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Post 5: Design Reflections

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I used a distance-based random sampling method to gather information about the species diversity along the gradient of my research area. I chose a point in roughly the center of each sub-site to measure from, just to make sure I didn’t wander too far out of the research area and skew my data. I set the random number generator on my phone to have a maximum of 4, then chose two cardinal directions. (1 = N, 2 = E, 3 = W, 4= S). I then set the number generator to have a maximum of 25 and walked the generated number of steps in both random directions, then recorded my data on the closest tree and marked it with a ribbon.  I experienced difficulties collecting data in the second sub-site because the terrain was so uneven and the vegetation that grew around the rocky outcrop in sub-site 3 was very thick.  The data was not very surprising, as I’ve spent most of my life walking through the forest of my research area and have become familiar with the species that grow there and their spatial patterns. The random distance-based sampling technique I used was easy to implement and I will continue using it to collect further data. By using a random number generator on my phone and beginning from a predetermined center point, the abundance of each species of tree was easy to categorize and record in my field journal as I marked each tree that I had already sampled with a ribbon, as to avoid double-counting.

Blog Post 9!

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I was really happy with how my field experiment was designed and carried out. I only needed to change minor things along the way. I decided to make the quadrat bigger and only stick to categorical response variables so I could use the ANOVA statistical framework. It did take me awhile to find the right tide pools because there is variation between the distances from the low-tide mark that the certain pools would be at. I have great appreciation for all ecologist out there because it is not easy developing a theory since the data need to be in replicates but those are not always easy to find. I now understand the time and effort that goes into ecological theory.

Blog Post 8!

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The graph that I created from my collected data was easy to organize, aggregate and summarize. I had the data all laid out for each tidal zone (high, mid and low) therefore, I was able to group together zones and average data which would be more representative for a specific zone. The outcome was similar to what other papers have found but I still predicted that low-tide pools would have greater richness and diversity but this was not the case for all species. The mid-tide zone had more barnacles and also more snails which was not expected but this gave me the idea to look at other papers and they noticed this trend too. The mid-tide zone provides a good environment very similar to the low-tide zone. Making my graph has prompted me to look more into what environmental conditions the thatched barnacles prefer to live in.

Blogpost 6: Data Collection

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Collecting samples in the field has been fairly easy, so long as the proper amount of time has been allocated to collect them. In total, 450 replicates were taken using a 0.25m2 quadrat. These samples were taken randomly and in equal numbers throughout the three zone types as outlined in my experimental design; canopied forest, uncanopied forest, and open grassland. A total of 9 sampling regions were sampled, with 50 samples taken from each. Three of these regions were in open grassland, three were canopied forest, and three were uncanopied forest (Figure 1).

 

No major issues were encountered when implementing my sampling design (other than many mosquitos!).

 

So far, it appears that the grassland samples have a higher occurrence of Knapweed than in either of the forest zones; this would support my hypothesis that access to sunlight affects the growth frequency of Knapweed. Statistical analysis has yet to be done on the data.

Figure 1. Satellite view of natural area; uncanopied area not accurately represented due to
age of image (google maps). Rough sampling zones outlined; 50 random samples taken per sampled zone. Project total n= 450.

 

EDIT: A new data collection method was used following this blog post. 10 transects were sampled with 21 samples each, taken 10m apart along each transect (n=210). This new collection method cut the time needed to collect samples by a considerable margin. A 1m xx 0.5m quadrat was used to sample for presence/absence of Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa). See figure 2 for an updated design layout in the natural area to the South of residential Aberdeen, Kamloops.

 

Similarly, to the previous sampling method, grassland cover seems to have a higher frequency of Knapweed than either of the other two cover types. Data analysis still needs to be conducted to confirm the significance of this pattern.

Figure 2. ________. Natural area including walking trail south of residential area in Aberdeen, Kamloops. Coordinates for trail and trail head are 50° 38’ 1” N 120° 21’ 18” W. Elevation ranges from 860m at the bottom of transects (at trail level) to 935m at the top of transects. Transects are drawn in yellow, the walking path highlighted in red, and a blue length marker is included for reference; ten transects were sampled for presence or absence of Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) and cover type (canopied forest, partially lit forest, open grassland) every 10m (total transect length 210m). Transect spacing was randomly chosen using a randomizer phone app. (total n=210).

Blogpost 5: Design Reflections

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The largest issue found with my sampling strategy would be time constraint. Due to the large number of samples which I wanted to collect in order to create as accurate of a representation as possible, I had to be sure to schedule a full afternoon and evening to be out in the field.

Additionally, occasional thick vegetation growth slowed down data collection due to the method used; pacing at a set compass bearing meant that I had to go through the thick vegetation (being careful to cause little damage/disturbance) rather than around it in order to have the correct number of randomized paces.

 

The data collected was not very surprising. The only piece that surprised me was how little of the Knapweed grew in the canopied forest; while visual observations suggested this, the samples had virtually no occurrence of the Knapweed.

 

I do not plan on modifying my approach to collecting data. While significant amount of time is required for my approach, when considering the number of samples taken it is fairly efficient. I think that my data collection methods align well with the hypothesis that I am trying to test.

 

EDIT: The sampling design was changed to a randomized transect method. Ten transects were randomly chosen using a randomizer app on my cell phone. Transects were sampled every 10 metres for the presence/absence of Knapweed and the cover type at the sample point. This method took roughly 1/3 the time previous method required and provided more sound data to analyze. Similar difficulties with thick bush areas were encountered with this method, however they were not insolvable instances. Similar patterns were noticed with collecting data where Knapweed had a low frequency in the canopied area and a higher frequency in the open grassland. Further statistical analysis is required for the data.

Post Nine: Field Research Reflections

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Designing a field experiment is a mix of creativity, theory and adventure. While I love working in the outdoors and examining the natural world, any field research done over the winter limited daylight hours, plant identification and comfort while collecting data and observations. Extending the course into the spring allowed me to more holistically study Cates Park and its perennial plants and deciduous trees.

I changed my design a few times, including how data was collected, for realistic methodology, and to adapt to the knowledge and tools that were at hand. The changes are reflected throughout these blog posts and within the final project submission

Engaging in an ecological study has opened my eyes to the interdisciplinary subject matters integrated in ecology, as my subjects and connections in the study of nurse logs at Cates Park included Indigenous and logging history, ethnobotanical uses of local berry plants, conservation and public wellness. The vast amount of knowledge that is curated and studied in order to understand ecological processes is impressive and overwhelming, with so many variables that ensure this science will never rest as the world’s climate, biosphere and human values evolve.

Blog Post 7!

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The theoretical basis behind my research is to study the diversity of species living in intertidal locations with varying environmental stress.  It can also relate back to climate change with the sea levels rising will the species at high elevation still be able to survive. The ideas that are connected to my research include any study that is looking at elevation from the low-tide mark as a key factor in different species. Also, the idea that the ocean environment is changing and within these micro environments ( tide pools) they can show a small version of what could happen to the whole ocean with regards to less diversity with changing conditions (ie. sea temperature and sea level rising).

 

Species diversity, intertidal zones, marine niches.

Blogpost 4: Sampling strategies

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The sampling strategy in the virtual forest tutorial that had the fasted estimated sampling time was haphazard sampling. For one of the two rarest species, White Pine, haphazard sampling had the most accurate results with a 1.2% error. The other rarest species, Striped Maple, has no accurate sampling strategy with this tutorial (all sampling strategies had >100% error).

For the most common species, Eastern Hemlock, systematic sampling narrowly beat out random sampling with 20% error (compared to 20.6% random sampling). For the second most common species, the Red Maple, systematic sampling had a much wider margin on accuracy with a 32.7% error (as opposed to 53% for both other strategies).

 

Species abundance did not seem to have a massive effect on accuracy; the lowest percent error was for a rare species. This leads me to believe more replicate samples should be done in a study like this for a better representative sampling.

 

Overall, it seems that a systematic sampling strategy had the lowest percent error for more species than the other two sampling strategies. Haphazard sampling yielded the lowest percent error for a few species and random samples did not produce the lowest percent error for any of the species in the tutorial.

Blogpost 3: Ongoing field observations

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The organism which I plan to study is the distribution of Spotted Knapweed, Centaurea biebersteinii.

The Knapweed plants have light purple flowers with thin and extending petals. The stalk is light-green, thin, and does not cover a lot of horizontal space. Each plant may have multiple flowers and stands 1 to 2 feet tall, generally speaking. The Knapweed plants seem to grow both in patches and also individually.

In each of the three stratum types, forested, forested with minimal/no cover, and open grassland, the physical features of each plant appeared similar. The distribution between areas is different, however. The Knapweed is virtually non-existent in the forested area; however, in areas of forest with no cover, Knapweed seems to grow in large patches as well as regularly by themselves. In the open grassland, Knapweed does not grow in patches, rather, it grows individually and often.

Processes that may play a part in this observed pattern could be access to sunlight, or competition with other species. Soil type is fairly uniform throughout this entire mountainside region, and precipitation is fairly rare in arid Kamloops this time of year.

Because of these observations, I hypothesize that Knapweed will grow more frequently in areas with more access to sunlight; if a stratum has more access to sunlight, then Knapweed will grow in greater frequency than in other stratums.

A response variable could be Knapweed frequency (continuous), or perhaps Knapweed density (continuous), and a explanatory variable could be access to sunlight (can be set up categorically or continuously).

Knapweed.

Blog post 2: sources of scientific information

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I reviewed the article Late-Season Survey of Bumble Bees Along Canadian Highways of British Columbia and Yukon Territories. The article was found using TRU’s online database and the topic and abstract seemed interesting to me.

 

  1. a) The source of this article is the Western North American Naturalist journal. (https://ezproxy.tru.ca/login?url=https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.tru.ca/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=109305710&site=eds-live)
  2. b) The article in an academic, peer-reviewed, research article.
  3. c) This article is academic as it is written by experts in the field who are employed for ecological research groups and government agencies; in-text citations and a bibliography are present in the article. The article is peer-reviewed as evidenced by the inclusion of both ‘received’ and ‘accepted’ dates; googling the journal’s website shows that it is a peer-reviewed publication. Lastly, the article is a research article as data was collected by the authors and both a methods and a results section were included.