Landscape ecology research proposal question

[mattolsen]

So I'm writing my research proposal for my undergrad research class and I just was wondering if anyone had any input? There is data in this rough draft that hasn't been cited yet fyi, and this is a very rough draft. Just wondering if anyone had any ideas. Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

Abstract:

 

 

 

The spatial scale at which most organisms utilize resources in their environment differs significantly among species and is dependent upon their body mass, food habitats, proximity to resources, dispersal range, habitat type preference, mobility, among many other variables. However, all of these variables are seemingly products of a more basic fundamental concept of landscape composition. Landscapes with great vegetative diversity often are those with high edaphic variety or topographic relief. When elevational diversity is very great, a nearly complete spectrum of vegetation types known from a biological region may occur within a relatively small area. Such areas provide habitat for many species, including those that depend on multiple habitat types to meet life history needs.(Donovan)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Keweenaw Peninsula sustains such a large variety of mammalian carnivores in proportion to its relatively small land mass, a phenomenon which is seen rarely in other parts of the United States. Observed throughout the Keweenaw Peninsula is such great vegetative diversity, and topographic relief. As a result, community structures throughout the peninsula seem to be more harmonious than in areas without both key factors. Therefore, I hypothesize that, though many variables are responsible for the abundance of mammalian carnivores co-existing in the U.P., the most quintessential variable responsible for this degree of co-existence is the relatively large variety of habitat types proportional to land mass.

 

 

 

 

I hypothesize that this is the result of the large degree of variation in vegetation observed on the small peninsula. In order to test my hypothesis I must first quantify the types of habitat found on the peninsula by vegetative analysis, obtain the known home ranges of each carnivore endemic to the Keweenaw, establish which species are in most direct competitition, and make further hypotheses about how resource's are partitioned and/or avoided throughout the carnivore community on the Keweenaw peninsula.

 

 

 

 

Methods:

 

Determine the average home range of each carnivore studied and find an average mean in order to establish spatial scale. Pick 24 total random points with 6 points within each habitat type.

 

 

 

 

Vegetative analysis will be conducted focusing on the density of the large and medium sized trees in each habitat type, the proportion and composition of ground cover, and an elevation measurement. For tree density I will be using the Point-Centered Quarter Analysis Data method, where each tree will be assigned an importance value based on sample data. All tree DBH will be measured at breast height using a __________. Medium trees will include those with a DBH of 2.5-12.99cm, and Large trees will include those with a DBH of 13.0-43.0cm. The large trees will be partitioned into 4 different categories including: 13.0-22.99, 23.0-32.99, 33.0-42.99, and 43.0 and larger. Each random point will be sampled by sectioning the area into 4 quadrats(NW, NE, SW, and SE) and taking the nearest medium and large tree distance and DBH measurements from center. Also, at each center point an elevation reading will be taken using a handheld GPS, and an analysis of ground cover composition will be measured within a 1m2 Quadrat frame.

 

 

 

 

After tree data is obtained, trees will be organized in stand tables for both the medium and large size trees. Importance values will be calculated using methods from the Forest Composition lab in "Laboratory and Field Manual of Ecology" by Brewer and McCann. Elevation data will be assigned to each habitat type sampled by taking an average of all of the elevation measurements taken in each corresponding habitat. Ground cover will also be transposed into a proportion by taking each sample sites average and assigning it to each habitat type.