Field Study
This project involves studying backdoor ecosystems through personal observation.
Introduction:
Weekly Focus Questions:
Weekly Data:
Site Pictures Week 3:
Site Pictures Week 5:
Analysis
The first change I observed was the fast growth of yellow flowers. This is due to the fact that flowers can grow very fast if pollinated correctly. I did see a good number of bees on the yellow flowers and this could also lead to the growth of multiple small yellow flowers. Also, flowers just tend to be faster growers. But it is possible that their location, which was an open space, allowed for more nutrient absorption.
Second, there was a change in the amount of mass on the log. The log at first was just beginning to rot and had little moss. By the end it was completely covered in moss. The moss like the damp tree climate and can absorb its rotting nutrients. I do not think any organisms played a role here, except termites may have slowed moss growth.
Lastly, The number of yellow flowers decreased over the six weeks. This is most likely due to animals such as dear. I noticed that there were bite marks and therefore I conclude that deer had eaten the yellow plants. The flowers also saw a rapid spread in seeds. This is because the deer spread the seeds when eating the flower.
The first organisms I observed was the sudden fall in number of insects. The first visit I was being swarmed by mosquitoes, but after the third or fourth visit there were basically none. This is shown in my data table, the number drops by about 200 every weak. I am not sure exactly why, but my hypothesis is that the insects were driven off as the dry summer conditions kicked in and the air was not humid enough. I did not know that mosquitoes were attracted to moist air. These mosquitoes may have been dominant in my area because there are a lot of plants to rest on and many animals are attracted to the plants, which the mosquitoes can feed on. Also, the tree canopy provides shade and makes for a damp climate on the ground level. The mosquitoes population may have been reduced by spiders and birds.
Second, there was a sudden increase in number of spider webs. It is possible that the rise in spider webs lead to the decrease in number of insects. This inverse relationship is shown on my data table. The spiders may have been attracted to the insect filled area but whatever it was it lead from 1 spider web to start to 12 webs at the end. I learned that spiders have the ability to detect where insects are located. These spiders were able to thrive on the large number of insects. I was unaware that some spiders could effect the whole population of insects. This was very interesting. However, it is most likely that it was more than just the spiders.
Lastly, I noticed change in the deer species. At first there was very little deer activity, as shown by my data table in number of deep droppings. There was then a gradual increase in activity. This is probably due to the growth in yellow flowers. The large amount of yellow flowers allowed these deer to thrive. However, there was a drop in activity in the end when a lot of the yellow flowers were eaten. The deer's ability to run fast and have quick movements allows them to survive and thrive as well. The fastest and strongest deer pass on their genes, this is natural selection.
From this field study I have learned many things about the world around me. Specifically, I have learned about the many abiotic and biotic relationships that shape our backyards. I have learned that deer affect plant growth. I learned that spiders effect insect population and much more. I found it fun and interesting when we would visit each week. I have learned that world around me is very active. Each part, living or not, has a role. Everything matters from soil concentration to number of rocks. I have seen that everything is connected in that they all effect each other. For example, a deer eats yellow flowers. However, mosquitoes feed on the deer. The spider hide their webs in the flowers to catch the deer. The soil needs to be rich for the flowers. The deer dies and makes the soil rich. And so on the cycle continues. That is the most important thing I learned, that everything is connected in some way or another not only in our backyards, but in the whole world.
Second, there was a change in the amount of mass on the log. The log at first was just beginning to rot and had little moss. By the end it was completely covered in moss. The moss like the damp tree climate and can absorb its rotting nutrients. I do not think any organisms played a role here, except termites may have slowed moss growth.
Lastly, The number of yellow flowers decreased over the six weeks. This is most likely due to animals such as dear. I noticed that there were bite marks and therefore I conclude that deer had eaten the yellow plants. The flowers also saw a rapid spread in seeds. This is because the deer spread the seeds when eating the flower.
The first organisms I observed was the sudden fall in number of insects. The first visit I was being swarmed by mosquitoes, but after the third or fourth visit there were basically none. This is shown in my data table, the number drops by about 200 every weak. I am not sure exactly why, but my hypothesis is that the insects were driven off as the dry summer conditions kicked in and the air was not humid enough. I did not know that mosquitoes were attracted to moist air. These mosquitoes may have been dominant in my area because there are a lot of plants to rest on and many animals are attracted to the plants, which the mosquitoes can feed on. Also, the tree canopy provides shade and makes for a damp climate on the ground level. The mosquitoes population may have been reduced by spiders and birds.
Second, there was a sudden increase in number of spider webs. It is possible that the rise in spider webs lead to the decrease in number of insects. This inverse relationship is shown on my data table. The spiders may have been attracted to the insect filled area but whatever it was it lead from 1 spider web to start to 12 webs at the end. I learned that spiders have the ability to detect where insects are located. These spiders were able to thrive on the large number of insects. I was unaware that some spiders could effect the whole population of insects. This was very interesting. However, it is most likely that it was more than just the spiders.
Lastly, I noticed change in the deer species. At first there was very little deer activity, as shown by my data table in number of deep droppings. There was then a gradual increase in activity. This is probably due to the growth in yellow flowers. The large amount of yellow flowers allowed these deer to thrive. However, there was a drop in activity in the end when a lot of the yellow flowers were eaten. The deer's ability to run fast and have quick movements allows them to survive and thrive as well. The fastest and strongest deer pass on their genes, this is natural selection.
From this field study I have learned many things about the world around me. Specifically, I have learned about the many abiotic and biotic relationships that shape our backyards. I have learned that deer affect plant growth. I learned that spiders effect insect population and much more. I found it fun and interesting when we would visit each week. I have learned that world around me is very active. Each part, living or not, has a role. Everything matters from soil concentration to number of rocks. I have seen that everything is connected in that they all effect each other. For example, a deer eats yellow flowers. However, mosquitoes feed on the deer. The spider hide their webs in the flowers to catch the deer. The soil needs to be rich for the flowers. The deer dies and makes the soil rich. And so on the cycle continues. That is the most important thing I learned, that everything is connected in some way or another not only in our backyards, but in the whole world.
Conclusion
My objective was to record as much plant data as possible and be able to observe changes in growth. I was semi successful in doing so. I was able to collect the data of the plants, but the data was surprisingly bad. The numbers hardly changed over the six weeks. However, this is not my fault. It is simply because plants do not grow at fast rates. So in the end I met my objective, but the results were less than I had predicted them to be. My original prediction were for the plants to grow as much as one foot taller during the six weeks. Now, I realize that is insane. They were not correct because I was not aware of the rate at which plants averagely grew.
I did not really have any predictions about the animals beforehand because I didn't expect we had to keep data on them. Once I was aware that we had to keep data, I made the prediction that the insects would increase in population as we got closer to summer and hotter weather rose. however, I was predicting the opposite of what really happened. It actually saw a decrease in insect population. This was surprising until I noticed the increase in spider webs.
With the data about rainfall, sunny days, and average temperature I feel my data may not have been too valid. I wasn't able to measure these things myself, so instead I had to do some internet searching and made predictions from there.
I did not really have any predictions about the animals beforehand because I didn't expect we had to keep data on them. Once I was aware that we had to keep data, I made the prediction that the insects would increase in population as we got closer to summer and hotter weather rose. however, I was predicting the opposite of what really happened. It actually saw a decrease in insect population. This was surprising until I noticed the increase in spider webs.
With the data about rainfall, sunny days, and average temperature I feel my data may not have been too valid. I wasn't able to measure these things myself, so instead I had to do some internet searching and made predictions from there.
Opinion
I found the field study to be very interesting. It was the first outdoor study I have done. It was especially cool because it was in our own town and ecological biome. I really likes how we visited during school because I would not have been able to outside of school. I really liked how we were given time to sit and observe changes and do labs like the soil testing. If I were to improve some things, they would be time and plant identification help. It seemed that my sight really hasn't changed too much during the six week period. All the plants are basically the same height. If we started earlier and took more separated visits their would be more observable change. Another problem was that I had trouble identifying plants and wish I could have had some help. I am not sure if that would be the teacher walking around and helping or a phone app but it was very hard to identify plants. For example, I still do not know what the green plant that is very abundant in my site is called.