my data collection. In many areas of the C.R.D., native plant diversity is severely reduced as a direct result of H. helix invasion. By deepening our understanding of which sites are most vulnerable to H. helix invasion (in my case, focusing in on a single abiotic factor), we can allocate resources for invasive species control.

Keywords: Hedera helix, site moisture, invasive species, native plant diversity, colonization ability

Reudink, Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives

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My project is investigating the gradient of increasing Populus alba density seen in a forested area and if that is associated with soil moisture content. There is an empty dyke near the west perimeter of the study area and P. alba density increases linearly westward, so I’m testing to see if the same gradient can be seen in the soil moisture content. My hypothesis is that P. alba density is associated with soil moisture. This is investigating a form of population ecology that is primarily concerned with the ecological process of how abiotic factors can affect a population. If no correlation is found between soil moisture and P. alba density, then I would consider other abiotic factors as explanatory factors such as soil pH, nitrogen content, sunlight exposure, etc. Biotic factors could also be considered to affect this population such as interspecies competition or the incidence of infectious disease.

Keywords: Populus alba, soil moisture, density gradient

Blog Post #7: Theoretical Perspectives

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In reviewing the theoretical perspectives of my project, I have had to combine observational activities with literature review to gain an understanding of the behaviour within my species of study. My study is looking at the presence of snow fleas (springtails in the order Collembola) on the surface of the snow in response to open-sky vs. shaded situations. I observed the way they jumped around above the surface but also the way they were able to disappear into the snow and presumably move about within the snow column. Although they weren’t evident in large numbers during my data collection period, I have witnessed them in extraordinary numbers peppering the snow at warmer times throughout the winter months. As Hagvar (among others) note, different circumstances may account for these large-number events including the need for migratory dispersal in temporary or patchy habitat environments, or just changes in soil conditions during periods of melt, such as inundation of water on the surface of the soil. Being able to be mobile on the surface of the snow is a great advantage for organisms less than 1mm in size in any terrestrial landscape, but is especially useful for migration over bodies of water or rivers, which springtails have been observed to do. The ecological processes my hypothesis is based on concern both a springtail’s need for cover as a means of hiding from predators, and the need for having a view of the sun as a navigational tool in migratory circumstances during the winter.

Keywords:  Snow fleas, dispersal, sunshine

References:

Hagvar, S. 2000. Navigation and behaviour of four Collembola species migrating on the snow surface. Pedobiologia 44: 221-233. https://doi.org/10.1078/S0031-4056(04)70042-6