FIELD SITE REPORT
The Field Site Report you and/or your group produce will be included in a collection that future researchers will use. An outline of the report is given below. Text of the report should not exceed two pages. Data, graphs, maps, and photographs should be appended. If you have additional pertinent information you want to include, don't feel limited by this outline.
Field Site Reports will be available to future scientists who may wish to build upon your research. Write in a succinct, clear, concise way, using scientific writing style (do not use first or second person, and while avoiding passive voice when possible, use it if necessary). Graphs must have a title and clearly labeled axes (including units of measurement). Data tables must have a title, and every column must have a heading (including units of measurement, if applicable). The source of any information taken from somewhere other than your own thinking must be cited.
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Location, map and annotated aerial photo of the site. Tell which topo quad covers the site, and tell approximately how long it takes to get to the site from NEIU
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Field conditions:
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Date/time of your visit(s) to the site
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Field personnel: full names, correctly spelled, of all personnel in the field.
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Field setting:
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What kind of aquatic environment it is (stream, lake, well, etc.),
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What the surrounding area is like (urban, forest preserve, suburban, industrial, etc.),
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Are there any unusual conditions at the time of your visit (e.g. flooding, construction/excavation, a contaminant spill, drought conditions, etc.)?
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Access to sampling points. For example, is it best to sample off a bridge, is it shallow enough for wading, is there a good sampling spot on the bank, is it spacious enough to fit a large group or limited to small numbers, and whatever else you think is important for other groups planning to sample here.
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Safety issues at the site (e.g. rapid current, deep water, traffic, other?)
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Important information on navigating the site, such as "Where's the hole in the fence?" "How friendly were the cops?" or "Which neighbor has the unfriendly dog?"
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What parameters or stream characteristics did you observe or measure, where were your sampling points, and what methods and/or instrumentation (give manufacturer and model of instruments) did you use?
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Present results of your observations and/or measurements.
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How do you explain the results you found?
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Recommendations for future investigations at this site
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Appendices: maps, data tables, figures, photos, other illustrations.
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Sources cited (if any).
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