1. Choose a study area and two study sites
To investigate the impact of human presence on wildlife, you will select a study area that encompasses a local wild area, such as forests, fields, streams, prairies, ponds, or urban parks. The chosen study area should offer easy accessibility and ensure your safety during fieldwork. Within this study area, you will identify two study sites (approximately 20 X 20 meters) that are representative of the larger area. The key difference between these sites will be the level of human presence or activity, allowing for the examination of how this environmental factor influences wildlife.
Visit a natural site/protected area in your region that has active human presence. You will need to visit this site at least once per week over the next 5 weeks. This could be a state forest, local park, or even your backyard if you live in the country. Investigate the Study Area for two Study Sites, one that has human presence (e.g., a trail, picnic spot, fishing dock, etc.) and one that does not have human presence.
2. Choose a study group
Select one study group from the following list. When selecting your group consider what will be available in high enough numbers for the time of year. Choose a group that has four or more species represented. This will be important for data collection in Weeks 3 and 4.
Trees
Bushes
Ground cover plants
Lichens or Fungi
Insects
Birds (observational studies only)
Once you’ve chosen a group, select a single species (e.g. Red-winged Blackbird/Agelaius phoeniceus, Rolly-Polly/Armadillidium vulgare, Eastern white pine/Pinus strobus) within that group that is present in both study sites. Be very deliberate in how you choose your species (you’ll need at least 10 individuals from each site for the Week 4 assignment). Look for phyla and species that are abundant in the study site, have specific ecological roles, and are accessible for observation or data collection. Additionally, prioritize species that offer opportunities for meaningful research and align with the objectives of the study to investigate the effects of human presence.
3. Conduct Background Research
Find and read 3-5 relevant scientific articles, reports, or other credible sources that inform your understanding of the ecological context and potential impacts of human presence on your study area. These articles should provide perspectives on ecological interactions, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning, ideally in controlled experimental designs that evaluate the quantitative consequences of human presence. Your research should try to address (if available) the specific group and species you’ve chosen. Below are some suggested prompts for your literature search:
Anthropogenic effects on biodiversity of [insert your study group/species here]
Urbanization and biodiversity of [insert your study group/species here]
[insert your study group/species here] response to human presence
Ecological changes of [insert your study group/species here] due to human disturbance
Habitat alteration and species richness in [insert your study area here]
How human presences has altered species biodiversity in [insert your study area here]
4. Formulate two research questions. by directing your attention to the impact of human presence on the biodiversity of animals or plants within the study area. Explore differences in biodiversity and organism characteristics between the two study sites in relation to human presence. Develop questions that address factors such as population density, size, duration of specific behaviors, or any other relevant aspects you think may be impacted by human presence.
Develop one research question that focuses on the differences in biodiversity between the two sites. This will be used again in Week 3. Develop a second research question that focuses on the differences of a specific measurement taken on a species between the two sites. This will be used again in Week 4.
For example, research questions could be:
“How does human presence affect the biodiversity of native bird species in the study area?” (Week 3)
“How does human presence affect feeding behavior duration of Western Scrub Jays” (Week 4)
By formulating clear research questions, you can effectively design your study to gather relevant data and analyze it to test the proposed hypotheses.
5. Develop Hypotheses
Develop a hypothesisLinks to an external site. for each of your research questions formulated in step 4 (a total of two). A good hypothesis is a clear and testable statement that predicts the relationship between variables or phenomena. It should propose a cause-and-effect relationship and provide a basis for conducting empirical research to support or refute the hypothesis.
For example, for our research question above, “How does human presence affect the biodiversity of native bird species in the study area?” a subsequent hypothesis may be, “There will be a greater biodiversity of birds in sites with no human presences compared to sites with human presence.”
6. Write your Introduction and Methods and Materials Sections
At this point, you have chosen a study area with two study sites, selected a study group, conducted background research, and developed your research questions and hypotheses. You will now compile this information into the Introduction and Methods sections of your Course Project, a USFS White Paper. This should be no more than 600 words.
Your writing will follow the layout of this example report Download example report. Familiarize yourself with this report, noticing what is included in the Introduction and the Methods sections.
When writing, follow this outline:
Introduction
Literature Review
In 2-3 paragraphs, provide a concise review of the relevant scientific literature and existing knowledge about the impact of human presence on biodiversity. Discuss previous studies or research conducted in similar contexts, highlighting any gaps or limitations in the current understanding. Be sure you have 3-5 sources.
Aims of the Study, Research Questions, Hypotheses
Introduce the study area. (Do not go into detail. You will do this in the methods section.)
Describe the aims of the study.
List the research questions you developed
End the paragraph with your hypotheses
Methods and Materials: Study Area Site
Study Area Description
Provide detailed information about the location of the study area, such as the park, natural area, stream, or farm it is a part of, as well as the town, city, state, province, or country where it is situated. Include the size of the study area using metric units. Include the flora and fauna found in the area.
Study Sites Location
Introduce the two study sites and describe their locations within the larger study area.
Study Sites Shared Attributes
Explain the shared physical and biological elements between the two sites, such as climate, vegetation, slope, aspect, etc.
Study Site Differences
Explain the differences in human presence between the two study sites.
Maps
Provide a picture of each site and a map indicating the location of the sites within the larger study area. You can use Scribble Maps to create a map of the location of the sites.
Sources
*Study Sites must be in California
