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For my project I have decided to use graphs to represent a summary of my raw data. Because of my statistical tests used, I created a graph that shows the mean number of brush bushes per square meter at various elevations from the creek bottom. This graph shows the differences between the six elevations I compared.  When analyzing my data, I decided to remove the highest 6m counted because I only had ~6 samples. This made my comparisons a lot more representative of the un-paved study area. I used a bar graph, and feel like this is the best way to visually represent how the density of brush bushes changes as the height from the creek increases.

I will also include a table denoting the significant differences between elevation categories for the big sagebrush bushes. There were no significant differences in the rabbitbrush bushes across the different elevations, so I will just report that in my results section.

This data took me a long time to go through and figure out how best to analyze it. I chose an ANOVA over t-tests because they are a more powerful statistical test. I also compared the valley bush distribution to a Poisson distribution.

The table I created included all of the data I collected over the five days. It was a summary of the various bird species abundance at each of the study sites. By producing a graph that summarizes all of the data collected, it enables for trends and patterns to be clearly outlined to draw conclusions from. However, from this data I found it to be confusing how to incorporate it into a graph to obtain a more visual demonstration of the species abundance over the three different sites.

Nevertheless, I noticed that each study site had different bird species associated with it. More specifically I noticed that each study site had a dominant species that inhabited the area. This was the outcome I was expecting, however, that leads to further questions such as why particular bird species favour one site over another? What is different about each site that a spatial gradient is created?

As a secondary research project it would be interesting to monitor the bird species and their migration patterns. Since the seasons are in the midst of changing the species abundance at each of the sites must also be changing; therefore, it would be interesting to determine which site the bird species favour as their migration patterns change. In addition, it would be interesting to see the displacement of the bird species as new birds migrate into the area. I’m assuming that depending on the bird species the migration patterns are different; therefore, if a smaller bird favoured a particular site it would be interesting to observe what would happen if a larger bird slowly started to inhabit the area.

Some initial findings of my data collection in which the mosses occurring on different slope positions on several rock outcrops were identified and their percent cover classified are shown in Figure 1 (included in Assignment 5). Specifically, Figure 1 illustrates the number of plots on which each species occurs within each slope position, summarized across the 4 replicate plots.

I did not have any difficulty organizing, aggregating or summarizing my data, although I did have to manually calculate the number of plots in which each species occured based on my field data. I also had to separate out the results in order to see the results per slope position instead of just as an overall total.

I found it interesting that the three most abundant species overall (PYLSP, PLESCH, DICSCO) occurred on all slope positions and that these were the only species to occur on the west-facing slopes. I also found it interesting that of all of the other species that occurred, each of these occurred only in one slope position. These include RACCAN, which only occurs on the crest, HYPSUB and HETPRO, which only occur on the eastern slopes, and KINORE and RHYLOR, which only occur in the depressions.  This was only unexpected in that it does illustrate what I had predicted, which is a pleasant surprise. This confirms, at least initially, that I am on the right track in my investigation.

As a separate study, it could be interesting to specifically target the species of moss that were found only on one slope position elsewhere within the study area, and to collect data on the same environmental attributes (i.e. slope position, slope, aspect, substrate, overstorey and understorey cover) in these locations. Analysis of that data could reveal whether the occurrences of these species on a particular slope position are a trend or just isolated occurrences, and also to tease out which, if any, environmental attributes are correlated with the occurrences of these species.