Edge effects are a fundamental consideration in nature preserves. We usually expect to fin...

Edge effects are a fundamental consideration in nature preserves. We usually expect to find dramatic edge effects in pristine habitat with many specialized species. But you may be able to find interior-edge differences on your own college campus, or in a park or other unbuilt area near you. Here are three testable questions you can examine using your own local patch of habitat: (1) Can an edge effect be detected or not? (2) Which species will indicate the difference between edge and interior conditions? (3) At what distance can you detect a difference between edge and interior conditions? To answer these questions, you can form a hypothesis and test it as follows:

Choose a study area. Find a distinct patch of habitat, such as woods, unmowed grass, or marshy but walkable wetland, about 50 m wide or larger. With other students, list some local, familiar plant species that you would expect to find in your study area. If possible, make this list on a visit to your site.