Geo Fieldwork

State the title of your fieldwork enquiry in which physical geography data were collected.

State the title of your fieldwork enquiry in which physical geography data were collected.

An investigation into the ways in which biotic and abiotic components interact in a temperate deciduous forest.

Physical - sites

Rushey Plain, Beech Hilll

For your physical geography fieldwork enquiry…

Explain why your chosen investigation was suitable for geographical enquiry. (2 marks)

Linked directly to the Unit 1 Living with the Physical Environment unit of study; by investigating both biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem, we were able to look at how the ecosystem functions as a system and the ways in which these components are interlinked.

For your physical geography fieldwork enquiry…

Explain why the chosen location was suitable for the collection of data. (2 marks)

2,400 hectare forest – large enough for multiple study sites, allowing comparison between areas that are managed by people with those that are unmanaged; only an hour away from school by coach, making data collection manageable within the space of one school day.

Suggest one piece of advice that should be given to students in order to reduce potential risks when carrying out a physical geography enquiry. (1 mark)

Uneven ground – risk of slips, trips and falls; wear appropriate footwear with thick soles and ankle support.

Describe two primary data collection methods used in your physical geography enquiry. (4 marks)

We used a 20 x 20m grid square, outlined using two tape measures, to focus the area of investigation. Using a random number sheet, we used random sampling to identify where we would place our 1m x 1m gridded quadrat.

Justify one primary data collection method used in your physical geography enquiry. (3 marks)

We used a 20 x 20m grid square, outlined using two tape measures, to focus the area of investigation. This allowed us to collect multiple sets of data safely, as we stayed altogether as a group, and ensured we were restricted to a particular ecosystem within Epping Forest, thereby minimising variables. This made our study more reliable.

Explain how one data presentation technique used in your physical geography enquiry helped you to interpret the data. (6 marks)

I used a divided bar chart to present my biodiversity data across the two study sites. Divided bar charts allowed comparisons between study sites, Beech Hill versus Rushey Plain, and between the species identified in Epping Forest. This enabled me to see whether one site was more biodiverse than the other, and also allowed me to see if any particular species was more dominant than another.

Along the x axis I plotted the data collection site, 4 quadrats per study site, and along the y axis I plotted the percentage coverage or biodiversity.

Each bar represented 100%, the entire quadrat, – by stacking the data, I could visually see which species were more or less present, and whether this differed between the study sites. In this way I could see the relative success of different species in different parts of Epping Forest, which I could then explain with reference to other biotic and abiotic data.

Physical key findings - biodiversity

There is more biodiversity in Rushey Plain than in Beech Hill.

For example, only 5 quadrats at Rushey Plain featured only leaf litter or exposed topsoil, whereas 8 quadrats - 50% of the quadrats at Beech Hill - featured only leaf litter or exposed topsoil. Furthermore, of the 15 trees sampled in each site, 66.6% were beech trees at Beech Hill, with 2 other species present, whereas at Rushey Plain, 60% were silver birch, with 2 other species present. This suggests that the dominance of Beech trees outcompetes other field layer species

Physical key findings - light intensity and biodiversity

Where the light intensity is higher, the biodiversity is lower.

For example, at Beech Hill, where the light intensity was 212 lux, there was mostly leaf litter and exposed topsoil, with only 1% moss coverage; whereas where the light intensity was lower at 111 lux, 84 squares contained moss, with a further 14 squares containing grass. A similar pattern was observed at Rushey Plain too. This was unexpected – I expected to find that greater biodiversity would exist where the light intensity was higher, as plants use sunlight for photosynthesis and growth.

Physical key findings - canopy

Where the canopy cover is greater, the light intensity was sometimes lower, but this wasn’t a consistent observation at each site.

For example at Rushey Plain, where the canopy cover was only 50%, the light intensity was higher at 268 lux. Conversely, where the canopy cover was 99% the light intensity was lower at 186 lux. However, there were many anomalies observed – where the canopy cover was 30% the light intensity was 155 lux – lower than when the canopy cover was 99%.

Physical - confident conclusions

There are variations in biodiversity between different sites in Epping Forest.

Physical - less confident conclusions

Biodiversity is lower when light intensity is higher – the data suggests this, but our knowledge of ecosystems suggests that this may not be accurate or reliable.
Light intensity is higher when the canopy cover is lower – this makes sense to us, but the data has too many anomalies for us to consider this a reliable or valid conclusion.

evaluating our physical investigation - biodiversity quadrat; strengths of this method

This method was undertaken consistently - the quadrat squares were counted in the same order each time to avoid error. By simply counting the number of squares in which each species was present, we were able to collect the data quickly.

evaluating our physical investigation - biodiversity quadrat; weaknesses of this method

The data collected was unhelpful as it did not tell us the proportion of each species observed in each quadrat – a species could have been present in 5 squares, but in reality, the species was only present in one section of the square, accounting for less than 1% of the quadrat area. This gave us an inaccurate picture of biodiversity.

evaluating our physical investigation - biodiversity quadrat; how could we improve?

If we were to conduct this investigation again, we could allow more time for data collection so that percentage coverage of each species could be estimated. In addition, we could take a photo of our quadrats to allow us to double check our estimates before we undertake analysis. This would provide a more accurate insight into biodiversity variations within Epping Forest and would allow us to make more valid conclusions about the biotic features of a forest.

evaluating our physical investigation - light intensity; strengths of this method

This method was undertaken consistently - by placing the light meter on top of a metre rule to ensure the data was collected at the same height above the ground each time. The use of the ‘hold’ button on the light meter, which was pressed after 3 seconds, also ensured a consistent measure was taken.

evaluating our physical investigation - light intensity; weaknesses of this method

Our data was recorded in the afternoon on a day in late October when light levels are affected by the seasonal position of the Earth relative to the Sun. This could give an inaccurate view of light intensity and how this varies in different parts of Epping Forest, limiting our ability to make valid conclusions about this abiotic factor.

evaluating our physical investigation - light intensity; how could we improve?

If we were to conduct this investigation again, we could collect data in the morning – perhaps just before midday when the sun would be at its highest – and at different times of the year, once in each season. This will enable us to better understand the relationship between this feature and the biotic features of the forest.

State the title of your fieldwork enquiry in which human geography data were collected.

What evidence is there to suggest that Porthmadog, North Wales needs to be regenerated?

Human - transect sites

High Street, Snowdon Street

For your human geography fieldwork enquiry…

Explain why your chosen investigation was suitable for geographical enquiry. (2 marks)

The investigation linked directly to the Unit 2 Challenges in the Human Environment unit of study – more specifically, the Urban Issues and Challenges topic and the concept of regeneration.

The investigation focus on the environmental quality and popularity of the area was manageable within the time limit of one day and could be supported by secondary data, such as tourist figures, effectively.

For your human geography fieldwork enquiry…

Explain why the chosen location was suitable for the collection of data. (2 marks)

Porthmadog is a small town, meaning multiple data collection sites could be surveyed safely within the time frame available.

Porthmadog was part of a regeneration programme between 2007 and 2013 – as it has now been more than 10 years since the end of this regeneration period, there was scope to reflect on whether or not further regeneration is now needed.

Suggest one piece of advice that should be given to students in order to reduce potential risks when carrying out a human geography enquiry. (1 mark)

Traffic hazards - Use pedestrianised pavements to walk along to maintain a safe distance from vehicles.

Describe two primary data collection methods used in your human geography enquiry. (4 marks) - land use survey

Walking along our allocated transect, we recorded the type of ground-floor land use of every building.

We used the RICEPOT system of land use categorisation and noted our observations on an enlarged map of Porthmadog.

Justify one primary data collection method used in your human geography enquiry. (3 marks) - land use survey

We used the RICEPOT system of land use categorisation and noted our observations on an enlarged map of Porthmadog.

This provided a quicker way to note down the land use variations, using just one or two letters, and ensured a consistent approach was taken by all data collection groups. It also meant the data was spatially located, allowing for easier analysis.

Describe two primary data collection methods used in your human geography enquiry. (4 marks) - environmental quality survey

We used a bipolar scale to assess the environmental quality along two transects in the centre of Porthmadog. We used an environmental quality survey table to record our data. We then calculated the average score for each transect.

Justify one primary data collection method used in your human geography enquiry. (3 marks) - environmental quality survey

We used a bipolar scale to assess the environmental quality along two transects in the centre of Porthmadog. We used an environmental quality survey table to record our data.

In order to reduce the level of subjectivity of this technique all 6 members of our group undertook an EQS at each site and an average of the scores was then taken.

We then calculated the average score for each transect to allow direct comparison. This would enable us to see if all of Porthmadog required regeneration, or just certain parts.

Explain how one data presentation technique used in your human geography enquiry helped you to interpret the data. (6 marks)

I used a radar graph to present the environmental quality survey data. A radar graph enables the different elements of the EQS to be presented individually. This helped me to interpret the data as I could see which elements of the EQS contributed positively or negatively to the overall score for each transect. For instance, I could see that a lack of dog bins reduced the overall score for both sites.

I chose to plot the mean transect scores for each element on the radar graph, rather than every single score recorded, as this made the data more manageable for analysis and helped to give an overall impression of each transect.

I used two different colours to represent each of the two transects investigated – this enabled me to make direct comparisons between the two sites. For instance, I could easily see which site had achieved a higher EQS score and if there were any significant differences or similarities in terms of certain elements a difference in the number of bins / amount of litter between the two sites.

The overall shape of each radar plot was also easy to interpret – a broad and more rounded shape suggests more consistently positive scores and therefore a better environmental quality.

Human key findings - land use; commercial properties

Land use along Transect A (the High Street) was dominated by commercial properties.

For example, 53.4% of all buildings surveyed along the High Street were commercial properties. Although there were some chain shops – such as Spar and The Original Factory Shop – the majority were independent, local businesses. Independent businesses also dominated the land use along Transect B. 16 buildings, 21.9%, were categorised as ‘Entertainment – Food’. Once again, independent businesses dominated, although there were some chain outlets such as Costa.

Human key findings - land use; the harbour

Land use along Transect A (the High Street) becomes more focused on the needs of local residents as distance from the harbour increases.

For example, when comparing the land use for the first part of the High Street closest to the harbour with the second part, it is clear that there are more shops and services catering for the needs of the local residents as you move away from the harbour. Transect A1 has 45% commercial land use, whereas Transect A2 has 61%. A greater number of shops are focused on tourist souvenirs in Transect A1., for example, Portmeirion pottery and the ‘Craft Cymru’ shop, whereas most if not all shops in Transect A2 provide for the daily needs of Porthmadog residents e.g. Spar and the pharmacy.

Human key findings - pedestrian count; commercial properties

Where the land use was dominated more by commercial activity and services, the pedestrian count was higher.

For example, Transect A had a much higher proportion of commercial and service properties compared with Transect B and also had a higher pedestrian count. 53.4% of buildings along Transect A were commercial, compared to only 23.8% along Transect B, meaning that Transect A more than double the proportion of commercial buildings compared to Transect B. Similarly, Transect A also had more than double the number of pedestrians.

Human key findings - pedestrian count; the harbour

Land use along Transect A (the High Street) becomes more focused on the needs of local residents as distance from the harbour increases.

For example, the average overall EQS score for Transect A was -0.48 whereas the average overall EQS score for Transect B was -0.65. A total of 200 pedestrians were counted walking along Transect A, compared to only 72 pedestrians along Transect B. 

Human - confident conclusions

There are variations in land use and environmental quality across the central parts of Porthmadog, which influences the popularity of these areas as shown by the variations in pedestrian presence. This could suggest that targeted regeneration would be beneficial for Porthmadog, for example along Back Place and Snowdon Street.

Human - less confident conclusions

Porthmadog as a whole should be regenerated – we have only conducted two (intersecting) transect investigations on one single day so cannot apply our findings to the rest of the town/year.

A greater number of tourist facilities would benefit Porthmadog economically, socially and environmentally – to conclude this, we would need to analyse secondary data and survey the residents of the town to gauge their opinions.

evaluating our physical investigation - land use survey; strengths of this method

This method was undertaken consistently; the use of the RICEPOTS categorisation system enabled us to record our data quickly and efficiently, and the use of defined categories ensured that each group collecting the data could categorise the buildings in the same way.

evaluating our physical investigation - land use survey; weaknesses of this method

The data collected only applied to the ground flood land use – there may have been greater variation along and between transects if we had also recorded the first floor land use. In addition, we only recorded the RICEPOTS general category of land use, rather than the more in-depth categories which distinguish between different types of building within each category, for example “Residential” could be flats, terraced housing etc.

evaluating our physical investigation - land use survey; how could we improve?

If we were to conduct this investigation again, we could allow more time for data collection so that the more in-depth categorisation of land use could have been undertaken. This would have enabled deeper analysis of the data and other land use patterns to be identified. This could have supported the retail value survey data more effectively too by identifying which types of properties tended to be independent/chain shops.

evaluating our physical investigation - environmental quality survey; strengths of this method

This was a quick and easy method to undertake. The use of a bipolar scale enabled us to record aspects of the environment which might contribute positively to the area as well as those contributing negatively. We ensured a consistent approach within our group by always having the same people give scores for the different elements.

evaluating our physical investigation - environmental quality survey; weaknesses of this method

Although the EQS uses a numbering system to quantify the qualitative observations, these scores were highly subjective as we did not agree in advance what ‘lots of litter’ or a ‘noisy place’ might look like in reality. Our data is therefore likely to be unreliable as there is no guarantee that every group collecting data was judging the environment in the exact same way.

evaluating our physical investigation - environmental quality survey; how could we improve?

If we were to conduct this investigation again, we could conduct a pilot study to agree in advance how we might allocate scores on the survey – if we were to take pictures during our pilot study, we could compare the environment to make sure we are consistent. We could also survey other people who are not in the same age group, as our positionality may have skewed the results too.

For one of your fieldwork enquiries, assess the extent to which the accuracy of the results and the reliability of the conclusions could be improved. (9 marks + 3 SPAG)

The inaccuracy of our pedestrian count data means that we could not confidently conclude that certain parts of Porthmadog required regeneration in order to encourage higher visitor numbers.

Although our investigation led us to believe that where the environmental quality survey scores were higher, the pedestrian count was also higher – which does make geographical sense in terms of people preferring to spend time in safe, clean environments – we cannot be sure that the number of pedestrians counted along each transect were accurate. For example, at Transect A (High Street), there were 200 pedestrians whereas at Transect B there were only 72. However, we cannot be sure – because our transects intersected at the junction between Back Place and High Street/Snowdon Street and High Street – that pedestrians were not counted more than once as they passed up and down the High Street or if they turned onto Transect B.

To improve the accuracy of our results, we could ensure that everyone undertook their pedestrian count at the same time, for example 2pm and 3pm). This would reduce the risk of counting the same pedestrians twice. In turn this would help to make our conclusions regarding the relationship between environmental quality and pedestrians more reliable.