Download Monitoring Leaf Drop

Monitoring Leaf Drop
Long-term collections and examining
the sequence of leaf drop in a
deciduous forest community
Purpose:
• To establish a long term study in a forest
ecosystem which will continue each
autumn
• To follow the progression of leaf-fall in a
mixed deciduous forest
• To collect, analyze and present data
• To identify tree species by their leaves
Set-up
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Collect materials for each group to build a leaf collecting
device:
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Large plastic bucket
Wooden stake
Wood piece as spacer
Nut and bolt
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Each group will also need to drill a hole in the bottom of the
bucket
Sampling:
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TIMING:
Buckets will be set up before
leaf fall begins in the fall 2006
Buckets will be emptied twice
each week
Buckets will be removed from
stakes after leaf fall is
completed
DATA COLLECTION:
Each sample will be
labeled with date and
bucket number
Number of leaves for
each species will be
counted
Location:
• Buckets will be placed in the woods along a
transect line which runs through the forest
community