My project deals with the effect temperature has on bird activity. This type of research is important to the field of ecology because with the threat of global warming, the effect this has on bird species will be extremely important to understand. As average temperatures across the globe increase, bird habitat including breeding grounds, food and resource availability will be affected. Some birds such as woodpeckers are keystone species and therefore threats to their environment could wreak havoc on other dependent species including some birds such as wrens and sparrows who use the holes created by woodpeckers as nesting habitat. If temperature does not have an effect on bird activity, such as foraging, it may suggest that certain species of birds are better able to adapt to changes in climate. By understanding the effect that increases in global temperature have on some species of birds, ecologists and other scientists will be better equipped to predict the snowball effect that climate change will bring universally.
Category: Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives
Blog Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives
My hypothesis (paper birch (Betula papyrifera) distribution changes with aspect across a hillslope) touches on habitat preference of Betula papyrifera. If my data shows that aspect is correlated to the presence of birch, I can then try and infer the environmental conditions that cause this distribution pattern. One such factor may be soil moisture. While I’m not able to directly measure soil moisture content, I can infer soil moisture conditions by using proxies such as changes in undergrowth composition.
My study may also relate to successional community development. The distribution may not be correlated with aspect but may be a more random patchy distribution of tree species that colonized the area during an initial seral stage after a disturbance. These patterns should become more apparent once I collect additional data.
Keywords: Distribution gradient, community structure, Betula papyrifera
Blog Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives
My hypothesis is that increasing distance from a site of forest disturbance, such as a pathway, is correlated with lower tree and shrub species diversity, lower tree and shrub density, larger tree size, a higher ratio of trees to shrubs, and a higher ratio of evergreen to deciduous tree species. This is based on noticing that more deciduous species at higher densities appeared to exist at the edge space of paths than further into the forest.
My research project is focused on examining the changes in species composition, richness across an environmental gradient as a function of distance from a path. There are likely many mechanisms at play here such as the impact of continual human disturbance (clearing of the path and adjacent areas) each time a tree comes down or growth becomes too thick along a path; the presence of additional space, light, and runoff adjacent to the path that likely encourages and discourages the establishment and growth of certain species; the path as a conduit for the dispersal of seeds via wind, humans, and other animals; of course, the cultural requirements of individual plants play a role; as does the known dynamics in Coastal Western Hemlock forests.
Key Words: Edge Environments, CWH Zone, Species Richness, Forest Dynamics, Disturbance Gradient
Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives
My hypothesis might touch on the balance of photosynthesis from sunlight exposure, and defense against water loss in the shade/canopy cover. Moss use photosynthesis to produce food. However, if moss is exposed to sunlight too greatly, it can be drying to the plant. A balance is needed between both sun and shade to provide an optimal habitat for the plant. This can relate to the growth and distribution of moss. Moss would be able to have a higher growth rate if the habitat was optimal for them. If optimal habitat is present, moss is more likely to distribute within that habitat. Keywords that could be used to describe my research project are sunlight exposure, canopy coverage, and moss abundance.
Blog Post 7 – Theoretical Perspectives
This research project will focus mainly on the influence of seasonal temperatures on bird species. Other considerations would be the influence of human activity at the location of the study.
Keywords: climate influences, bird activity, anthropogenic influences
Blog Post 7 – Theoretical Perspectives
My research project focuses on how the presence of humans effects the number of different species found on the Thompson Rivers University campus. In theory in locations where there is a higher number of humans present, there will be more species which are known to thrive in urbanized environments (such as crows, magpies and pigeons). I will also be discussing how the vegetation and building type affects the species distribution of the three location on campus which were studied.
Three keywords which can be used to describe my research project are species distribution, anthropogenic influences, and population density.
Blog post 7
The theoretical basis my research is based on is all the theories that relate to soil pH influences on environmental conditions. The acidity or basicity of a soil affects the presence of nutrients, the toxicity of heavy metals and the microbial community living in the soil. All three of those can affect the health and growth of plants, and the capability of plants to live at the different levels of these creates niches. With this in mind its easy to see how soil pH could be the factor causing different species to live in the two patches of ground I was investigating.
Keywords: Soil pH, growth pattern, ICHdw1 zone
Blog Post 7
My research examines the effects that emerald ash borer (EAB) has on ash trees. I am interested in whether the proximity/density of ash trees facilitates increased infestation of trees within an area and thus a more rapid decline of those trees and spread of EAB. I predicted that as stand density increases the number of trees infected by EAB will also increase. With more resources (denser plot) available for EAB to lay eggs in the bark and produce offspring, I expect this would accelerate the decline of ash trees. I judged the health of ash trees by the absence or presence of signs of EAB activity such as woodpecker foraging, EAB larval galleries in the bark, fissures in the tree. Ecological processes in my work might touch upon include chemical control of EAB using insecticides, biological control of EAB using parasitoids, species resilience (ash trees), species stability (ash trees). The use of chemical or biological controls helps to understand how invasive species spread and how it affects interspecies relationships.
Three key words to describe my research are Invasive species, Biological Stressor, Fitness
Blog Post 7 – Theoretical Perspective
The theoretical basis of my research project is examining how amount of cover effects overwintering birds’ presence/abundance in an urban park. My hypothesis/prediction is primarily concerned with the abundance of overwintering birds in an open area with scattered trees versus a forested area with dense cover allowing birds to escape the elements, but hypothesis and predictions could also be tied o that a dense forest has greater foraging capabilities for these birds than the open areas do.
The ideas the underpins my research is wondering how birds can cope with the conditions that we experience during the winter months and how cover affects the birds.
Keywords: urban park, overwintering, bird abundance/presence, cover type.
Blog Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives
Blog Post 7: Theoretical Perspectives
My research project examines the effect of human activity in suburban recreational areas. It specifically examines how dog walking in these parks effects squirrels by observing their abundance. The introduction of a natural predator, such as a domestic dog, can influence prey animals behaviours surrounding feeding, socialization, wariness, and breeding. This research could provide basic knowledge which could indicate areas for further research for wildlife conservation. Results from this study could provide evidence whether domestic dogs should be allowed in wildlife conservation areas depending on the degree of disturbance domestic dogs cause. If it is found that domestic dogs have a great effect on important behaviours of wildlife, further research could be done to identify how many species are affected. If protected species are found in further studies to be significantly affected in their ability to thrive in protected areas, limitations on where and when humans are permitted to walk their dogs could be put in place. Some keywords for my research paper should include wildlife disturbance, domestic dogs, suburbs.
