Intro video to my 30X30 field study location:

 

Sketches:

 Sketch #1:

Sycamore leaf observed in field study #1 

Sketch #2 

Wild blackberry vine observed in field study #2 

Field Study #2

 Date: 09/26/26

Time: 5:11pm - 5:23pm

Weather: Sunny with a high wind of 4 mph

Temperature: Currently 70° F -- Low: 41° F -- High: 71° F 

Length of the day: 7:35am - 7:34pm -- Total hours of the day: 11 hours 59minutes  

Organisms seen: Lost of mosquitoes flying around the area, two people walking along the path and one dog, along with two black squirrels one in a tree and the other on the path, American pokeweed plant, most likely a wild blackberry vine, decay of leaves along the path from being stepped on, and possibly a small ground burrow of a small mammal 

Black Squirrel:

American pokeweed plant:

Blackberry vine:

Decay of leaves:

Ground burrow:

  

Organisms heard: Lots of tree crickets and katydids, squirrels, cars, tractor, and possibly minnows and little fish. 

Changes since last visit 09/05/26: The river has more of an edge to it along with lower levels of water. Relating to the lower levels the water also appears to be clearer. A slight decline of greenery was also observed since the last visit. 

Observations: After learning about the high levels of phosphorus in the soil that runs off into rivers and streams which eventually leads to lakes it makes sense why the river was so high and murky looking the last visit since it rained. 

General 30X30 plot panorama:  

Picture facing the river:

Picture facing the forest:

Original Research:

 Economics/ Cost analysis - value of easily accessible natural areas outdoors and the importance of protecting natural areas to the state of Michigan and to me personally. 

“Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence.” PMC, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8125471/

The article reviews the research behind exposure to nature, revealing generally positive physical and mental health outcomes. The evidence suggests that nature exposure may reduce stress, improve mental well being, lower blood pressure and anxiety along with depressive mood, encourage physical activity and improve sleep. However, the authors emphasize that much of the existing data linking nature to reduced levels of cardiovascular disease and increased physical activity, include inconsistent measures of exposure to nature. Overall, the review concludes that nature appears to play an important role in promoting health and well-being.

“Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing | Scientific Reports.”

Nature, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3

    The article explains how there is growing evidence of a positive association between exposure to natural environments and good health and well-being. The authors analyzed research surveying data from nearly 20,000 adults in England. The researchers found that people who spent at least 120 minutes per week in natural environments were significantly more likely to report better health and mental rates.   

Field Study #1

 Date: 09/05/26

Time: 2:33pm - 2:55pm

Weather: Cloudy and with scattered showers through out the day, a high wind of 11 mph 

Temperature: Currently: 72° F -- Low:  66° F -- High:  77° F

Length of the day: 7:13 am - 8:11 pm -- Total hours of the day: 12 hours 58 minutes 

Organisms seen: Eastern harvestman spider, small white daisy-like flowers, person walking, sycamore leaf 

Eastern harvestman spider:

Daisy-like flowers:

Sycamore leaf:

What I heard: Birds, tree crickets, katydids; possibly squirrels, chipmunks, frog and hawk; cars, leaves and branches falling 

Observations: The river was murky/muddy looking. Could that be because of the heavy rain the past few days?    

General 30X30 plot panorama 

Picture facing the river:

Picture facing the forest:

Sounds from field study location:

Sound Map:

Sound Recording:

30X30 Birds eye view map of field study location:

General Layout of my plot:

Overhead view of my area: