Field Study
Overview
Field studies are a useful way to investigate an ecosystem and monitor species range and distribution. Understanding the ecosystem that a species uses as its habitat and monitoring the abundance of a particular species can help ecologists make recommendations to reintroduce species at risk or control invasive species. To get a better idea of what a field study is and the steps in planning one, read the following activities in your textbook.
Thought Lab 3.1 on page 83
Thought Lab 3.2 on page 99
Investigation 3.C on page 100
Investigation 3.D on page 106
In this assignment, you will compose a detailed plan for a field study that could be conducted in an Alberta ecosystem of your choice. You will be expected to research your ecosystem and provide at least 2 reliable resources other than your textbook. Check out the research page in the tutorials section for more information on researching and referencing. Your completed assignment will have the following components and should be at least 750 words in length.
Introduction (1 paragraph)
A description of the ecosystem that you have chosen to study.
Include the specific locations (possibly on a map) for each study site. Make sure that there is at least one characteristic distinguishing your sites from one another. For example, one might be forested and the other by a ditch, or one might be upstream from a wastewater treatment plant and another downstream, or one may be seeded fields where the other is native grasses, and so on.
Provide a general description of the ecosystem (climate, organisms that live there, landscape, etc).
Species Overview (1-2 paragraphs)
A description of one species that you expect to find at both of your study sites.
Describe the habitat and diet of your species.
Explain the abiotic factors necessary for the species to survive (temperature, moisture, pH, etc).
Explain how the species interacts with the biotic components of the ecosystem (predators, prey, competitors).
Data Collection
A list of the data that you plan to collect at each site.
Remember to collect data on biotic and abiotic factors that affect your species. Your species description should provide a guide to the data that you may want to collect.
Choose one measurement that you expect to take and provide a procedure for taking the measurement. For example, you might provide a step by step guide to using a pH meter or how to collect and count insects.
Discussion (1-2 paragraphs)
Discuss any expected differences between the two sites and why you may find these. For example, you might expect that the organism will be more abundant at site 1 since there is more tree cover there, or dissolved oxygen is higher at site 2 after the treatment plant, or that more mice reside in the farmer’s field than the native grasses. These are hypotheses but should be based on your research.
References (at least 2)
List the references you used by providing the author, title, publication year, publisher and url (if it is a web resource)
Forum post (1 paragraph)
Summarize the species you are studying and the biotic and abiotic factors necessary for survival. Post a response to another student’s summary of their field study (you might have a question or be able to provide additional information about their species or ecosystem).
Finding a Study Site
You might already have an area in mind to study because it is of personal interest to you. Your research site does not need to be close to your place of residence since you will not actually have to carry out the field study. If you do not have ideas for a research site, access these resources for some interesting ideas. Remember, if you use one of these resources, list it in your references!
Cypress Hills Provincial Park Research (elk, grasslands, forest, lakes)
Alberta Government Environmental Monitoring and Science Division
Fish Creek Provincial Park Research (beaver, invasive plants, wetlands)
Alberta Environment and Parks has lists of invasive species, species at risk, wild species and existing programs