RUNNING HEAD: SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY USING WILDCAM PHOTOS
ENV 111
Scientific Inquiry using WildCam Photos
ENV 111: Introduction to Sustainability
Scientific Inquiry using WildCam Photos
Overview
This assignment is based on developing scientific questions and hypotheses using wildcam
photos from Gorongosa’s National Park in Mozambique. Africa. The key terms that you need to
know are:
Phenomenon: an observation of a situation or fact that does not have a known cause,
mechanism, or explanation.
Hypothesis: a tentative explanation for the observed phenomenon based on observations
and/or prior scientific knowledge or data.
Complete the following steps below and answer each question below with a 1-4 sentence
response, or by filling in the table. All of your responses should be in complete sentences.
Required Resources
The following multimedia on Gorgongosa National Park will help you answer the questions
below
View the animation on Gorongosa’s Water Cycleand launch the Gorongosa Interactive Mapto
learn more about the natural features and vegetation types of Gorongosa National Park. In the
menu on the left side of the interactive map, click on the links to launch pop-up features that
have additional information and videos. Use your cursor to place a checkmark next to each link
to add locations to the map, including trail cameras and river conservation areas.
Tracking Lion Recoveryin Gorongosa National Park
Surveying Biodiversityin Gorongosa National Park
A science-based approachto restoring Gorongosa’s wildlife
Register and launch the Wildcam interactive databaseto explore and revise your research
questions (see below). You can download data to answer most research questions based on
animal sightings. It is highly recommended that you view the brief tutorial at the beginning of
the Wildcam so that you will be able to select criteria in order to explore your research questions.
By typing my name here I acknowledge that I have viewed all of the above required materials
, Name: Romarnino Sayco
1.) Developing Questions:
Develop at least three different questions about the observed phenomena related to vegetation
type, and/or the kind of species in each vegetation type using the Wildcam interactive database.
a. During what time of the day are animals most active in the Limestone Gorge vegetation?
b. What season(s) reveal the most animal activity in the Mixed Savanna and Woodland
vegetation?
c. Which vegetation type do most lions reside in?
2.) Comparative Research Question:
Choose one of the scientific questions you listed in #1 and rewrite it as a comparative research
question.
a.) Is there a difference between dark and light-colored manes in male lions?
Examples: Comparative questions ask how some variable differs among a set of groups and are
useful for designing experiments. For example, “Do male monarch butterflies have a larger
wingspan than female monarch butterflies?” is a comparative research question. The variable
measured is wingspan and the groups that are compared are males and females. Counting the
number of gazelles that visit a field is a somewhat interesting observation, but comparing the
number of gazelles in a field with a high number of shrubs to a field that has a low number of
shrubs is more interesting and useful in understanding how gazelles use their habitat.
5.) Develop a hypothesisfrom your comparative research question.
Example Question: During which season is the abundance of animals in the limestone gorge
vegetation type highest?
Example hypothesis: In the limestone gorge vegetation type, animals are most abundant in
the dry season because they are attracted to the water and green vegetation that are scarce in
other areas.
My Hypothesis: In the limestone gorge, animals are most active during the day because they
are out searching for food, water, and a safe place to rest.
ENV 111
Scientific Inquiry using WildCam Photos
ENV 111: Introduction to Sustainability
Scientific Inquiry using WildCam Photos
Overview
This assignment is based on developing scientific questions and hypotheses using wildcam
photos from Gorongosa’s National Park in Mozambique. Africa. The key terms that you need to
know are:
Phenomenon: an observation of a situation or fact that does not have a known cause,
mechanism, or explanation.
Hypothesis: a tentative explanation for the observed phenomenon based on observations
and/or prior scientific knowledge or data.
Complete the following steps below and answer each question below with a 1-4 sentence
response, or by filling in the table. All of your responses should be in complete sentences.
Required Resources
The following multimedia on Gorgongosa National Park will help you answer the questions
below
View the animation on Gorongosa’s Water Cycleand launch the Gorongosa Interactive Mapto
learn more about the natural features and vegetation types of Gorongosa National Park. In the
menu on the left side of the interactive map, click on the links to launch pop-up features that
have additional information and videos. Use your cursor to place a checkmark next to each link
to add locations to the map, including trail cameras and river conservation areas.
Tracking Lion Recoveryin Gorongosa National Park
Surveying Biodiversityin Gorongosa National Park
A science-based approachto restoring Gorongosa’s wildlife
Register and launch the Wildcam interactive databaseto explore and revise your research
questions (see below). You can download data to answer most research questions based on
animal sightings. It is highly recommended that you view the brief tutorial at the beginning of
the Wildcam so that you will be able to select criteria in order to explore your research questions.
By typing my name here I acknowledge that I have viewed all of the above required materials
, Name: Romarnino Sayco
1.) Developing Questions:
Develop at least three different questions about the observed phenomena related to vegetation
type, and/or the kind of species in each vegetation type using the Wildcam interactive database.
a. During what time of the day are animals most active in the Limestone Gorge vegetation?
b. What season(s) reveal the most animal activity in the Mixed Savanna and Woodland
vegetation?
c. Which vegetation type do most lions reside in?
2.) Comparative Research Question:
Choose one of the scientific questions you listed in #1 and rewrite it as a comparative research
question.
a.) Is there a difference between dark and light-colored manes in male lions?
Examples: Comparative questions ask how some variable differs among a set of groups and are
useful for designing experiments. For example, “Do male monarch butterflies have a larger
wingspan than female monarch butterflies?” is a comparative research question. The variable
measured is wingspan and the groups that are compared are males and females. Counting the
number of gazelles that visit a field is a somewhat interesting observation, but comparing the
number of gazelles in a field with a high number of shrubs to a field that has a low number of
shrubs is more interesting and useful in understanding how gazelles use their habitat.
5.) Develop a hypothesisfrom your comparative research question.
Example Question: During which season is the abundance of animals in the limestone gorge
vegetation type highest?
Example hypothesis: In the limestone gorge vegetation type, animals are most abundant in
the dry season because they are attracted to the water and green vegetation that are scarce in
other areas.
My Hypothesis: In the limestone gorge, animals are most active during the day because they
are out searching for food, water, and a safe place to rest.
