ESSCOSMOS/2009:FieldSampling
Overview
The present activity applies classroom study of photosynthesis and decomposition to the modern challenge of calculating the effects of human impacts on ecosystem function. School, community, and other urban gardens provide an opportunity to explore the effects that humans can have on these fundamental biological processes.
Gardens are ecosystems that are managed by humans to optimize food production. With respect to photosynthesis and decomposition, gardens function much differently from surrounding grasslands and coastal sage shrub ecosystems. Humans increase the supply of water and nutrients to plants. At the same time, pesticides, weed removal, and crop planting alter the number and identity of plant and insect species.
Objectives
This lesson will apply our classroom introduction to production and decomposition as primary chemical transformations that drive the global carbon cycle []. learned in the classroom. students have learned the basic principles of photosynthesis and decomposition and human impacts on the environment. managing
Provide overview: community garden biogeochemistry as a case study of land use change
- Compare and contrast adjacent unmanaged and managed ecosystems
- Map garden and adjacent land
- Estimate percent cover of each species in each plot
- Estimate percent cover in 10 x 10 m2 plots around the garden
- Measure soil temp and moisture
Background
Materials
10 m or longer Measuring Tape or wheel Map of garden and surrounding area with 10 x 10 m aligned to one corner of garden (add link to pdf here)
Methods
Each group will map entire garden
Plants
aboveground biomass
belowground biomass
Soils
soil core
soil moisture
soil temperature
Homework assignment
Enter x,y coordinate data of sample locations and values of temperature and moisture. Write for 15 minutes about the plot without editing and then summarize in one paragraph.