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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.