Question

Propose a research study on the effects of warming climate and resulting advancing treeline. Assume that your hypothesis is that a bird's growth and reproduction will be negatively affected by the advancing treeline. The bird resides in one forest and flies at high elevations. What is an experiment that could take place? List the research design and methods. What are the materials, replicates for treatments, sampling and measurement procedures?

Answer 1

Introduction.

The warming climate is one of the most important global issues, resulting in several natural and social problems, like sea levels rising, melting of glaciers, low agricultural production, and a decrease in wildlife. In the case of wildlife, is well know that warming climate has been modified the migration patrons of whales, birds, and insects. Also, the warming climate joined to advanced treeline has been modified the reproductive patrons of a few animals, in specific birds. In this study, we will study how the warming climate and advanced treeline have a negative effect on the grow and reproductive patrons of a bird species. The "bluebirds" is one species that lives in the "Central forest" of the United States and characterized by lives on the hight superfices of the forest and raises their hatchlings on mild weather, using the foliage of trees to protect them from predators and climate.

Hypothesis.

The advancing treeline and warming climate negatively affected the bird's growth and reproduction, decreasing the population's levels and provoking that the birds displaced to higher elevations.

Objective.

To know how the reproductive and growing habits of birds have changed as a consequence of the warming climate and advanced treeline.

Material and Methods.

1. To measure the number of birds per square kilometer, we will count and record every nest on trees and the number of birds for a nest. Also, we will record the altitude at the nests will be found and the localization of the tree respect to the advanced treeline.

2. To know the new habits of distributions of the birds as a consequence of advanced treeline and warming climate, we will look for nests and excreta of the bluebird on altitudes much higher than the recordings for his habits. With the excreta record, we also expect to know if the feeding of the bluebird has changed or remains equal.

3. To prove that the advanced treeline and warming climate has changed the localization of the bluebird to a more high altitude, we will track the moving off a couple of bluebirds that have been located on the lower forest with a GPS system, expecting to find them in a higher altitude than the originals were find them.

4. To record the reproductive change of the bluebird as a consequence of the advanced treeline and warming change, we will comparate the number of chicks for a season of reproduction of the couple of bluebirds tracked by GPS, expecting that the moving to higher altitudes, where the treeline do not have decreased, does not have a strong impact on the reproduction of the bluebird.

5. To demonstrate that the warming climate and advanced treeline have been a negative impact on the habits of the bluebird, we will comparate the moving, localization and the reproduction of the couple of bluebirds tracked by GPS during 3 seasons and we will characterize the new habits of the bluebird.

Note: I expect that this will be enough to improve you to continue your work. Unfortunately, the platform only give me 2 hours to make a proposal and is not enough time to do a more detailed work.