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Blog Post 8 for Katarina Duke

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Compiling the table was relatively easy; however, establishing a ranking system for algal growth significance required some thought. In the end, I chose to use a ranking from 0 to 5 with 5 indicating “very significant quantity of algal growth.” Summarizing the data within the table was easy as the SonoTek Flow Tracker 2 used takes the 20-25 discharge and depth measurements taken within the creek and provides an average depth and total discharge.

Deciding on a graph format to use was completed with trial and error. Initially I had completed a graph plotting both discharge and depth against algal growth significance. Instead, I chose to create two separate graphs (i.e. discharge vs. algal growth significance and depth vs. algal growth significance) to convey the data as algal growth significance showed a correlation with discharge but no relationship could be inferred between depth and algal significance. This surprised me as water temperature increases with shallower water and temperature increases encourage algal growth, thus making me presume that a relationship between algal growth and water depth could be established.

Many abiotic factors influence the growth of algal. It would be interesting to determine at what temperature does the influence of temperature on algal growth surpass the influence of discharge on algal growth (or vice versa). I would also be curious in exploring further if there is in fact no relationship between water depth and algal growth by conducting a controlled experiment where few abiotic factors are changing such as observing algal growth in a stagnant tank with only the water level changing.

The influence of discharge on algal growth was as expected; increase in discharge inhibits algal growth.

Not depicted within the graphs but displayed in the table is the relationship between turbulent or laminar flow and algal growth. As expected algal growth was observed in areas of laminar flow.

 

Blog Post 8 Tables and Graphs

BIOL3021- Sampling Locations

Blog Post 3: Ongoing Field Study – Heather Lean

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For my field study, I have decided to focus on a group of  Goldfinger Potentilla Shrubs that are located in a circle in the park behind my house. They are separated into three groups.

Group A is located 301º NW in the circle and has minimal sun exposure due to larger trees blocking the sun. It is noted that the shrubs have less dense foliage and the number of flowers is less compared to the other plants.

Group B is located 68º E in the circle and has full sun exposure from sunrise to afternoon. These plants have dense foliage and a greater number of flowers throughout.

Group C is located 190º S. They have full sun exposure throughout part of the afternoon and evening. The plants are noted to have a similar appearance to Group A. They have a decreased number of flowers and foliage.

Due to the positioning of groups A and C, it would appear they have greater competition for sunlight then group B due to larger trees blocking out the sun. The decrease of direct sunlight may be a consideration as to the variations between the groups.

My hypothesis is as follows:

Are Goldfinger Potentilla shrubs are more likely to produce more flowers when in direct sunlight and does the competition of other plant species around affect the number of flowers on the shrubs? I do think that the amount of sun plays a part in the number of flowers the shrubs produce. I also think that they are directly affected by the competition of the surrounding trees.

Blog Post 2: Sources of Scientific Information. By Heather Lean

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The article I found was an online article about Fluctuating resources in plant communities.

My reasons for this being that the authors who wrote it are experts working in the field from credible research institutes. Even though the article is more about the theory they have developed, they still include their methods and results. They have also acknowledged the article was referee by several people making this an academic peer-reviewed article.

Davis, M. A., Grime, P., & Thompson, K. (n.d.). Fluctuating resources in plant communities: A general theory of invasibility. Journal of Ecology. Retrieved August 2, 2018, from https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1046/j.1365-2745.2000.00473.x.

Blog Post 1: Observations (NEW PROJECT)

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The areas I have selected to observe are aquatic bodies of water in North Bay, Ontario. There are two large lakes in North Bay that are home to a variety of species, as well are known for different fish such as Bass, Muskee, crayfish, etc.

 

Site A: Lake Nipissing

  • Surface area of 873.3 km2, 196m above sea level, average depth of 4.5 m (shallow), max depth 64m & max length 65 km
  • 3rd largest lake in Ontario
  • Located between Ottawa River and Georgian Bay
  • Topography: flat land
  • Vegetation: shallow water lake
  • August 1, 2018, 2:00pm, 22 degrees Celcius, scattered showers (light rain)

There are many species that are abundant in Lake Nipissing, such as Bass and Muskee. What interests me is the abundance of a particular species in Lake Nipissing as opposed to Trout Lake (Site B). Lake Nipissing is near a sewage treatment plant; therefore the sewage is most likely dumped into this lake causing the temperature to be warmer. Lake Nipissing is also known to be very shallow, perhaps contributing to the temperature of the water as well.

 

Site B: Trout Lake

  • Surface area of 348.1 km2, 11.27 km long, 202 m above sea level, 4km wide
  • 6km east of Lake Nipissing
  • Exists eastward into the Matter River, flowing via the Ottawa River to the St. Lawrence River
  • Source of the Mattawa River
  • Located on a well-known historic North American fur-trading route
  • North Bay drinking water obtained from this lake

Trout Lake is known for its cooler, deeper waters. The species of fish are endless, as they haven’t found the bottom of this lake yet, which spikes interest to me on the differences between abundance of the same species within the two different lakes. The lake is very deep, perhaps contributing to the temperature of the water, as well as the types of species that live in the shallower areas closer to the shoreline.

I am interested in examining a species that may be important to the life of bigger fish within the two lakes, and am intrigued by the idea of the water temperature having an affect on the abundance of this species. Perhaps this is something I will examine for my field study.

  1. Does water temperature have an affect on the abundance of crayfish in either lake? What are the repercussions of this?
  2. Does water depth have an affect on the temperature of the water? If so, are crayfish more abundant in shallow or deep waters?
  3. Does water temperature have an affect on the species of crayfish present? If so, does this affect other species?

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 4 for Katarina Duke

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Three sampling methods were used in gathering data from the Mohn Mill community using the virtual forest tutorial: haphazard, random, and systematic.

An equal number of quadrats were sampled (i.e. 30 each) with the systematic sampling technique having the fastest sampling time but, the sampling time for all three methods remained within the range of 15 to 16 hours. The haphazard method had a sampling time of 15 hours and 57 minutes, and the random sampling method has a sample time of 15 hours and 49 minutes.

In all three sampling strategies, Red Maple and White Oak were determined to be the two most common species; However, the results for the two rarest species differed for each method (i.e. American Basswood, Sweet Birch, White Ash, and Hawthorn).

  1. Haphazard or convenience sampling

Using the area, haphazard sampling technique for the Mohn Mill community, American basswood and Hawthorn were the two rarest species as indicated by the actual importance value.

·         Hawthorn

Actual importance value: 0.6

Calculated importance value: 0.4

 

 ·         Sweet birch

Actual importance value:  0.2

Calculated importance value: 0.7

 

 

  1. Random sampling

 

Using the area, random sampling technique for the Mohn Mill community, White ash and Hawthorn were the two rarest species as indicated by the actual importance value.

 

·         White Ash

Actual importance value: 0.2

Calculated importance value: 0.6

 

 ·         Hawthorn

Actual importance value: 0.6

Calculated importance value: 0.6

 

 

 

 

  1. Systematic sampling

 

Using the area, systematic sampling technique for the Mohn Mill community, American basswood and Sweet birch were the two rarest species as indicated by the actual importance value.

·         American basswood:

Actual importance value: 0.2

Calculated importance value: 1.5

 

 ·         Sweet birch:

Actual importance value: 0.2

Calculated importance value: 0.7

 

For all three sampling methods—haphazard, random, and systematic sampling—the accuracy improved with abundance.

Of the three methods, the random sampling method had the highest accuracy.

I found it interesting that the systematic method of sampling had skewed the density of the rare species to such a substantial extent, making a haphazard sampling approach appear to be a more desirable sampling method. I was also surprised to see haphazard having the degree of accuracy it did.

A reason for the lack of accuracy using the systematic sampling method could potentially be using a transect sampling method in conjunction with the systematic method. I selected the samples at regular distances along the transect, with the initial point randomly chosen. As stated in “Tutorial: Sampling techniques,” systematic sampling can produce problems if the points correspond to an underlying environmental pattern, which perhaps is the case for Mohn Mill community.

I am curious about the results stratified sampling and transects would obtain. For stratified sampling, the tree population would be split into somewhat homogenous groups (same species). I predict the accuracy for stratified sampling would be equivalent to, if not better than, the accuracy of random sampling and that the common species determined would match. I think stratified sampling would determine the rarest species to be Hawthorn and Sweet birch due to their occurrence in two of sampling methods used.

A method I am aware of that is commonly used in the forestry industry is the point-centered quarter method, where a point in the center of the forest is identified and then the area surrounding it is separated into four quarters. I am surprised this method was not within the tutorial given its common use in relation to trees. I’d be interested in seeing how the method compares to those used within the tutorial in terms of the rare species determined and accuracy.

 

Blog Post 4: Sampling Strategies (Percy)

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The technique that had the fastest estimated sampling time:

Random/systematic sampling of area (12 hours, 33 minutes) as opposed to 12 hours, 36 minutes and 12 hours, 40 minutes for the other sampling techniques.

Percent error:

Most common species include the Eastern Hemlock; Random/Systematic 14.25%, Haphazard 9.52%

Sweet Birch; Random/Systematic 24.68%, Haphazard 20.83%

Most rare species include the Striped Maple; As these were predicted to not be present in these samples, the percent error is negative.

White Pine; (above). The accuracy of this data corresponds to the amount of species within the given area, as the more species, the more accurate the results. The sampling strategy that seemed most appropriate for this experiment would be Systematic sampling of a given area as it was much more accurate and time-efficient.

Blog 9 Field Research Reflections

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My field study into the cone gathering potentials of an urban red squirrel were very interesting.  I had no idea there already were an immense amount of scholarly articles on this topic as well as many more articles on other variables concerning the Red squirrel.  What I discovered was that the more I uncovered, the more information and avenues there were to follow.  I think this is what makes Ecology such an interesting field of study, the potential for discovery is endless.

As far as my field study went, I found I really had to think about what my response and my predictor variables were and how to apply them to my study.  I think more practice and more use of ecological tools would help in discerning what avenues to take. But again, this just reiterates the amount of work that needs to be done before even doing the actual practical side of the field study.

This course has been an eye opener into the world of ecology.  There is so much more involved than initially observing something.  It takes keen observation to detail and unbiased thinking to report what is happening in the natural world.  I found myself revising and revising time and time again until the clarity of my objective could be seen.  And even when my objective was pinpointed, I still had a hard time focusing on just one goal when so many more fascinating aspects unveiled themselves.

I wish more of these type of courses become available to students.  Even a continuation of this course with more mathematical statistic methods would be appreciated.  I believe in this day and age of financial cutbacks, a time will come when citiᴢen scientists will be an important part of future ecology if not the beginning of stewardship programs in conservation of a species.

On ending, the Western Painted Turtle is Red listed on the pacific coast and Blue listed in the intᴢerior of BC.  Red: jeopardy of losing the population Blue:  species of Concern      Urbaniᴢation and encroachment of populations on wetlands and pond habitats have fragmented the natural ecosystems of the turtle.  Barriers such as highways, agricultural fields, dams, have caused pockets of isolation and increased risk of inbreeding (weakening the gene pool), decimation of nesting grounds (sand) by hikers, atv’s, trails, livestock…..invasive species such as knapweed who’s roots can grow through a turtle egg as it incubates in the ground…climate warming and shrinking streams and habitat areas…long sexual maturity males 8 years, females 10-12 years…loss of eggs in the winter again through climate change (low snowfall and freeᴢing conditions that effectively freeᴢe and kill the egg)…and what I believe is happening on my Kootenay River: constant dropping of water levels in January (BC Hydro canals and dams that send electricity to the US ) and which, exposes the mud where the turtles are hibernating and effectively killing them with winter freeᴢing…The US and Canada have the Columbia Basin Trust Treaty whereby Canadians benefit from the dam control to the US (flooding control) by the profits of electricity sales to the US…Communities receive grant funds for improvement to their communities re: porch steps for their hall, a new oven or fridge, an outhouse…communities that have been here for under 100 years while the Western Painted Turtle, a native of these waterways in BC since the last Ice Age, receives nothing.

In closing, please support Western Painted Turtle Conservation.

Blog Post 2: Sources of Scientific Information

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I have chosen The Journal of Applied Ecology as my source of ecological information. Its home page can be found by following the link below:

 

https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652664

 

I chose this journal because it covers a wide variety of subjects that I will be able to utilize when searching for literature for my final project. The Journal of Applied Ecology is an academic, peer-reviewed, review and research journal, so it will be an ideal place to gather trustworthy information. Below is a link to an article exploring habitat preferences, using Spizella breweri, the brewer’s sparrow, as an example;

 

https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2007.01352.x

 

Reference:

Chalfoun, A. and Martin, T. 2007. Assessments of habitat preferences and quality depend on spatial scale and metrics of fitness. Journal of Applied Ecology 44(5): 983-992.

Theoretical Perspectives (#7)

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Disturbance and succession are the main ideas which serve as the primary theoretical framework of my project. My hypotheses, which predicts that the size and abundance of rosa acicularis bushes will vary in relation to specific conditions and the presence or absence of specific plant species, is based on the idea that certain plant species can be attributed to specific seral stages, and that these stages are definable by measurable biotic characteristics. Interactions such as competition, mutualism, and facilitation also underpin the ideas guiding my observations about the plants found growing near prickly roses. Because this project is being conducted in the most populated area in the southern Yukon, the boreal forest ecosystem and anthropogenic influence are also useful elements in this project’s framework.

Keywords include: disturbance, succession, boreal forest, competition, mutualism, facilitation, pioneer plant, rosa acicularis, prickly rose.