The Last Day

Today we are measuring the decomposting logs in our transect. We measured each down log with a caliper, to measure its diameter. We identified the tree species, where in the plot it was located and its state of decay.

Here I am mesauring where in the transect the downed log is localed.

Here I am using the caliper to measure the diameter of the log.

This is Julie and she is recording all the data.















This is a selectively logged forest. The older mature trees have been cut down. Leaving gaps for weeds to grow.

Classification and Data

My honors students have a good handle on what I was doing this morning. I was classifying leaves.

This is one of the boxes of leaves we classified

Why is this important? These leaves came from bucket placed all over the test plots. The leaves have fallen into the bucket over the past month.

The scientists learn what other trees, by identifying the leaves affect the forest.










Here is the lead scientist, Nancy, and one of the other teachers classifying the leaves. As my biology student should remember we put similiar things into groups.




Once we had all the leaves in our box classified, I labeled bags to put them in.

Finally, all the data that has been collected is entered into the computer.

The afternoon was really fun because we were out in the field measuring trees. But to get to the plots we waded through water. Here is a video of getting to the forest sight ///


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The scientists have already put stakes every 10 meters in a 100 meter by 100 meter plot. It looks like graph paper.

When we finally arrived at our plots, the scientists had already put stakes every 10 meters in a 100 meter by 100 meter plots. It looked a lot like 100 x 100 meter graph. We were assigned three sub plots(10x10).
We had much data to obtain. The tree was marked at chest height. We carried a special stick to make sure all the trees were marked at the same height.



At that height the diameter was determined by the special measuring tape I mentioned yesterday.









Next the map coordinates were recorded, these were measured using a 100 meter tape measure along the X and Y axis of the plot. The tree is then tagged with a metal tag with a specific number. Lastly, the height and health of the tree is noted in the subplot data sheet.




It was wonderful working with these other teachers because everyone cooperated with every else and we quickly were able to finish our work and head back in.

Another Day Begins

This morning we had another talk, this time by Dr. Bert Drake. He was very informative. He explained how we knew that the CO 2 was increasing in the atmosphere and that the temperature was raising.


This graph demonstrates that since 1957 the amount of CO 2 has been increasing. The black line is in Hawaii and the red solid line is in the Antarctic. But is there a correlation between the carbon dioxide levels and temperature?










This graph shows the relationship between CO2 concentration and temperature. Dr. Drake also talked about what each of us, individually, can do about it.

After lunch we were in the field for about three hours. The question being studied this afternoon was, what effect does invasion species have on similiar forest plots. Once again the variable was whether the plot was logged.

The project director is explaining which plants are invasive and which are native.

Our job this afternoon was to remove the invasive species from one plot that has not been logged, like the picture on the right and one from a logged area. This study is only two years old, so the results won't be known for a while.

A note to Jim C., it is deer hunting season. The orange vest is so the hunters can tell I'm not a deer.

This evenings lecture was on the socio-economic effect that global warming will have. We all remember how costly both in human lives lives and in money, Hurricane Katrina was. This is what is meant by socio-economic.

Journal 12/7/09

It has been a very interesting day. This morning Dr. Jess Parker explained the long term project being done here as well as in China, England and India. The earth is getting warmer, spring is coming sooner, does this help or hinder the uptake of CO2 . As with all science we need to experiment to find out.

Dr. Parker has spent 22 years plotting the trees in this location. His plot map of all the trees looks like this:

The size of the dots represents the size of the tree and the twenty some different colors represents the species of tree.

After our lecture we walked to several of the research plots and learned the difference between the different ages of the forest plots.

Just before lunch we got to climb a 200 ft tower. The perupose of the tower is to see into the top of the canopy.

After lunch I learned about all the tool that are used in measuring trees. Here are some:
The stick with the pick marker is to measure each tree at the same height each year. In the forground is a caliper to measure the diameter of fallen trees and a metric measuring tape to measure the diameter a well as the circumference of the tree

The metal band around the tree "cookie" is used to measure growth on larger trees. The band has a spring with it as the girth of the tree increases so does the metal band. The amount of growth of the band is data of the increased in diamter.

This measuring tape is capable of measuring the circumference and the diameter. Some brillant person using math formulae figured out a way to measure the diameter using the circumference. The tape is actually marked with diameter units. Neat huh?

Good Question, Pat

spring is coming sooner does that mean the trees will start blooming sooner?
And if so does that mean that plants will be able to take in more carbon dioxide and produce more oxygen, possibly offsetting our carbon dioxide output and slowing or even stopping global warming? But even then wouldn't global warming start again if humans don't change their ways, so it would kind of be like a global warming cycle?

Pat M. asked an excellent question, why did I have to come all the way to Maryland to study a forest?

I want you to answer that question.
Here is lab protocol:
Question: What is the effect on logging vs non-logging on the amount of carbon used by the forest.
Hypothesis: If the forest as been logged than less carbon will be used (so more is in the air).
Materials:
Eight per assigned two and a half acre plots. These plots have been under study for the last 22 year
2-intermediate growth forests with intact trees.
2-intermediate growth forests that have been logged.
2-mature growth forests with intact trees.
2-mature growth forests that have been logged.
Tools to measure the rate of plant growth.
Tools to measure the amount of CO2

Procedure: Measure the girth of each tree and compare it to data from the previous years and compare that data to the amount of CO2.

No one has answered Patrick's question. What do we know about experiments?

DECEMBER 7 QUESTIONS-What were you able to learn about the different ages of the forest plots?-Why do you call the metal band around the tress "cookie"?-In the picuture with you holding the metric tape, what are the orange and silver ribbons on the trees representing?-Why is it better to study trees when it comes to global warmining, and not other types of plants?-Do you think global warming will change in the next few years. To turn out to be better?-Is it harder to do these kind of projects in the city or warm weather?-Is China,England,India doing the same type of things you and your team here? and are they getting similar or different results?

N.M.

I'm sorry their is no comment column on this entry. I cut and pasted this from my email.

China, England and India are doing the same thing. In this way we have worldwide date.
No, I don't think things will get better, unless we find better sources of energy.
We are studying trees because they hold a great amount of carbon.
It is not the metal band that is called a cookie, it is the piece of wood, because is looks like a big cookie.

The scientists pretty much know the age of the plots because there are records. Part of the area was a dairy farm until the 1930's, so that plot is about 80 years old.

The problem with doing this study other places is this is a huge reserve, so people will not come in and remove tags or stakes etc.

The measuring tape is used to determine the diameter of the tree.

Ms. Deichstetter

Trouble in Techno Land Day Two

Went to bed last night unsure, whether or not my blog had posted. So the first thing I did this morning was to grab my computer to check. And........my computer will not boot. I am currently blogging on a borrowed computer. More later.

Trouble in Techno Land

Welcome to my blog.

I have spent many hours working on this blog, but many of you know how technically challenged I am. Today, I learned some really great new things on how to use the internet to do a video conference. Once, I work it out with Mr. Mott and Mrs. Debrocke it is possible to have a video conference right there in the classroom.

After class this evening I returned to my computer and spent (wasted) hours of time trying to get into the blog. Only after Anna, the program director, came to my room and threatened my computer was I finally able to log in to my blog page. Well, at least I'm here now.

For those students who have been to Hawaii with me, my dorm room looks a lot like HPA. Well, its late and I'm going to bed. "Talk" to you tomorrow.