Field Study #4

 Fourth Encounter 11/2/2025  

Pictures 

 

      Leaf buildup                                                                               Macatawa River          

                   

                                       Brush next to river                                Willow Tree 

Experiment results  

I am testing the amount of phosphorus in the Macatawa river and seeing if the levels could change

 due to the change in temperature as the year progresses. This week the water temperature was 

9 degrees Celsius(49 degrees Fahrenheit). I tested the water three times for Phosphorus and 

each test showed a high level of Phosphorus, roughly 4 ppm. Compared to my previous test, 

these samples looked darker. 

Data Table

Field notes 

Time: 1:15pm

Temperature: 48 degrees Fahrenheit 

Climate: Sunny, breezy

Date: November 2, 2025

Length of day: 6:12am-4:51pm

Observations 

Saw: Yellow, orange, red colored leaves on the trees. Extremely muddy, especially at the 

river bank because of the rain the previous day. Dead leaves and branches on the 

ground.  Lots of dead leaves in the river and on the river bank. 

Heard: Birds chirping, the trees moving because of the wind. 

Changes: There were way more dead leaves on the ground this time so you could barely see the grass through them. There were also a bunch of dead leaves in the river and on the river bank. The river bank was extremely muddy and slippery because it had rained the previous day, this also made the dead trees at the river bank damp feeling. 

How do the warmer fall temperatures affect the deer and their winter coats?

 Deer grow their winter coats in the fall regardless of the temperature. This thick coat gives them enough protection from the cold to survive the winter but when they have it and it is still warm out, this can affect how active they are. In this transition period deer are more active in the morning when it is still cool and in the evening when it is cooling down again. During the hottest parts of the day, they go to shaded areas to try and stay cool. Once the temperatures drop, deer become a lot more active during the daytime. 

https://www.mossyoak.com/our-obsession/blogs/deer/deer-hunting-in fall#:~:text=Understanding%20Weather%20Impacts%20on%20Deer,front%20often%20proves%20highly%20productive. 

https://now.tufts.edu/2018/01/30/how-do-deer-survive-harsh-winter-weather#:~:text=Like%20many%20other%20mammals%2C%20deer,in%20layers%20during%20the%20fall.