Observation 1: Description of Area

Site: In front of my house/a pond
Date: May 6, 2008
Time: 8:01 pm
Temp: 59.9 degrees F
Weather: Some blue sky but mostly cloudy, no wind, clouds to NE looked like rain clouds
Soil: In the water, VERY wet/ muddy, soil next to water, little damp, but everywhere else was very dry

The observation area is just off the side of Porcupine Creek Road near Hoback Junction. The area includes a small pond with a stream running into the pond and then a stream running out of it. Although people sometimes dig out the pond to get the mud out and make it deeper, the pond and stream are not man made. There is a deep soil/rock surface with many roots from grasses to hold dirt in place. This helps so that dirt doesn't keep running into the pond. The pond has a thriving ecosystem with different species of animals and plants. The soil conditions change due to precipitation and helps the plants grow. As for the flora, there are many species of grasses, some willows outline the pond and there are three little pines growing in the corner of the pond. As the pines grow, they will provide shelter and protection to other organisms. There are also many grasses in the pond which make it easier for the birds such as mallard ducks to get food. With lots of willows and pines around, in the future, it will be a well protected area. There are many grasses and in the summer those grasses should grow a lot and get taller. The abiotic factors in this enviroment are mud and rocks. The mud affects the water because it shapes the way the water is flowing. There are also rocks in the pond which causes the calming noise of the water running. The biotic factors are that there a lot of grasses that keep the biodiversity high and allows duck populations and geese populations to come and make it a bigger community. Although a good habitat includes a lot of space for organisms, the pond is relatively small but supports a lot. There is water flowing in and out of the pond I know that deer usually come and sometimes moose wander through the area. My dogs love the pond for it is a place to cool off in the summer.