Download Field Study Of The Grasslands Ecosytem Expectations

Field Study of the Grasslands Ecosystem
Purpose: To make a comparison of a Prairie and Riparian Habitat within Dinosaur
Provincial Park
Dinosaur Provincial Park is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site that consists of three
unique habitats within the Red Deer River
Valley:
Prairie (Mixed Grass)
Riparian (Flood Plain)
The Prairie habitat is located at the top region of the
Park. It is an area of flat, predominantly treeless course
grassland, especially in a large plain with deep, fertile,
soil. It is a region inhabited by extensive grasses and
forbs and lacks the presence of large vegetation.
1,650 feet below are the nearby floodplains with a large
stand of cottonwood trees. The Cottonwood Flats trail
starts 1.4 Kilometres (0.9 miles) along the loop road,
leading through the trees and into old river channels.
This provides excellent protection for a small Riparian
habitat.
Objective of Study: The intent of this particular study is to investigate the abiotic and
biotic factors that allow for the survival of both plants and animals in these areas.
Investigations will include:
 Soil samples – pH, salinity, temperature, minerals
 Air temperature
 Water samples (riparian) – mineral levels
 Wind
 Biotic life
Procedure
Select a relatively undisturbed area of land in order to lay down the quadrat and perform
the following tests.
Measuring Abiotic Factors
Air temperature
1. Using the temperature probe, measure the air temperature 1 metre above the
surface and record as trial 1. Share your data with two other groups (trials 2 and
3) to determine the average value.
2. Using a bottle cap, randomly select 3 areas within the quadrat to measure and
record the air temperature at the surface and 10 cm below the surface.
Humidity
1.
Using the Humidity sensor and labquest measure and record 3 trials of the
Relative Humidity of the air.
Light Intensity
1.
Using a bottle cap, randomly select 3 areas within the quadrat to measure and
record the light intensity at the surface, using the light intensity sensor.
Wind Speed
1. Using a bottle cap, randomly select 3 areas within the quadrat to measure the
wind speed using an anemometer. Point the thin edge of the anemometer into the
wind. To measure the wind speed, record how many degrees from vertical the
thread is at the edge of the protractor. Using the conversion scale convert the
wind reading to wind speeds in km/h.
Angle (o)
Wind Speed
(km/h)
Angle (o)
Wind Speed
(km/h)
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
0
9
13
16
19
21
24
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
26
29
32
35
38
42
46
Soil measurements
1.Take the soils’ temperature, using the Temperature probe. Record results.
2. Place some of the soil sample in a container, with 100 mL of distilled water,
determine the soils’ pH using the pH meter.
3. Using the kits available, with 100 mL of distilled water, measure the mineral
levels of the soil, including: Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium levels and
record.
Measuring Biotic Factors
1.
Identify the flora (plant life) of the survey site. Survey the entire study site by
counting and recording the number and type of each plant.
Make sure you take any pictures of flora that you
observe in your report.
2. Use the student-designed field guide to identify and name the species of each
plant.
3. In addition, determine and record the density of each of the major types of plants
in your quadrat by using the formula:
density = number of plants
1m2
4. Identify the fauna (animal life) of the survey site. Survey the entire study site by
counting and recording the number and type of organisms present.
Make sure you take any pictures of fauna that you
observe to include in your report.
5.
Use the field guide to identify and name the species of each organism.
ABIOTIC Observations:
Temperature (OC)
Prairie
Air Temp. (1 metre)
Surface Temp.
Soil Temp. (10cm)
Riparian
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Prairie
Riparian
Soil pH
Phosphorus
Nitrogen
Potassium
Relative Humidity
Surface Light Intensity
Wind Speed
Prairie
Rparian
Prairie
Riparian
Prairie
Riparian
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
BIOTIC Observation:
Plant Species
Animal/Insect
Approximate
Number
Approximate
Number
Prairie (√)
Riparian (√)
Prairie (√)
Riparian (√)
Detailed Information:
1. Plant Species ____________________________________________________
2. Plant Species ____________________________________________________
3. Animal Species __________________________________________________
4. Animal Species __________________________________________________
Discussion Questions
Answer the following questions by comparing your two quadrats or study area
(Riparian or Prairie).
Always specify to which of your quadrats (biomes) you are referring.
1. Did your quadrats have a single dominant plant species or many species?
2. Why would different plants grow in different areas? (Be sure to refer to the
limiting abiotic and biotic factors)
3. Why were all the abiotic factors tested at the roughly the same time on the
same day when making comparisons? Why is this important?
4. There are many different kinds of soil. Explain the differences found in
your two sites by explaining how these differences would affect plant
growth.