Litter Decomposition Experiments Involving Young Technicians Rick Biche and Team 2 (2012-2014) A. Crosby Kennett Middle School
Jul 04, 2015
Litter Decomposition Experiments Involving Young Technicians
Rick Biche and Team 2 (2012-2014)
A. Crosby Kennett Middle School
Context Nutrient and carbon cycles
Students will…• develop a model to describe the
cycling of matter and the flow of energy among the living and non-living parts of an ecosystem
C. VanDyne
Mass Loss of Litter in the MELNHE Stands
• Nutrient Addition (N, P, N+P)
• Stand Age
– Litter mix
– Incubation stand
• Litter Arthropods (via mesh size)
Young Stand Mix
American Beech 1.0±.02g
White Birch 0.75±.02g
Pin Cherry 0.5±.02g
Red Maple 0.5±.02g
Mature Stand Mix
American Beech 1.25±.02g
Sugar Maple 1±.02g
Yellow Birch 1±.02g
Litter mixes based on data collected in 2009 and 2005 (C7) by Matt Vadabancouer, Marty Acker, Craig See, Corrie Blodgett, and the 2010 Field Crew
Building Litter Bags
Assignment
• Simplified data set
• Question– What was the effect of mesh size on the loss of
mass from litter?
– Did fertilization alter decomposition?
– How decomposition different between young and old stands?
• Use the data to support an answer to the question.
R. StewardGrade 8
R. StewardGrade 8
M. JonesGrade 7
M. JonesGrade 7
Student hypotheses
• Young stand litter has more nutrients
• There are dead bugs in the large mesh bags
• Mature stands have a better environment for decomposition
• Young stands have less good soil
• The fertilizer is taken by the plants before it gets to the litter
P > Con p=0.03
P > Con p=0.03
P > Con p=0.04
Multiple R-squared: 0.8061, Adjusted R-squared: 0.6364p = 0.022
Df Sum Sq Mean Sq F value Pr(>F) PlotAvgPO4 1 0.0019015 0.00190153 6.8244 0.031017 * Treatment 3 0.0002064 0.00006881 0.2470 0.861309 Stand 3 0.0071567 0.00238557 8.5616 0.007044 **Residuals 8 0.0022291 0.00027864
Resin strip data from Fisk, M. C., Ratliff, T. J., Goswami, S., & Yanai, R. D. (2014). Synergistic soil response to nitrogen plus phosphorus fertilization in hardwood forests. Biogeochemistry, 118(1-3), 195-204.
• Shoestring crews 2012-2013 – Field help and inspiration
• Geoff Wilson and Jackie Wilson – Support and opportunity
• Craig See, Adam Wild, Matt Vadabancoer - Reviews• Ruth Yanai, Melany Fisk, Christy Goodale – support
and guidance• Sean Littlefield – field assistance• Kevin Richard - trust• Team 2 (155 student technicians)
Acknowledgements