Big Creek Reserve
Observing Ecological Patterns: What? Why? How?
Proposing an ecological investigation
The Big Sur Wildlands harbor some of California's most spectacular coastal mountain ecosystems. The
Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve, established in 1978 just south of Esalen in Big Sur, is part of the
University of California Natural Reserve system, and is managed as a research reserve. The adjacent
marine environment was established as a marine research reserve in 1993, as a result of proposition 132
(California). The combination of these two protected areas offers a unique opportunity to conduct
baseline and longterm monitoring programs in the pristine Santa Lucia bioregion of Big Sur. Data on
terrestrial and marine communities, including species lists, exists from the numerous classes and
researchers that have conducted studies in the Big Creek Reserve. This offers us the opportunity to add to
existing data, and address questions and scientific problems that have not been fully investigated. The
recent establishment of the Big Creek Marine Reserve offers an incentive and need for baseline data on
species assemblages and site characterizations both subtidally and intertidally. Big Creek itself is a
pristine river system that flows into the Reserve. Once abundant in streams along California, steelhead
are now restricted to pristine waterways such as those found in the Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve.
Pattern recognition is the essential element of ecological studies (any scientific study really). There are
patterns to be seen in experiments, patterns in numbers (data), patterns in the natural world, short-term
patterns, long term patterns etc. Once a pattern or a repeatable cause and effect have been identified, an
investigator can begin the process of addressing how to investigate further, how ‘real’ or ‘statistically
significant’ the pattern is, what it might mean, and what other investigative questions it may lead to. The
first task in asking a scientific question, especially an ecological one, is observation. An investigator
notices a pattern or a phenomenon, and begins the process of planning how to address it. Patterns can be
temporal (over time) or spatial (over space), or both. For example, the observation might at first be a
large scale one: kelp beds are close to shore. This observation is repeated over space (spatial) along the
coast. A tempting question may be why are they close to shore?
“Why” questions are a good way to present a study in a large picture way, but they rarely make good
scientific study questions (which need a hypothesis). Rather than why, consider a stepwise approach to
investigation: 1) how close to shore are they? This one can be addressed with specific sampling, which
will result in an average, standard deviation etc. It can also be addressed in terms of a distance offshore,
and a depth to which the algae are attached. In other words it can be answered graphically and
numerically. Remember that numbers and patterns are how ecologists (and most scientists) describe
phenomenon. That is why you need to know your math! 2) Is there a correlation between kelp density
and substrate type? This will perhaps address whether it is really distance that is significant or substrate
type (they need a hard substrate!). 3) Is there a correlation between kelp density and nutrient availability,
currents, water temperature and other abiotic factors? Thus is it really proximity to shore or perhaps one
or more of these other abiotic factors that are ‘key’ to kelp distribution. Indeed if you were expand your
viewing to just up and down the coast, you would see offshore kelp beds…
What we are doing is addressing a larger question “why?” with several smaller questions – each with a
specific hypothesis, that will help identify a pattern of kelp distribution.
The goal here at Big Creek is to hone your skills in identifying patterns (observation), asking scientific
questions, and stating appropriate hypotheses.
Tools needed:
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A field notebook and pencil
Binoculars
Hand-lens
Any field guides
Plastic bags for samples and ID (NOTE: we do NOT have a permit for collections so just take a small
piece of something for ID purposes)
Other tools to help you observe
Your task: propose a study
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Choose a partner. NEVER go into the field alone in a remote place
We will go as a group into the hills and identify some patterns first. We will all be following the
same trail through the reserve.
Identify a pattern or phenomenon, and think about how you would investigate it. This will be
your ‘study’.
Describe the pattern
o Describe it in as much detail as possible
o Hypothesize causes, important interactions, and possible changes over time
o Be detailed in describing the pattern, and try and graph it, or illustrate it mathematically.
Now the hard part: ask a question(s) and state a hypothesis(es) about the phenomenon. Your
question will likely have several parts (see my example above about the kelp). Each part should
be stated as a question and a hypothesis. Organize this as you would organize a study. Consider
that you are writing a proposal to get this study funded. To that end, ask a question that is doable, within a reasonable budget etc.
Stating a Hypothesis – the why? What causes the pattern? Biotic? Abiotic? Both? Come down to
a specific hypothesis, or several, not a general one. Think of it in terms of something testable, an
experiment or investigation you can accomplish in a reasonable time.
For each hypothesis that you state, come up with some expected results – think about what you
might find
For your overall question(s) come up with a significance. Why would this study be important?
You may choose to work with your partner on a joint pattern, or several aspects of a pattern or
phenomenon, or you may choose to work alone.
Write up your results with an introduction and conclusion
So in conclusion:
You will write up a brief proposal for a study, and be prepared to present it in a few minutes.
Your proposal will include an introduction which will include some background information (eg. a
paragraph) and a description of your pattern (with graphics if appropriate. Then you will state your
questions and hypotheses, with some expected or possible results. Following that you will state your
significance-why this study is important. Finally write a short but powerful conclusion that puts your
study into a larger context. Always use the introduction and conclusion to drive home the importance of
your work and how it fits into a larger context. Make us believe in you and your ideas!