3. Teacher
Tangible data (mass
loss)
Nutrient limitation age
appropriate concept
Species id and litter
bag construction
Researcher
N -> Higher N increases
litter mass loss (Fog
1988) but not always
(Knorr et al 2005)
Little information on P
Arthropods -> Varied
effects (Schmitz 2010)
Litter from young stand
species should
decompose faster based
individual species rate
data from Melillo et al
1982
WHAT CONTROLS LITTER MASS LOSS?
4. Teacher
Authentic science
Local science
Real Scientists
Researcher
Hypotheses
Co-limitation of litter mass
loss
Arthropods will increase
litter mass loss
Young stand species mix will
lose mass faster than
mature stand mix
WHAT CONTROLS LITTER MASS LOSS?
5.
6.
7. 4 stands
N, P, N&P, and Control
2 mesh sizes
2 mm
63 µm
2 litter mixes
Young: American Beech,
Red Maple, Pin Cherry,
White Birch
Mature: American Beech,
Sugar Maple, Yellow Birch
Collections
June 12, 2013
Fall 2013
Summer 2014
METHODS
11. Teacher
Middle school students
can do science!
Researcher
Beginning to see a P
effect on litter mass
loss
Microarthropods
slowing initial litter
mass loss
Initial litter mass loss
more rapid for young
stand litter (Pin
Cherry?)
CONCLUSIONS
12. The 100 students of Team 2 at A. Crosby Kennett Middle
School and Sean Littlefield for field help
Ruth Yanai, Craig See, Adam Wild and the many members of
the Shoestring crew
NSF Grant Proposal # DEB 0949324
Supplement by RET 2013 (1314909)
Hubbard Brook Research Foundation RET 2012
Photos
http://hbr.lternet.edu/events/past_events.htm
http://hubbardbrook.blogs.plymouth.edu/2009/07/09/presentation -maggie-zimmer-and-katie-
harvey/
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Notas del editor
Nutrients could be enhancing the microbial communities PLUS low levels of natural N deposition stimulated while adding N at <5X natural dep slowed decomp. (Knorr 2005)