Site Description

Detailed Site Description

            There are different components that make up my site. The manmade structure in my site is the trail that cuts through it. This trail makes up about 20% of the site. In my site, there are also a large number of trees. These trees make up about 40%, and they are both alive, and dead. The site does not contain any water source, but does have small collections of water on leaves and fallen logs, making water take up 1% of the site. The rest of the site includes bare ground, grasses and bushes. The bare ground, which mainly includes the trail, makes up about 25% of the site. Bushes make up a relatively small portion of the site, only about 4%. Grasses take up the remaining 10% of the site.

            There are few signs of animal activity on my site. I have seen little to no evidence of mammalian activity, which would be droppings, fur, tracks, etc. Other than a brown ground squirrel on my first day at the site, I have not seen any noticeable animals. However, I have heard evidence of bird activity.  I have not seen any birds nesting, but I continually hear their calls and movement when I am at my site, which leads me to believe that there are a several birds that may make their home in the trees located at my site. The birds differ in their calls, suggesting that there are several different species that all make their home together in the same place. Despite the lack of animal evidence, I have noticed many signs of insect activity. There are many different sized spider webs located on trees throughout the site. This acts as evidence that different species of spiders have, and continue to live, at different locations on the site. There are trails of reddish-brown ants that travel over different logs with small pieces of leaves and other types of possible food. Small black beetles appear to live among the grasses and dirt, only making themselves visible for a few moments.

            The soil on my site varies slightly depending on where the soil is examined. On the trail, the soil has a fine, sandy quality. It is light brown in color, and leaves a dust-like residue on one’s hand when it is touched. However, the soil changes in texture and in color when not taken directly from the trail. When taken at least two feet from either side of the trail, the soil changes to a darker brown, and becomes much more rocky, and rough, but losing some of its lingering dust. The soil found on the tail contains a smaller variety of minerals in it, giving it its lighter color. This limited amount of minerals makes it less likely to support life, which is why there are no grasses or weeds growing from the trail itself. The trail soil is compacted and firm when on the trail, making it a less than ideal source of protection for smaller insects. Differing from the trail soil, the non-tail soil has a wider variety of nutrients, giving it a more varied color. These nutrients allow more plants to grow form the soil such as bushes, trees, and grasses. The looseness of the soil also allows smaller insects to make their home beneath and among the soil, contributing to the overall habitats in the ecosystem.

            There is no body of water found on my site, so the site gets its main source of water from rainfall. The rain falls through the trees, available to birds and other organisms at the canopy layer, and then falls to the ground. Once at ground level, the water pools temporarily in some areas, while seeping into the soil in others. Plants and trees use the water in the soil as a source of nourishment. The water also falls onto grasses, bushes, and fallen trees and logs. The water is used by the grasses and bushes as a source of nourishment, and is used in the same way for the mosses and other living things that grow on the fallen trees and logs. Living things found on the site use the water in the same way, drinking it as a vital source of nourishment. However, rain does not fall on a set schedule, causing the site to go with or without water for long stretches of unpredictable time.

            When standing on the trail that cuts directly through the site, the side on the right is a slope descending onto the trail, while the side on the left is a slope ascending onto the trail. In determining which side of the site gets the most sun, rain, and wind exposure, it is important to look at the trees on the site. The majority of the trees lean towards the east side of the site, towards the side with the descending slope onto the trail. In their pursuit of UV rays, which are essential to photosynthesis, the trees will try and get as close to these UV rays as possible. This leaning towards the east side then suggests that the largest sun exposure comes from the right side of the site. Similarly, the trees leaning to the east suggest that the wind blows in from the west, causing them to lean in an according manner. With the wind coming from the western side, this also helps to determine which side of the site gets the most exposure to the rain. The trees have the majority of the moss on their bark located on the side facing west. Moss grows best with little sunlight, and high moisture. This both suggests that the rain comes from the western side of the site, and supports that the site has mainly eastern exposure of sunlight.

            The temperate and sunny climate of the site help to support the vegetation growth as well as the animal existence. The cooler temperature allows a different variety of mosses to grow and thrive, while the abundant sunlight helps to provide the much-needed UV rays for essential photosynthesis. With the steady photosynthesis, there are more food sources for the variety of bugs and animals that live on and throughout the site. The rainfall allows the mosses and grasses to thrive, as well as providing a source of water for all living organisms.