Litter Decomposition Experiments Involving Young Technicians, Rick Biche and Team 2 (2012-2014), A. Crosby Kennett Middle School. Hubbard Brook Annual Cooperator's Meeting, W. Thornton, NH, July 10, 2014.
2. 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
3. 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)
4.
5. 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
8. 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.
13. 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
17. Multiple R-squared: 0.8061,
Adjusted R-squared: 0.6364
p = 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.
18. • 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
Notas del editor
Sorting and Combining Litter
Litter from the same age stands and nutrient treatment plot was combined and mixed.
Collection – 3 reps chosen randomly, returned to lab, litter is removed, dried and weighed.
