Field Study Project:
Objective: The objective for my field study is to learn how the various organisms interact with the surrounding environment.
Site Description:
My site is just off of the trail. My site consists of one large oak tree surrounded by grass and rocks as well as some weeds. The tree that is in my site is completely rotting. The termites I observed have eaten away at the wood and caused the tree to be hollow. The animals in my site are butterflies, moths, gnats, ants, spiders, and termites. I also saw where a deer had laid to rest. The ground is damp due to the tree cover and the shade.
Prediction:
I predict that in the next eight weeks that many changes will occur. The grass will grow and the butterfly chrysalis’ I observed will hatch. I am also interested in seeing whether or not the decaying tree will fall or decay even more. I also predict that over the next 8 weeks the soil will become a lot drier due to the upcoming summer weather and the drought. During these weeks i will document any changes and see if my predictions were accurate.
Observation Descriptions:
Site Data:
Site Description:
My site is just off of the trail. My site consists of one large oak tree surrounded by grass and rocks as well as some weeds. The tree that is in my site is completely rotting. The termites I observed have eaten away at the wood and caused the tree to be hollow. The animals in my site are butterflies, moths, gnats, ants, spiders, and termites. I also saw where a deer had laid to rest. The ground is damp due to the tree cover and the shade.
Prediction:
I predict that in the next eight weeks that many changes will occur. The grass will grow and the butterfly chrysalis’ I observed will hatch. I am also interested in seeing whether or not the decaying tree will fall or decay even more. I also predict that over the next 8 weeks the soil will become a lot drier due to the upcoming summer weather and the drought. During these weeks i will document any changes and see if my predictions were accurate.
Observation Descriptions:
- The first time we visited it was around 1 or 1:30. My area was in complete shade due to the large trees further up the hill blocking out the sun.
- I sighted squirrels, moths, ants, spiders, gnats, various birds, and evidence of a deer.
- I noticed no smells but I could distinctly hear the calls of birds.
Site Data:
- Plants:
- grass around 5 inches in height
- weeds less than 2 inches in height
- flowers 3 inches in height
- one tree about 10 feet tall
- Animals:
- squirrels (2)
- flies (10+)
- spiders (4)
- butterflies (2)
- Abiotic Data
- Average temperature:
- Average rainfall:
- length of day on Wednesday:
Focus Questions:
Focus Questions Week 1:
Where is my site located?
My site is located in a temperate shrubland woodland. This is due to the moderate climate and plants suited for very little rainfall. In my area, a large oak tree shades grasses and small flowering plants. Moderately dry soil is covered in a layer of decomposing tree bark and leaves.
Do I see evidence of predation in my site?
In my site I see predation. The spiders lay waiting in their webs while birds eat the various bugs that fly in my area. The deer that was there at one point would have eaten the grasses and plants.
Food chain in my site
Plants (producers) --- bugs and butterflies as well as deer--- birds and spiders
Focus Questions Week 2:
What is man's main impact in your area?
My areas main impact is the lack of water sources near the area. The scarce rainfall also affects my area.
What are the limiting factors in your area for plants? For animals?
A limiting factor of plants would be the soil not being nutritious enough for plants to grow. The soil in my area was mostly rocky and had little nutrients that are crucial to plant growth. A limiting factor for animals could be the rocky soil. This causes the ground to be very crumbly and therefore hard to burrow into.
Focus Questions Week 3:
Why are bacteria important for plants in your area? For animals? For soil? (What role do they play?)
Bacteria plays an important role in the nitrogen cycle. It helps with denitrification and nitrification in the soil. This is important to plants because nitrogen is a necessity for plant growth. In animals, bacteria helps digest and get rid of excess food in the stomach. Bacteria also helps the soil by decomposing matter and transferring its nutrients into the ground.
In general, where are fungi found? What is their role in the world?
Fungi are found everywhere. They are found in Antarctica, soil, and even inside you. They like to grow in slightly acidic places. Fungi recycle matter back into the soil, are food for humans and animals, and can be used to make medicines.
Do you have any in your area? Where? Why? If no, why not?
I have no visible traces fungi in my area. I think that this is because my soil, which is actually pretty much dry dirt and rocks, is not fit for fungal growth.
Focus Questions Week 4:
Invertebrates in my area:
In my area I found various gnats and flies. I also observed various species of butterflies and moths.
What is their Purpose?
These invertebrates' purpose is to feed other animals as well as pollinate the various flowers in O'hair park.
Where are they found and why?
These animals are found near the trees and plants that they feed on. They also hover close to where they nest.
Focus Questions Week 5:
Identify any bryophytes, seedless vascular plants, gymnosperms, or angiosperms (moncot or dicot) that you have in your area. (At least 5 different plants). For each explain why you classified them the way you did.
Gymnosperms:
Oak tree -had acorns at one point (its dead now)
Bryophytes:
The moss on trunk of tree and on the ground/rocks
Monocot Angiosperm:
The sparse stalks of various grass species around entire portion of land. (Monocot: single stem)
Dicot Angiosperm:
The flowering plant behind the tree. (Dicot: multiple growths off of one stem.)
Seedless Vascular:
The spikey weeds near the base of the tree. (do not disperse seeds.)
Focus Questions Week 6:
What are the essential nutrients needed in soil? Why are each important?
Essential nutrients needed in soil are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen helps the plants. Phosphorus assists in the process of creating oil, sugars and starches. Potassium is absorbed in large quantity by most plants and assists in protein synthesis.
Explain different methods of pollination you see in your area. Give at least 3 examples.
Wind pollination- Novato is very windy
Animal pollination- The burrs get easily stuck to any fabric or fur
Insects pollination- The butterflies and bees
Where is my site located?
My site is located in a temperate shrubland woodland. This is due to the moderate climate and plants suited for very little rainfall. In my area, a large oak tree shades grasses and small flowering plants. Moderately dry soil is covered in a layer of decomposing tree bark and leaves.
Do I see evidence of predation in my site?
In my site I see predation. The spiders lay waiting in their webs while birds eat the various bugs that fly in my area. The deer that was there at one point would have eaten the grasses and plants.
Food chain in my site
Plants (producers) --- bugs and butterflies as well as deer--- birds and spiders
Focus Questions Week 2:
What is man's main impact in your area?
My areas main impact is the lack of water sources near the area. The scarce rainfall also affects my area.
What are the limiting factors in your area for plants? For animals?
A limiting factor of plants would be the soil not being nutritious enough for plants to grow. The soil in my area was mostly rocky and had little nutrients that are crucial to plant growth. A limiting factor for animals could be the rocky soil. This causes the ground to be very crumbly and therefore hard to burrow into.
Focus Questions Week 3:
Why are bacteria important for plants in your area? For animals? For soil? (What role do they play?)
Bacteria plays an important role in the nitrogen cycle. It helps with denitrification and nitrification in the soil. This is important to plants because nitrogen is a necessity for plant growth. In animals, bacteria helps digest and get rid of excess food in the stomach. Bacteria also helps the soil by decomposing matter and transferring its nutrients into the ground.
In general, where are fungi found? What is their role in the world?
Fungi are found everywhere. They are found in Antarctica, soil, and even inside you. They like to grow in slightly acidic places. Fungi recycle matter back into the soil, are food for humans and animals, and can be used to make medicines.
Do you have any in your area? Where? Why? If no, why not?
I have no visible traces fungi in my area. I think that this is because my soil, which is actually pretty much dry dirt and rocks, is not fit for fungal growth.
Focus Questions Week 4:
Invertebrates in my area:
In my area I found various gnats and flies. I also observed various species of butterflies and moths.
What is their Purpose?
These invertebrates' purpose is to feed other animals as well as pollinate the various flowers in O'hair park.
Where are they found and why?
These animals are found near the trees and plants that they feed on. They also hover close to where they nest.
Focus Questions Week 5:
Identify any bryophytes, seedless vascular plants, gymnosperms, or angiosperms (moncot or dicot) that you have in your area. (At least 5 different plants). For each explain why you classified them the way you did.
Gymnosperms:
Oak tree -had acorns at one point (its dead now)
Bryophytes:
The moss on trunk of tree and on the ground/rocks
Monocot Angiosperm:
The sparse stalks of various grass species around entire portion of land. (Monocot: single stem)
Dicot Angiosperm:
The flowering plant behind the tree. (Dicot: multiple growths off of one stem.)
Seedless Vascular:
The spikey weeds near the base of the tree. (do not disperse seeds.)
Focus Questions Week 6:
What are the essential nutrients needed in soil? Why are each important?
Essential nutrients needed in soil are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen helps the plants. Phosphorus assists in the process of creating oil, sugars and starches. Potassium is absorbed in large quantity by most plants and assists in protein synthesis.
Explain different methods of pollination you see in your area. Give at least 3 examples.
Wind pollination- Novato is very windy
Animal pollination- The burrs get easily stuck to any fabric or fur
Insects pollination- The butterflies and bees
Week By Week Observations and Images:
Week One:
(Stated in initial site introduction at the top of this page) I went to my site an additional time in the week at around 3-4. The sunlight covering my site was much less. All biotic features were the same. Week Two: No animal changes other than the deer is not present and some of the butterflies have hatched out of their chrysalis. The plants have grown approximately one inch taller and a few new grass stalks have sprouted. Since we went at around the same time (12-1) the light exposure is the same and covers approximately 55% of my site. Week Three: We went at around 2 and the tree was less covered in light. Also, I observed MANY more mosquitoes and gnats. I believe this is because the day was much more humid than the other days. I know that these bugs enjoy humid weather so I have deduced that to be the cause of their increase in attendance. Week Four: Some slight grass growth but other wise, no change. Week Five: This week we were supposed to specifically observe the types of plants that we have in our site. My oak tree is categorized as an angiosperm dicot. The grasses are angiosperm monocots. There is also some bryophytes or moss. I also observed that there was a slight growth in the grasses. Week Six: With the summer heat the soil surrounding my area has become completely dry. This has resulted in a majority of my plants dying or becoming very limp. There is also a large amount of insect activity. |
Analysis & Conclusion:
Throughout this project my site has undergone many significant changes. The tree in the middle of my site has decomposed significantly. The grass and weeds have significantly grown and the butterfly/moth cocoons I observed have hatched. The tree in the middle of my site was already decomposing before I began this project but over the last six weeks it has been interesting to see how various organisms use it. The insects use the dead, hollow trunk as a place to live ad nest. The moss and plants use the trunk as a place to anchor themselves. Birds use the branches as a place to nest. Another major change I noticed was the growth of grass and weeds in my site. The soil in my site was very poor as I found out in our soil testing lab. This did not allow for many plants to grow in my area. Very few plant other than the dominant grass and weeds were able to grow, even they were sparse. In the first week of observations, I noticed several moth/butterfly cocoons in the hollow trunk of my tree. A week later they had hatched and I was able to observe these insects as part of my site. I enjoyed seeing this change because it was an immediate change that I could easily notice and record. I have also noticed how the heat affects the amount of insect activity. The warmer the day, the more insects will be out and about. This was interesting to discover and I would like to learn more about why this is.
Overall, I have learned very much from my field study project. I learned about how various ecosystems interact with each other. I also learned about the diversity in O'Hair park. I was very unaware of how may different species of plants are in the park. The park ranger who visited told us that O'Hair park at one point was someone's homestead. We could tell this by the foreign, decorative plants and walnut trees that lined the "driveway." My predictions were correct. The butterflies did hatch and the ground definitely became a lot drier due to the drought and the upcoming summer.
I really enjoyed this project. By being able to get outside and actually experience the ecosystem that we live in, I was able to learn so much more than I may have by just reading about various ecosystems in our textbook. One thing I would have done differently is my website updates. I would have liked to go more in depth and ben more prompt about publishing. I would definitely do this project again.