Embedded Files
Describing Sites
Describing Sites
For field ecologists, our field book is our lab book -- it's where we keep all of our data, and where we take notes on anything we observe while in the field. A good field book is filled with data, comments, questions, observations, drawings, and musings. Your field book need not have complete sentences, but you’ll share this with your collaborators so it does need to be legible!
When you arrive at a new site, write down the following:
When you arrive at a new site, write down the following:
Date and time
If possible, use Google Maps to determine the latitude and longitude where you’re standing -- hold your finger down on your location to drop a pin on it, and it will show you the coordinates.
Next describe your location well enough that someone else could find it (i.e., corner of 5th and Main st, wooded area on east side of athletic field)
Decide what type of habitat is most descriptive. Are there multiple habitats available at this site? If so, congratulations -- you’ve just found TWO sites! Treat each habitat as a separate site in your notebook.
Describe the site. How large is it? What types of plants do you see? (Trees? Grasses? Flowers? Shrubs?)
Are there any water sources nearby? Ponds, creeks, culverts, etc.?
Is it sunny or shady?
Are there any features that immediately jump out at you? I.e. is it near a parking lot, or a playground, picnic area, running trail, etc?
Could you get here regularly for the next 6-8 weeks?
Evaluate safety -- is this a place where you would feel safe working during the day?
What is accessibility like? Are there trails? Would you be able to get inside the habitat, or would you need to work along the edge?
Make an overall assessment -- could you work at the site, if you wanted to? Yes or no?
Take a photo of the site.
Describing Species
Describing Species
Take a photo of each species, and make a field book entry for it. You will need a field book entry for each species. Each entry should include
The common name and the scientific name
Whether it is native or invasive (to find out, tap ‘View Species’ in Seek)
A sketch of a leaf (and a flower, if applicable) -- use the sketch to highlight the features that would help you recognize this plant if you see it again. Focus especially on leaf shape, details of the leaf margin, the leaf arrangement along the stem,
Jot down some notes about about the distinguishing features that would help you to identify the plant.
Do you notice any herbivory on this species in this place? Qualitatively, would you say “lots”, “some”, or “none”?
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Morphology
This quick-reference guide highlights the key features of leaf morphology that we use to describe and recognize plants. Shape, arrangement on stem, type of edge (margin), and vein pattern are all important features. See more at the Glossary of Leaf Morphology.
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