Ecological and 'outdoor' or fieldwork topics
1. Is the frequency of plants associated with N fixing microorganisms (eg vetches)greater in low N soils under natural conditions?
2. Is there a relationship between soil nitrate levels on earthworm numbers/types?
3. Is there a correlation between bird wing movements/flight patterns and other factors?(eg bird size/ground dwellers/diet/normal habitat etc)
4. Successional change following fire (eg after 5 November bonfires?)
5. Zonation. E.g.: types of lichens found at different heights on a (church?)wall. (Effects of exposure to abiotic factors such as weather,sunlight etc need considering)
6. Abiotic. E.g.: types of lichens found on different stone surfaces (gravestones may offer a useful undisturbed substrate)
7. Similar zonation or abiotic studies to the previous two but using algal Pleurococcus spp instead of lichens.
8. Succession. Changes in overall plant diversity as succession proceeds(this could also relate to the effects of management).
9. Succession. Changes in overall plant diversity at various densities.
10.Succession. Changes in overall plant diversity as height of tree spp.increases.
11.River studies. Effects of man's activities on the chemistry/biology of (eg)the River Lea/Wye/Great
Ouse/Lugg/etc. (This needs to do much more than "look at" the values at different places). Choose a reasonably sized 5-10 mile stretch of river near you.
12.Effects of changed management practices on ecosystems and species diversity. This is a wide ranging field and allows scope for statistical tests and use of diversity indices. Many local possibilities.... changed mowing regimes,
changes in the management and grazing of chalk downland, use your eyes!
13.Nitrate pollution of local streams.
14.Assessing the "success" of quarry reclamation/restoration after working has completed
15.Effects of trampling on plant species along a pathway. E.g.: Size/length of Ribwort Plantain leaves on and off a footpath/trodden area.
16.Autecology & shade. E.g.: comparing size(length) of nettle leaves in and out of shade. (This could also involve other factors-e.g. chlorophyll present...chromatography etc)
17.Comparing stomatal density of sun and shade leaves (needs very careful thought to produce worthwhile marks)
18.Comparisons - differences in initial branch height or girth at breast height(GBH)of trees at different densities in a woodland.
19.Comparisons - differences in initial branch height or girth at breast height(GBH) of trees at different locations(e.g. at edges/in shade/in sunlight etc.) in a woodland.
20.Diversity - the edge effect on species diversity at woodland or hedgerow edges compared to the adjacent areas.
21.Adaptation. The relationship between insect colour and the colour of their (most common?) habitat.
22.Evaluating the merits of physical, chemical and biological water quality indices.
23.Urban air pollution through lichen analysis of masonry of buildings.
24.Investigating the effects of air pollution on vegetation.
25.Investigating the effects of traffic pollution run-off on vergeside plant succession/zonation