Further Study

How many pieces of new trash will appear on the site every month, and how will that impact the ecosystem?

Hypothesis:  If the amount of new trash every month is measured for a year, then there will be an increase in trash because more and more people will be aware of the site.

Independent Variable: Littering

Dependent Variable:  Amount of Trash (in²)

Control: Area of land (100m²) next to the site

Constants: weather for both areas (rain patterns, wind currents etc.) types of organisms that inhabit it, ruler in which the trash will be measured, pen in which the data will be taken, and creek water that runs through the area

Sites (I.V.)

Area of New Trash (D.V.) (in²) Trial (months)

Mean Area of New Trash (in²)

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Control

Site

Conclusion

            I chose my study area because it had easy landmarks to find it and I am absolutely terrible with directions.  Plus it had beautiful yellow flowers going down the hillside and a small pond.  I knew that others had found it before me because of the litter and wood plank that went across the small pond.  However, I did not realize how many people did visit on a regular basis.  Each time I went there was more and more trash left behind be it McDonald’s cups or a pair of black flats.   If that were not enough, someone stole a bay laurel tree and placed a mysterious bone inside the hole left behind.  I felt extremely hurt when the habitat was destroyed and the monkey flowers were torn up from the ground.  I understand people want to have fun with their friends, but going out in the middle of a habitat and destroying it is incomprehensible.

            After completing parts of the site project, I should have chosen an area with more biodiversity and less human impact.  Due to the constant littering the animals and plants available to study were limited as the area was extremely polluted.  Additionally, I wish that I had a smart phone with an application that could help me identify species as booklets with keys were not helpful.

            The well-being of the abiotic factors is essential in the health of the biotic factors.  Because the pond was contaminated with a mysterious milky white substance, mosquito larva formed and the water gliders present before vanished.  Climate manipulates the adaptations of the plants and animals in a system.  Bird’s migration patterns shift and plants get confused as to which season it is and change their growth patterns either too early or too late.

            There have been no positive impacts from humans in my site thus far, but if clean-up crews swept through the area, then it could potentially benefit the site.  The contamination of the pond, consistent littering of toys and random objects, and the destruction of the habitat has led me to the conclusion that those visiting the site are careless and do not care about the well-being of the park and all that inhabit it.  Invasive species could easily take over the area and mosquito larva in the pond demonstrates the extreme contamination of the water.

            The shifts between the seasons were very small and it shows that the biome in the Bay Area responds a moderate climate.  Compared to other parts on the country where it snows and the summers are incredibly hot, the Bay Area remains in a range of temperatures year round which leads to anti-climactic photos comparing the seasons as they are very similar.  However, after it rained, the site became much greener versus when it did not.

Adaptations and Food Web

Adaptations

            The California Bay Laurel is a type of evergreen tree that can grow up to a height of 70 feet.  In the fall its fruit is eaten by the Grey Squirrel primarily, but other wildlife such as birds eat it as well.  The tree’s leaves are fragrant and coat the floor in a sea of orange and browns during the fall.  They grow along the Pacific Ocean to the southwest Oregon and even into the Sierra Nevada mountains.

            It has adapted to the ever changing conditions of the environment because water is not required once the tree has established its roots.  Through times of drought, the bay tree is still able to grow new leaves and maintain its ability to create fruit.  Additionally it can grow in full sun to partly shady which makes it able to live in multiple levels of elevation.  Finally, the tree adapts to its environment through its growth patterns.  If on a drier hillside, the tree conserves its energy and resources by growing smaller yellow leaves versus areas in which there is more water and it grows large green leaves. (WSU)

Data Table B2

Field Study Data Table B1

Field Study Data Table A

Detailed Site Description

November 19, 2012

          My site is primarily made up of trees; specifically bay a giant bay tree which it makes up 60% of the area.  Bushes, bare ground that that has been covered in leaves during the fall and the stream of water that pools in the site each make up 105 respectively.  Grasses are minimal but still present at 7%, and man-made toys scatter the area which takes up 3% of the site.

          Fruit from the Bay tree showed teeth and peck marks which indicate that small birds and squirrels have been visiting the area.  Small imprints in the soil mark trails where birds passed through while slimy trails signal the presence of slugs and snails.  A few intricate spider webs hang from the corners of rocks and in between the yellow flowered plant.

          The primary soil type in the site during the fall is muddy due to the rain and the small stream that passes though the site.  As a result, the bay trees and the other plants can dig their roots shallowly into the soil as water is fairly easy to obtain.

          Because there is so much abundance of water, the foliage can take nutrients from it and grow at a higher rate than it would normally.  More fruit and flowers are produced which invites more animals and insects to come to the site.  Overall, the climate is pretty moderate due to the stream and the soil remains relatively wet.

          Although the site is elevated and has a slight slope, many birds and animals are able to access it.  The biggest tree is on the West side while the Eastern side has more plants than trees.  The Eastern side gets the most rain because it is not shielded by the branches of the trees.  Wind gusts are common in the area which dusts the ground with leaves from the bay trees that turn orange as they decompose.

          In the fall there is a lot of rain that prompts small green weeds to sprout up in the soil.  Rapidly the yellow flowered plants spread lining the stream while the bay tree leaves begin to fall because of the wind.  Patches of sunlight cause the yellow flowers to open and bees start roaming around the site.

                

Personal Map

Draft

Final

Published Map

Journal Entry #5

Journal Entry #4

Journal Entry #3

Journal Entry #2

Journal Entry #1

Time: 9:07am

Temperature: 67° F

Climatic Conditions: Sunny, slight breeze,

fog just burned off

October 13, 2012

Journal Entry #1

SEE	HEAR	FEEL
A small tricking of water passes by my foot. Spider webs shimmer in the sunlight and move with the breeze as they hang from branches and trees.  A leaf dangles from a small spider web.   Small bugs zoom by quickly. Squirrels expertly jump overhead from tree to tree.  Black and blue Damselflies show off their intricate wings and rest on fallen Bay leaves.  Small yellow flowers reach up to the sunlight. A mixture of alive and dead grey branches are crawling with bugs and vines intertwine in between them.  Trash is scattered in and out of a small pool of water.  A red toy truck, a yellow action figure of Hulk, a coffee cup, and a beer have been abandoned in the area. A couple of honey bees linger around the yellow flowers. A dusty wooden board of about two feet sits in between the pool of water and large grey rocks.  Bay leaves shuffle together in the breeze. A long trail of ants (about 30) crawl over bay leaves past the small stream of water. The sun is just barely over the hill in the distance. A small black bird flies overhead and lands on a Bay tree. Three to four birds follow and jump from branch to branch.	Flies buzz by my ear. Birds chip in the distance. A black bird chirps on a Bay tree in the distance. A rustle of trees caused by animals using them as a take-off board.  I hear a different bird call behind me in the North. Once again it makes the same call, loud and sharp. Another distinct bird call in the West can was heard. Bees buss around lettuce-looking plants with yellow flowers. Dogs bark in the Southwest near the creek. Hammering and movement of metal is heard softly coming from the North. Another fly buzzes by.	I feel the smoothness of the rock I am sitting on and sitting next to.   The bay leaves are also smooth.          Lichen is rough to the touch.        The water is cold and the soil underneath the surface is slimy and soft.    Some Bay leaves feel crunchier than others.  The soil next to the rock is dry and unstable. Branches are rough and extremely breakable. Lettuce-like plants feel smooth and moist from the dew and the stream.

Photo Collage

Late winter; March 10, 2013

Fall; October 11, 2012          

                                      

Contamination of Water

October 11, 2012

January 27, 2013

Monkey Flower

October 11, 2012 

Destruction of Habitat; January 27, 2013        

March 10, 2013

 Threadstem Flax

January 27, 2013

Evidence of Grey Squirrel

January 27, 2013

Human Impact

Stolen Bay Tree and Bone Place Inside; January 27, 2013

Lichen

March 10, 2013

Bay Laurel

March 10, 2013

          October 10, 2012

Site Overview

            My study area is located in 42.06 acre Stulsaft Park in Redwood City just above the creek on the Northeastern side and in between two parallel trails.  Each side measures ten meters on all four sides; thus, its area is 100 meters squared.  Although there are a number of fallen branches and foliage on the Eastern corner, I still managed to make my study area a square.

            Over the course of the project, I hope to answer a few questions about my area.  First, I would like to find out if the littering in the area will worsen and prevent wildlife from prospering.  Already, there was an immense amount of trash and toys scattered in the space.  Because I have seen so many birds in my first visit, I wonder how many different kinds of bird’s species there are and their relationships to each other.  Finally, I would like to discover if any other plants within my area will bloom flowers at any point throughout the year.  There was one type of plant with thick and multi-pointed leaves that looked like lettuce which had small yellow flowers which bees seemed to enjoy.

            The study area is on a slope of about 30 degrees and is half covered in bay leaves while the other has foliage and a small stream running through it.  In the Western corner, there is a giant Bay tree with a very thick trunk.  Smaller bay trees are scattered on the Western side, but there is a small opening right in the middle of the Western corners.  Bay leaves litter the ground in all different shades of brown from golden to a light mahogany.  To the right of the biggest Bay tree lie a few more young trees that grow sideways out of the ground facing the South.  Further to the right towards the East is a parallel to the Bay tree is a small trickle of water that had gathered into a small pool due to a couple of large grey rocks.  A board lies between the start of the small pool and rests below the rocks.  Toys are scattered in and around the pool and a beer can sits right below it.  Around the pool and on its right side is a large gathering of bright green plants with thick leaves many small points that are only a few inches off the ground.  Next to tall green grasses, only two of the bright green plants have yellow flowers, and they border the Eastern side of the area.  Above them, however, is a large mass of thin small braches covered in a variety of small green leaves.  On the South side, there are two more Bay trees which contribute to the leave litter that is primarily its leaves.

            To get to Stulsaft Park from Sequoia High school it only takes about seven minutes.  Start out going Northeast on Brewster Ave. toward Broadway and take a slight right to turn on Broadway.  Take the first right onto El Camino South and take the third right onto Jefferson Ave. which you will go on for 1.7 miles.  Stay straight to go onto Farm Hill Boulevard until you see the children’s playground with giant crayons on the right. 

Cover Page

Araceli Efigenio

May 5, 2013

Ms. Lemmi

Period 3

Stulsaft Park