Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
not a primary interest in a study. Finally, the wildlife species of interest are
enumerated in some manner to evaluate the response to available food resources.
Much of this volume is devoted to descriptions and recommendations for collecting
ecological field and laboratory data for wetlands. The purpose of this exercise is to
develop a hypothetical field study of wetlands including development of experi-
mental treatments, objectives, and testable hypotheses.
A public land manager has developed 16, 10-ha wetland units on the floodplain
of major river in the southwestern United States. Each unit has been laser-leveled to
(1) allow ease in flooding and draining each unit using water-control structures and
(2) create a relatively uniform elevation across each unit. Each unit can be
manipulated independently, but up to four adjacent units can be manipulated simul-
taneously. The goal of the land manager is to maximize annual production of natural
foods for migratory birds, which use the units for migration and wintering.
The four treatments of interest that coincided with availability of water for
flooding include a (1) control, (2) early growing-season drawdown, (3) late
growing-season drawdown, and (4) early growing-season drawdown with a late
growing-season flood to achieve soil field capacity. All wetland units can be flooded
at any time during the migratory and wintering period.
Working in small groups, design a study to test the effect of treatments on forage
production and wildlife use of the wetland units. Methodology to measure variables
does not necessarily need to be included. In your study design include a description
or response to the following questions or statements:
1. List 2-4 detailed study objectives
2. Provide at least two testable research hypotheses or predictions
3. Define and describe a study control
4. Provide a minimum of three dependent variables and three independent
variables and the units of measurements for each
5. Describe a strategy for allocation of treatments among wetland units
6. Define the sample frame, study population, and extent of inference from the
generated results.
7. Describe a potential sampling strategy for each objective
8. Include a statement on data management and storage
