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Blog Post Three: On-going Field Observations

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Hello Class & Professor Elliot,

I continued my field observations at my chosen site (Coldham Regional Park) on June 23, 2018. I noticed that the wildflowers (Tiger lily) that I had originally observed had since finished blooming and their stems were nearly gone. One of my main observations for this trip was that the small meadow area on the western side of the creek had much less large woody trees than the eastern side of the creek. I have decided to switch my study focus and plan to study the abundance of large woody trees across an environmental gradient for my field research project.

Noting that the creek is within a shallow ravine, I decided to take three observations along the environmental gradient on the eastern side of the creek:

  1. Observation 1: Approx. 30 metres from the creek
    – At the base of a small hill, rural private lot to the east
    -Noticed a few common riparian plants (e.g. soapberry, bebbs willow)
    -The soil was generally dry
  2. Observation 2: Approx 15 metres from the creek:
    -A few more larger trees, relatively flat terrain
    -Noticed several spruce trees that were unhealthy / standing dead
    -Mixed grasses and rocky soils
    -Disturbance areas of recreational fire pits were present (burnt logs)
  1. Observation 3: Approx 3-5 metres from the creek:
    -Top of bank from creek
    -Very steep slope leading to the creek
    -Larger woody trees present, holding soil and slope together
    -Larger bushes more abundant
    -Soil seemed dry but had more ground cover / rocks

It seems that the patterns here are that the flat meadow area had less forest canopy cover, less large woody trees and more sunlight / shrubs. The processes or environmental factors I think that may be causing this is amount of sunlight and landscape type. It appears that there are greater numbers of larger woody trees on the eastern side of the creek (western facing mountain), this may be due to aspect.

Hypothesis:If the landscape is steep and western facing, then large woody vegetation will be present.

Prediction: Large woody vegetation will be present in western facing slopes.

Response Variable:Large woody vegetation abundance

Explanatory (predictor) Variable:Landscape (gradient) and aspect

Based on my hypothesis and prediction, the response and explanatory variables are both continuous (e.g. time and temperature/sunlight). I have included pages from my field journal as supplementary material to this blog post.

On-going Field Observations at Site

Blog 3: Ongoing Field Observations

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I returned this morning, June 26, to McArther Island to observe the main pond in the golf course and the moat surround in the island. The three gradients I have chosen are the main pond because it is the largest of the three on the course, a section of the moat right by the bridge, and another section of the moat that is at the other end the the island near the boat launch closer to the mouth of the river. I have decided to specifically study the mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) and their habitat preferences. I would like to know why I have observed so many ducks around the bridge in the moat rather than in the quieter area of the pond or nearer to the opening of the river into the moat. I hypothesize that the mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) prefer the bridge area of the moat. I predict this is because the water is of better quality, there is a greater food source and also because there is more shade during the day due to overhanging trees and shrubs. My predictor variables are: water alkalinity, pH, calcium and chlorine, water temperature, types of food source, shade vs sun, and these variables are categorical. The response variable is the number of mallard ducks present which is a continuous variable. This informations shows me that my experiment will be an ANOVA multi factor design.

Here are my three different gradients:

1.Golf course main pond

2. Moat by bridge

3. Moat by river

Blog 2: Sources of Scientific Information

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The source of scientific information I chose is from the Thompson Rivers University Library. It is an academic paper that has extensive reference section, as well as in-text citations. It does not have three separate dates for when it was received, accepted and published, but I did make sure I was searching for peer-reviewed papers only. I chose this article because it is somewhat related to my study in a way that mallard ducks and artificial ponds/wetlands are involved, as well as habitat preferences for the mallard ducks

Krapu GL, Greenwood RJ, Dwyer CP, Kraft KM, Cowardin LM. Wetland Use, Settling Patterns, and Recruitment in Mallards. 1997 [accessed 2018 Jun 25];61(3):736. www.jstor.org/stable/3802180.

Blog Post 4: Sampling Strategies

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For this assignment, I used the area systematic, random, and haphazard sampling strategies in the virtual forest tutorial. The technique with the fasted estimated sampling time was the area systematic sampling strategy (12 hours, 5 minutes). I compared the percentage error of the different strategies to the two most common species (Eastern hemlock & sweet birch) and two rarest species (Striped maple & white pine).

I found that as the species abundance increased so did the percentage error. For example, in the systematic area sampling method 228 species were counted and there was a 1.6 percentage of error for Eastern hemlock. Comparing this to the haphazard area sampling method, which had a species abundance of 297 samples, the Eastern hemlock percentage of error was 39.2%.

It appears the random sampling strategy was the most accurate. Below is a summary of the data collected during the three sampling strategies I tested.

Area – Systematic: Area sampled 2400m2, 24 samples

Two most common species:
Eastern hemlock – Density 462.5 –1.6% error
Sweet birch – Density 170.8 – 45.4% error

Two rarest species
Striped maple – Density 8.3 – 52.6% error
White pine – Density 4.2 – 50% error

Species abundance: total species sampled 228

This sampling strategy had the Fastest estimated sampling time

Area – Random: Area sampled 2400m2, 24 samples

Two most common species:
Eastern hemlock – Density 462.5 –1.6% error
Sweet birch – 158.3 – 34.7% error

Two rarest species
Striped maple – Density 4.2 – 76% error
White pine – Density 12.5 – 48.8% error

Species abundance: total species sampled 216

Area – Haphazard: Area sampled 2400m2, 24 samples

Two most common species:
Eastern hemlock – Density 654.2 –39.2% error
Sweet birch – Density 120.8 – 2.8% error

Two rarest species
Striped maple – Density 50.0 – 185.7% error
White pine – Density 8.3 – 1.2% error

Species abundance: total species sampled 297

Virtual Sampling

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Based on the summary that the tutorial gave, the technique that had the fastest estimated sampling time was the systematic method. However, it was only slightly faster than the other methods.

The percent error for the Eastern Hemlock was the lowest for the random sampling method, at 4.7%, and was also fairly low for systematic sampling method at 11.5%. The percent error for the Sweet Birch was lowest using the systematic sampling method, at 15.7%. When looking at more common species, the systematic sampling method was overall the most accurate. For the rare species, none of the sampling methods were very accurate for the White Pine. The lowest percent error was 42.9% from the systematic sampling method. For the Striped Maple the random sampling method had a reasonable percent error at 8.57%. The accuracy greatly changed based on species abundance; the percent errors were generally much lower for the common species than the rare species.

Overall the percent error was the lowest for the systematic sampling method, with an average percent error of 22.0%; the random sampling method was the next best with a percent error of 25.9%. The Haphazard method was the least accurate, with an average percent error of 53.4%. Personally I also found the systematic sampling method to be the fastest one to complete, as you selected plots based on a pattern and didn’t have to find plots one by one on the grid.

 

 

Blog 1- Observations

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I have chose to compare two different sites on McArthur Island. The first site is the  9-hole golf course that is approximately 20acres. It closed last year because its lease was up with the city and since then the course has since been unmaintained, meaning the grass is dead, weeds are thriving, and wildlife is everywhere. There are 3 small ponds throughout the  rolling hills of the course. The most rural pond had a beaver lodge along the edge,  but in all 3 ponds there was a lot of debris from trees and some garbage, so it was murky and dirty. Trees are scattered, but are most dense along the edges of the main pond, and there are many different kinds of trees; spruce, willow, maple, birch, pine, chestnut and cottonwood trees. An unidentified weed thrives along the edge of the pond, but most of the grasses and shrubs along it are dead. Surrounding about 75% of the golf course is a slew, and the other quarter is edged by the Thompson River. Because of this and the swampy ponds there is multitudes of mosquitoes. There is a variety of small and large animals on the course such as the Western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), Canadian geese and their young (Branta canadersis), marmots (Sciuridae), Red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris), beavers (Castor), White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Mallard ducks and very tiny ducklings (Anas platyrhynchos), and finally Bald eagles (Haliaeeitus leucocephalus). My first visit was on an overcast evening from 7-8pm and the temperature was about 20 degrees. Around 7:45 the wind really picked up and some thunder and lightning started off in the distance.

My second location is the slew/moat that surrounds McArthur Island where the water comes from the rising South Thompson River when its rises. My first visit was June 24th from 4:40-5:25pm , and it was very hot and humid. The temperature was 32 degrees and it was partly cloudy with some sunshine. The water definitely seems cleaner than the ponds, and it doesn’t smell at all, though there seems to be some garbage floating around. The slew is also seasonal because it comes and goes with the rise and decline of the river depth, but the water is still seasonably high. There is a bridge across the slew and on the north side of the bridge the bank along the residential side is mostly rocks with some shrubs and trees, while the island bank is tall grasses, as well as trees and large shrubs that overhang into the water. On the south side of the bridge both banks of the slew are larger shrubs and trees with some dead underbrush floating in the water. Some of the known bushes were blueberry and reship bushes along with some thorn bushes. There is a walkway about 15 feet away from the slew on the island and along it are some various small flowers. White-tailed deer are often seen hanging out and grazing along the edges of the slew on both sides. There was an abundance of mallard ducks hanging out under a large willow tree by the edge of the slew under the bridge, but there were also quite a few in the water. I also some a type of small fish jumping out of the water and in the shallows. Some crows and seagulls were also among the ducks, all hanging out in the same area.

  • Why is there such a difference in plant life? Taking into account freshness/cleanliness of water, shade vs sun, alkalinity of the pond versus the slew.
  • Why do the mallard ducks seem to prefer the slew rather than the ponds? Is it because of water cleanliness, openness of water, shade or sun exposure, temperature of water, food sources?

Here is a map of McArthur Island:

McArthurIslandPark map view

Below are images of McArther Island golf course:

Below are a few pictures of the slew/moat:

 

Post 1 – Observations

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The area I chose to do my study on is the Valleyview nature park in Kamloops. There are many hiking trails that run throughout the hills between Valleyview and Juniper Ridge. The particular area that I looked at is approximately a 45 minute walk away from the main trail entrance. The area has many rolling hills. The vegetation in this area is mostly sagebrush, a few types of grasses, fir trees and pine trees. The trees are mostly located in valleys between hills, though some are on the hilltops as well. The area is approximately 2.5 km long and varies in width.

I visited the area 10:15 – 11:15 on June 6, 2018. It was sunny and then around 11:00 it became slightly cloudy. I saw a coyote (Canis latrans) and have also seen many white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in this area before.

  1. Is the size of the sagebrush affected by its location relative to the hills?

2. Why are there more trees at the base of hills versus the top of hills? Is it because the rain water travels down the hills and collects there, that there is less exposure to the sun or another reason?

3. Why is there a greater density of trees at the east side of the park versus the west?

Sources of Scientific Information

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This blog post evaluates the following source:

Santos CC, Coelho R (2018) Migrations and habitat use of the smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena) in the Atlantic Ocean. PLoS ONE 13(6): e0198664. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198664

 

This article is academic peer-reviewed research material.

 

Catarina C. Santos is employed by the Portuguese Institute for the Ocean and Atmosphere, I.P., a government research institution in Portugal. Rui Coelho works at the University of Algarve’s Center of Marine Sciences in Faro, Portugal. They would therefore be considered experts in their field.
https://www.ipma.pt/en/oipma/
https://www.ccmar.ualg.pt/en/page/general-information

The article contains in-text citations throughout and a bibliography containing the relevant reference material.

 

The journal, PLOS ONE, is a non-profit publisher that sets high standards for the quality of material they accept. Every article they publish has been anonymously peer-reviewed by at least two external reviewers. (The details of their review process can be found at http://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/editorial-and-peer-review-process)

Santos and Coelho outline their procedure for tagging the sharks and measuring the depth of fishing gear used during this study as well as their methods of analyzing the data. The article discusses the results of the authors’ own research.

Blog post 2: Sources of Scientific Information

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Hi Class and Professor Elliot,

I tried to choose a paper that was related to my field research interests and study area. The paper I chose to evaluate, “Riparian vegetation communities of the American Pacific Northwest are tied to multi-scale environmental filters,” was published online on August 25, 2014 in the Journal River Research and Applications.  The authors, who are specialists in their field, provide a report indicating the results of a field study based on the comparison and correlation of riparian vegetation to different environmental filters such as elevation, precipitation, and temperature (Hough-snee, Roper, Wheaton, & Lokteff, 2014). The authors ask a specific question, formulate and test a hypothesis, and provide methods and results.

Based on what I learned in the scientific information tutorial, this source is classified as academic, peer-reviewed research material. It is clear the paper is academic as it was written by experts in their field (e.g. hydrology, ecology, forestry) as noted in the subscript under the authors names. In addition, it has in-text citations referenced throughout the entire document and concludes with an extensive list of references. Finally, the paper includes a clear methods and result sections, including data analysis.

This paper is classified as peer-reviewed because it was reviewed by at least one referee in the field. I could tell this was the case by reading the paper and it noted it was received, revised, and accepted prior to it being published in the journal. I also use the library search engine from Royal Roads University and ensure to check the box for ‘peer-reviewed’ articles.

Image of Scientific Information (Hough-snee, Roper, Wheaton, & Lokteff, 2014).

Thanks,

Brittany Lange

Bibliography

Hough-snee, N., Roper, B. B., Wheaton, J. M., & Lokteff, R. L. (2014, August 25). Riparian vegetation communities of the American Pacific Northwest are tied to multi-scale environmental factors. River Research and Application, 31, 1151-1165.

 

Blog Post 1: Observations

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Hello Classmates and Professor Elliot,

I chose an area that is relatively close to home for my study area, it is also an area I am generally familiar with as I hike frequently in the park. The location is just north of Peachland in the Central Okanagan along the Trepanier Bench within Coldham Regional Park. I chose this study area because there is a fish-bearing stream (Jack Creek) running through the park and is a densely vegetated and largely intact riparian forest. I am interested in studying riparian areas and the overall functionality of the riparian ecosystem in relation to freshwater streams.

I visited the site to gather initial data on June 2, 2018 at 12:00. The weather was overcast, approximately 22 degrees Celsius. The site is higher in elevation, but was void of any remaining snowpack as it is in-between the spring and summer season. Jack Creek was well into spring freshet and flowing typically for this time of year. The ground was moist in most areas and densely vegetated with mixed grasses, shrubs, wildflowers, and riparian forest (e.g. cottonwood trees, trembling aspen). The area is a sloping valley with a carved-out creek ravine running north to south.

General Study Area (Orthophoto Image)

I set out with a field journal, 200ft measuring tape, compass, cellphone, Nature BC Common Plants and Animals book, 24inch flex ruler, and a 2ft by 2ft PVC pipe cut into a square. My plan was to stake out an area of interest and generally notice any trends in vegetation.

Items Brought on Field Observation Trip

Field Journal

I staked out a 22 metre by 13 metre study area (286m2) using the 200ft measuring tape and tied orange flags to mark the boundaries. I then used my phone to generate random numbers which would dictate how many steps I took. I had my partner there giving me random bearings (north, south, east, west) so as not to create bias in the data.

Based on my observations, there was a large presence of wild tiger lilies (Lilium columbianum). What I noticed while walking around was that some of the lilies had multiple flowerheads on a stem, while others had only a single flowerhead on a stem. I gathered data from 15 quadrates using my PVC pipe as the quadrate area. I looked at the following criteria within each quadrate:

  • Were tiger lilies present or not? How many?
  • Measured the height of tiger lilies and width of petals.
  • What other species are present? How many of each?
  • What type of soil / forest floor is present?
  • Other general observations / disturbance.

Measuring length of petals

Example Quadrate with Tiger Lily Present

Gathering Field Data (me)

Based on my initial observations at the site, I left with the following questions which may help form my research subject:

  1. What causes the tiger lilies to have multiple flowerheads on a stem?
  2. Do the tiger lilies with multiple flowerheads show different characteristics (e.g. larger/smaller petal size, greater height)?
  3. There is less sunlight on the eastern side of the creek. Is the distribution of tiger lilies greater on this side?
  4. How common are tiger lilies in riparian forest areas? Is this a rare occurrence?