Proposal Introduction

     The purpose of this study is to find the relationship between species of insects near common rush (Juncus effusus) and the species of insects near small-flowered bulrush (Scirpus microcarpus). The goal of this project is to get a detailed idea of what type of insects prefer what type of wetland area over the other. The common rush plant stays in the lower region of the wetland where the water is deeper. While the small-flowered bulrush keeps its distance from the deep water and tends to lye on the outside of the deep area. What will be the most interesting is to see what insects will be the most populous in what areas.

Background Information

SITE INFORMATION

       The two plants that I am studding prefer different levels of the land. This is due to the fact that you do not see the plants together. The common rush is found in areas below 8,000’ elevation throughout North America and it grows only in freshwater wetlands. The small-flowered bulrush lives from low to middle elevations, in freshwater wetlands only. The small-flowered bulrush cannot handle long flooding periods unlike the common rush. This will give us a variation of areas that it could reside. (Wallace W. Hansen, 2003)

       The common rush is a hardy plant that is able to withstand a lot of environmental hazards like pollution (Wallace W. Hansen, 2003). It looks like normal grass that you would see in your yard with leaves that usually span to one centimeter to a half of an inch. The plant lives usually in wetlands and has an extended root base to absorb nutrients and to anchor itself.

       The small-flowered bulrush is a tall triangle shaped stem that can grow to 4½ft tall. Multiple stems emerge from each base. It is endangered in Kentucky and New Jersey and it is protected by law; the plant normally lives in the Pacific Northwest. The plant usually blooms from April to September the extended period gives it great ornamental value.

       These two plants, while not far away from each other, hold vary different surroundings. The small-flowered bulrush site is approximately 2 feet higher than the common rush site. In the 54 feet apart from each other that gain or decrease can cause a vast difference.

       This question can create interest due to the sites history. The Noyes property was given to the city of Corvallis parks and recreation department in about 2002. The property is not actually in Corvallis area but it is still considered apart of the Corvallis parks system. At first glance you would see trees and black berries. With some old pavement leading to a house that is no longer there we can see a gate. The property, full of trees and various plants that could have been there for more than 20 years, looks to be a wetland. While the land is not always moist I believe that the land is moist from October to March. While history and the property are important the fact is that the property would not be what it is unless it had a successful system in which it deals with its water.

Site Description

LOCATIONS

      The picture above tells you where this text will give you a verbal and visual map (just click on the links). You start at the entrance to the property. Go around the gate and to the end of the gravel there you will see to your left/North and right/South big slabs of concrete where the house used to stand. If the path still exists in front of you take that until the first left/North turn. Then walk down that until you see a pink flag marked LCBeta. If no paths walk East till you see a water hookup ~30ft. Then to the North ~30ft look for LCBeta. To LCAlpha take the path into the mud through the water holes and soon you will see a lot of common rush my site is to the West of the patch of common rush. If no path walk to the east until you reach the end of the property then walk North ~40ft then West ~20ft. Look in the patch of common rush for LCAlpha.

Hypothesis

   I believe that both sites will have a good amount of insects and those insects will be big and small. After reading peoples work on insects in wetlands I believe that there will be more insects by the small-flowered bulrush and those insects will be similar to the common rush. I support this with the fact that all the area around the common rush is flooded most of the year.