Day 2

The picture is a very small part of the 3,000 acre forest in which we are working. Our experiment is rather unusual in that the goal is to change nothing in order to observe and monitor what is already here in an effort to gather and analyze data to quantify how long it takes a logged forest to regain its status as a carbon sink. The scientists that we will work with stated that it is very difficult to leave invasive species in the plots. Our job is to tag, measure, identify, and record where each tree is located for all trees over 1 cm Dbh (Diameter at breast height) in an intact mature forest to create a map much like the one shown at the top of this blog. Other teams have gathered data that is related to logged plots. Each study site is 1 hectare that is divided into smaller plots that measure 10 meters by 10 meters. We practiced measuring trees today using a special tape to find the circumference to find how accurate our measuring skills were before we collect the true data beginning tomorrow.

Am taking my lunch break now, and will write more later. It is really cold here today. We had two speakers this morning and were only outside about 1 hour. Hot soup for lunch really hit the spot. Our day begins at 7:30 and ends at 7:00 pm when we make dinner and then clean up. We have a duty chart. I am scheduled to cook tacos on Wednesday evening and tonight I have kp (kitchen cleanup) duty. The sun set here today at 4:44 p.m. (Nice pattern don't you think?)

Question to consider:

Step 1:

Return to the weather underground website to check local conditions both here and in Oklahoma City and then record them on your blog sheet

Step 2:

Answer the following questions using the Map for the 2008 HSBC Control Mature Forest Plot # 2 at the top of this blog:

a. How many species of tress are shown on the plot?

b. Which species is most abundant (use color)? Least abundant(use color)?

c. What unit is used to measure the trees?

d. What patterns do you notice? BE SPECIFIC AND INCLUDE ESTIMATED DATA FOR PERCENTS

e. Hypothesize: How might this plot differ from one that has been logged?

Step 3:

look up and define the following terms:

f. carbon sink

g. hectare

h. invasive species