Taking
good field notes and being a good observer is mandatory for a successful
field study. You are to spend
about an hour at your site every observation period.
You are encouraged to draw the setting and various plants or
animals that are involved in your observation.
You are encouraged to purchase a special journal or notebook to
record all of your observation in.
Requirements
for a successful visit:
Each
Journal entry must be a minimum of 250 words.
1.
Record the date, time, temperature, % cloud cover, wind, and
recent rain. This should be
recorded at the top of your journal entry in data format. not included
in word count
2.
Human activity- note if humans have disturbed your
site. Is there litter, pollution, or habitat destruction?
3.
Plants- describe how the plants are changing at your
site. Change is called transition and is a form of succession.
This is another area where you can draw specific changes new to
your site. You must choose
three plants to measure each visit. You must measure the same three plants each visit
during your seven observations. Pictures
of the plants with the measuring instrument are required for each visit.
4.
Species Interaction
What invertebrates and vertebrates occupy your site? What are they doing when you observe them?
These interactions can include predator-prey, commensalism,
mutualism, parasitism, plant inhibitions, mating displays, and
territoriality.
5.
Descriptions of plants and animals should be both
quantitative and qualitative.
6.
Transitional changes
How has your site changed since the last observation?
What different abiotic and biotic factors have influenced the
change? Has there been a
change in population density? How
about erosion or habitat destruction?
7.
Handwriting- you will be turning in your original
work. Please be sure to take your time and write neatly.
Your
journal is a very large part of your grade, be specific and detailed in
your descriptions and observations.
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