Category: Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives

Blog 7

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In my research I am looking to determine the distribution and frequency of Pinus banksiana on bedrock substrate versus soil substrate. It has been observed and noted in literature that P.banksiana grows in dry, well drained , sandy or rocky terrain. This is an observation that I have also made of the species in the North. P.banksiana is found amidst the forest canopy with soil substrate as well. There may be many ecological processes at work to determine where Pinus banksiana will grow. I believe variables that underpin the frequency and growth of P.banksiana include soil depth and nutrients. As well as canopy cover and elevation. Not only does P.banksiana appear to grow most abundantly on bedrock, this bedrock is not apart of the boreal canopy and is usually situated at a higher elevation then the rest of the surrounding foliage. Another ecological factor to consider is how P.banksiana reproduces and what conditions these reproductive processes need in order to produce viable offspring.

My keywords : Pinus banksiana , bed rock , distribution

Blog Post 7: Theoretical Perspective

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I have spent some time considering the theoretical basis of my research project and I have also thought about my theoretical perspective. For my final project, I am hoping to determine whether or not the amount of shelter provided has any correlation to the amounts of birds within that area. More specifically, I have predicted that I would find the greatest number of birds using an area that had the most shelter compared to areas with little shelter or areas with intermediate amounts of shelter. The ecological processes that my hypothesis focuses on will be urbanization, deforestation and adaptation. Since both urbanization and deforestation are becoming a big process of the world we live in, I’m curious to see if in fact the lack of shelter affects the amounts of birds I will see. From the research I have been doing and articles I have been reading, it has become apparent to me that my prediction is in fact highly likely. Lots of species rely on the forest habitats for protection and shelter so, with these resources becoming limited the species are faced with the tough challenge of adapting and surviving. Some can adapt and other are not able to so, they either relocate or die out within that specific area.

Some keywords: Deforestation, Species richness, Habitat conversion.

 

Blog 7: Theoretical Basis of Leaf Abscission Research

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My research project is based on the well-documented process of leaf abscission (dropping of leaves) in deciduous trees. This is a normal seasonal process as photosynthesizing pigments breakdown (which causes colour change in the leaves) or one that can arise when an angiosperm is experiencing stressful conditions such as drought or disease. One of the roles of leaves is to bear microscopic openings (stomata) that allow the exchange of gases and release of water vapour through the process of transpiration. This process allows waste oxygen produced during photosynthesis to be released and the evaporation of liquid water to create a difference in water pressure between the leaves and roots, which causes water to flow up xylem tissues of the trunk and to the disparate parts of the plant. My hypothesis supposes that particulate matter in the air from nearby construction excavations and a roadway might interfere with the role of stomata and that the tree might preferentially drop these “under-performing” leaves, as it does when photosynthetic pigments begin to lose their function.

Some keywords that might accompany this paper would be: Prunus, premature leaf abscission, particulate pollution, transpiration.

Theoretical Perspective

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I have been advancing my research and developing the theoretical framework of my study. For my research paper, I will focus on answering the question as to what factors influence bee pollination of flowers. I will incorporate many ideas from other articles that provide plausible answers to this question. According to the information I gathered from my partial literature review, one example of an aspect that impacts this plant-pollinator relationship is the flower’s UV reflecting colour pattern. This pattern has led to more flower visitation from honey bees compared with a UV absorbing pattern.  Other topics that I will incorporate into my research paper include the “bee avoidance” hypothesis, and the influence of floral signals, such as scent compounds.

Some keywords that I could use to describe my research project include ‘pollination ecology’, ‘plant-pollinator interaction’ and ’floral colour’. These three descriptors really outline the theoretical framework of my study, as to what aspects influence bee pollination of flowers.

Blog Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives

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Good Afternoon, Professor Elliot and Class

Now that I have finalized my data collection, I have been reflecting on the theoretical basis of my research project. The theoretical perspective of my final project will focus on answering the question as to what factors influence riparian vegetation abundance. The ecological processes that my hypothesis will look at includes studying predictors such as elevation and aspect and their impact on the amount (presence or absence) of large woody vegetation in a riparian area. An interesting factor came up during my on-going observations and field data collection, which is the presence of higher-elevation riparian meadows on both sides of the creek. The environmental gradient is not homogenous so I am interested to see how this influences (or does not influence) the outcome of my research.

I have found an abundant collection of literature related to my research topic, for example some topics / ideas that underpin my research include:

  • Riparian vegetation in upper mountain zones;
  • Links between lateral vegetation zones and river flows;
  • Longitudinal- and transverse-scale environmental influences on riparian vegetation across multiple levels of ecological organization;
  • High-elevation riparian meadows;
  • Elevation, competition control, and species;
  • Structure and composition of vegetation along an elevational gradient; and,
  • Exotic and native plant community distributions within complex riparian landscapes.

Three key words that could be used to describe my study are: riparian ecosystems, elevation gradient, and freshwater streams.

Blog Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives

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The observance of the long-term impact of a former landfill on the surrounding environment will form the theoretical basis of my research project.

My research project will specifically focus upon the impact on a forested ecosystem following the anthropogenic effects of deforestation and pollution, focussing on the similarities and differences between two plant communities and soil composition of the former landfill area and a nearby historically forested area, which are connected by the Alfred Howe Greenway trail.

My hypothesis, that former landfills have a long-term negative impact on plant health, will include the study of the ecological processes of primary succession, soil degradation, and nutrient cycling.

Ideas that underpin the research being conducted for this project include: the impact of soil toxicity on different plant species, species richness and comparative biomass production in a community recovering from a disturbance, and the interrelationships between soil nutrient levels, bacteria, fungi, and diseased plant species.

Keywords: ecosystem recovery, biomass production, soil composition.

Blog Post 7 for Katarina Duke

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Theoretical basis of my research project is to demonstrate how algae growth varies depending on the flow regime of freshwater creeks. The growth of algae can act as an indicator for water quality (i.e. water pollution) and as a predictor for the maintenance of water supply systems (i.e. intake pipes and filter lines). Algae can deplete the oxygen in water, release toxins, and lead to taste and odour issues. More turbulence leads to more oxygen absorbed by water, thus counteracting the oxygen depleted by algae. The creeks sampled in my research project have proven to be fish bearing through previously conducted fish presence studies and observation. Establishing the connection between algae growth and flow regimes within freshwater creeks will aid in maintaining a healthy ecosystem for fish and predict creeks potentially at risk for loss of fish.

Ecological processes that my hypothesis will touch on are the hydrologic cycle and nutrient cycling.

It is also important to acknowledge that temperature, seasonality, weather, and unknown anthropogenic activities can affect the growth rate of algae. Other studies have been completed focusing on the relationship between nutrient levels and algae growth as well as temperature and algae growth.

Keywords: Algae growth, flow regime, water depth, turbulent

Blog Post 7

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The theoretical basis of my research project is plant-insect interaction theory (Stamp, N. E. 1996). Because of the complexity of plant-insect interactions, this theoretical underpinning is still being revised. My research also touches on topics of community structure, trophic levels, and the empirical evidence that plant species diversity correlates with insect species diversity.

Keywords: species richness, plant diversity, invertebrate diversity

Stamp, N. E. 1996. Developing a theory of plant-insect herbivore interactions: Are we there yet? Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, 77(1), 51-61. doi:10.2307/20168007

Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives

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My project is meant to demonstrate the relative abundance of individuals between different areas corresponding to an environmental gradient, as well as the species diversity/richness within those areas. The three areas have varying degrees of available water and human manipulation, with the bird sanctuary having relatively minor interaction with humans and being situated so that the land and vegetation is directly beside a large lake and with some of that water being protected by a rock wall of sorts. The meadow/park has much vegetation, and is regularly used by humans, however, is a good mix between the sanctuary and a completely urban area. There is no standing body of water here, but the lawns are watered daily, providing ample moisture to the vegetative areas of the meadow and park. The residential buildings are constantly busy with human traffic and have completely changed the landscape that was once there, and there is little to no vegetation in this area as the grass is synthetic, meaning that the water supply here is low.

 

My hypothesis is that there will be varying relative abundances and species diversity within the three areas, possibly based on the amount of human activity and water supplies within the sites. As many insects breed and reside in moist areas, it is probable that there will be lower abundances in areas with decreased available water.

 

Keywords: Species richness, relative abundance, environmental gradient.

Blog post 7

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The main idea of my research is that the ecological environment will influence the growth and abundance of the sword fern growth. My hypothesis states a more shaded, sheltered environment would provide better growing conditions for this fern. This is based upon the understanding that ferns are semi-shade plants, and the research that shows that with increasing light intensity, fern survival is decreased. One of the sites chosen in my study is close to a walking path and a major road, so anthropogenic influences may also impact fern growth.

 

Key words: fern growth, canopy coverage, anthropogenic influence