Your teacher will lead you through field methods.
For each field protocol you follow:
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Record data in the attached data sheets.
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Think about the questions you would like to answer by analyzing your data sets.
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Make graphs as instructed by your teacher.
How to Create Your Study Site
Study Site Parameters
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10 meters x 10 meters
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Undeveloped, no buildings, asphalt or concrete
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Not irrigated
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Contains some vegetation (trees, shrubs, grasses)
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Within walking distance from your school
Equipment Requirements
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Stakes or small survey flags
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10 meter tape measure
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40 meters of string
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GPS
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Compass
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Camera
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Recording tools (pen and paper, computer, etc.)
Steps
1. Mark the 1st corner of your site with a stake.
2. Take a 90 degree bearing with your compass and measure 10 meters.
3. Optionally, mark the area with your string, 10 meters on each side.
4. Mark the second corner with a stake.
5. Continue with these steps using the compass to create a 10 meter square study site.
6. Take a GPS reading of the four corners and record.
7. Take a picture of the study site from a variety of views.
8. Optionally, draw a map of the study site.
9. Record the date and time of the establishment of your study site.
10. In writing, describe your study site.
Now, you can begin scientific monitoring at your study site. Use the attached data sheets to record data.
Collecting Camera Trap Data
Equipment Requirements
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Specialized camera for camera trapping (motion activated)
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Camera batteries
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Computer to upload images
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Large stake for mounting camera (or a tree or a big rock)
Steps
1. Choose an area within your study site where you suspect animals visit.
2. Mount the camera roughly waist high on the stake, tree or rock facing the place you believe to be an animal pathway.
3. Take the GPS point of your camera trap placement.
4. Check the captured images on your camera after 2 or 3 days. If you did not capture any photos of animals, find an alternative spot to place your camera.
5. Download pictures on a regular basis and record the names of the animal images you capture.
6. Send in your best images to the TEAM website folks.
Collecting Vegetation Data
Equipment Requirements
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Recording tools (pen and paper, computer, etc)
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iPhone app, computer or books to help identify local plants
Steps
1. Count and map all mature trees in your plot (trees larger than 3 inches diameter).
2. For each tree, record the following:
- Tree diameter: Using a tape measure or diameter tape measure around the tree at ‘breast height’ (roughly 4.5 feet off the ground). This is called Diameter at Breast Height, or DBH.
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Tree type (broad leafed, needle leafed or identify to common or scientific name)
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Count and record all the seedling trees (less than 1 foot tall).
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Count and record all the sapling trees (<3 inches diameter, but taller than 1 foot off the ground).
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Estimate the % of leaf litter (dead leaves) on the ground versus bare soil or living plants.
Collecting Climate Data
Equipment Requirements
Note: When you set up your site and every time you monitor it thereafter, record climate data. Either use your own instruments or record data from the closest weather reporting station.
Record the following data
Animal Evidence Data Collection
Equipment Requirements
Steps
1. Identify, count and record all birds seen in the study site during 10 minutes of observation.
2. Identify, count and record all the mammals in the study site during 10 minutes of observation.
3. Identify, count and record all of the nests, tracks and/or scat.
4. Take a photo record of your animal findings.
5. If present, identify, count and record sightings of reptiles, amphibians or fish.
