Download Biodiversity A Comparison Of Two Forests

Biodiversity
A Comparison Of Two Forests
Biodiversity is:
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One of the central themes of conservation
Measure of how healthy ecosystems are
Describes the variety of life
The Components of Biodiversity
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Genetic Diversity
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Species Diversity
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Ecosystem Diversity
Genetic Diversity is:
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Level of the genes or DNA
Basis of evolution
„ comes from mutation
„ changes in gene frequency
Species Diversity (Species Richness)
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Number of species
1.75 million species are identified
Scientists estimate that there may be 100
million species that exist
Species Diversity (cont’d)
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Tropical regions of the world
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About 50% of the world’s species are in the
tropical rainforests
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Tropical rainforests make up about 6-7% of
the earth’s surface, and are getting smaller
Ecosystem Diversity
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Living and non-living components of an area
Tropical Rainforest
Underwater Ecosystem
Benefits of Biodiversity
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Food (animals and crops)
Scientific Learning
Wood (shelter and heat)
Medicines (health)
Oxygen (to sustain life)
Processes that ecosystems provide
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Pollination from insects for plant reproduction
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Waste breakdown by microbes
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Predation which helps maintain the balance of
life
Healthy ecosystems provide
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Air and water purification
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Climate stabilization
Threats to Biodiversity
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Overexploitation
Physical alteration of habitat areas
Alien species introduction
Changes in atmospheric composition
Pollution in the air and water - ozone
breakdown - global warming
Consequences
Loss of biodiversity
„ Loss of species (extinction)
„ Loss of the human race as a whole
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Ways to protect biodiversity
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Leave the animals alone
Stop destroying the forests for unnecessary
things like extra malls
Recycle trash
Drive less: car pool or walk
Do not use aerosols containing CFC’s
(chlorofluorocarbons)
Underground Mining
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Three types of underground mining
Shaft mining
„ Slope mining
„ Drift mining
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Strip Mining
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Coal is relatively near the surface
Remove soil and trees above the coal
Safer and cheaper
Negative effects on the environment
Effects on the Environment
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Ecosystem is destroyed
„ natural habitats of many plants and animals
Forests are logged
Overburden left in huge piles for long periods
of time
Effects on Reclamation
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Soil nutrients depleted from the exposed soil
Erosion and compaction
This makes reclamation harder and take longer
Plants Need:
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Water
Light
Carbon Dioxide
Soil
16 Nutrients
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Micronutrients and Macronutrients
Micronutrients
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Iron
Manganese
Boron
Zinc
Copper
Molybdenum
Chlorine
Macronutrients
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Nitrogen
Phosphorous
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfur
The importance of the macronutrients we
tested for are:
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Nitrogen (N)
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Phosphorous (P)
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Stimulates leaf and stem growth for rapid plant growth
Is an important part of the chlorophyll
Increases seed and fruit production
Germination and growth of seed
Production of flowers and fruit
Growth of root
Aids in photosynthesis
Potassium (K)
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General vigor and health of plant
Prevents disease
Aids in photosynthesis
Sturdy growth of stem
pH
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Essential for plant growth
Acidic, Basic or Neutral
Has a range from 0 to 14
Acidic substances---high H+ levels
Basic substances---high OH- levels
Determines the availability of nutrients
Reclamation
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Restoring any disturbed area to it natural
condition as much as humanly possible
SMCRA
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Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act
1977 -- Created a fund for reclaiming mines
Created AML - Abandoned Mine Land
program
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Closed off pits, shafts and other openings
Two priorities
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Human health
Human safety
How a coal mine is reclaimed
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Fill in the hole with the overburden
Layer of topsoil to replace nutrients
Fast growing trees and grasses that don’t need
much management
Plant legumes
Introduce animals to the area
Monitor area
Challenge
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It takes thousands of years for nature to create
a healthy ecosystem
A mining company has to re-establish a
functioning ecosystem in 2-3 years
Other studies
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Scott et. al -- 2002
Reclaimed mine grassland vs.
natural grassland
Bird responses
Conclusion: organisms respond
the same way to both ecosystems
Our Study
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A comparison of biodiversity and soil
nutrients between a pine plantation on a
reclaimed coal mine area and a natural
forest
Our Hypotheses
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There will be greater biodiversity in the
natural forest than in the pine plantation
There will be higher levels of each nutrient
(N, P, K) in the natural forest than in the
pine plantation
The pH of the soil will be more acidic in the
pine plantation than in the natural forest
Methods
Study Sites
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Pine plantation at reclaimed coal mine area
„ Frostburg, Maryland
„ July 26, 2004 from 10 am to 11:15 am
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Natural forest
„ Finzel, Maryland
„ July 27, 2004 from 11 am to 12:15 pm
Field Methods
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Created plot 14 meters in diameter
Identified tree species
Counted # of individuals of each species
Soil sample
Observations made
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Understory vegetation, soil, dead trees/logs,
animals
Lab Methods
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Allowed soil to dry for
24 hours
N, P, K, pH
LaMotte Soil Test Kit
„ pounds per acre for
each nutrient
pH meter
Shannon Index of
Biodiversity
Shannon Index
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H’ describes the species diversity in the ecosystem
H’ = -∑ pi log pi
pi = # of individuals of a species / total # of
individuals in a plot
Scale of 0 – 1
Value closer to 1 = more diversity
Shannon Index
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J’ describes the distribution of those species
J’ = H’ / H’ max
H’ max = log K
K = number of species in a plot
Scale of 0 – 1
Value closer to 1 = more evenness
Example: 4 species, 20 individuals
Results
Observations at the Natural Forest
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Many ferns throughout the forest
Many young trees in the understory
Mosquitoes, birds, deer
More variety of trees
Observations at the Pine forest
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The trees were planted in rows
Foreign metal objects such as beverage cans
Little understory vegetation
Limited variety of species
lb s /a c re
Comparison of Two Forests
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Pine
Plantation
Natural
Forest
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Soil Nutrients
Potassium
pH
14
12
pH value
10
8
pH
6
4
2
0
Natural forest
Pine plantation
Study site
Shannon Index of Biodiversity
0.8
Index Value
0.7
0.6
0.5
Natural forest
0.4
Pine plantation
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
H'
J'
Shannon Index
Conclusions
Hypotheses
The natural forest would have greater biodiversity
than the pine plantation
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Accepted
There will be higher levels of each nutrient (N, P,
K) in the pine plantation than in the natural forest
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Rejected
The pH of the soil will be more acidic in the pine
plantation than in the natural forest
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Rejected
Biodiversity
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The natural forest is
more diverse and the
species are more
evenly distributed
because the pine
plantation is a
reclaimed area
Soil Nutrients
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The natural forest contains a higher nutrient
level for nitrogen and phosphorus
The pine plantation contains a higher nutrient
level for potassium
Pine trees might not need as much potassium
to grow
pH
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Lower pH level in the natural forest (4.1)
Natural forest soil more acidic
pH levels are not far apart
The age of the pine plantation might have
affected the pH results
The pine plantation might be old enough now
so the soil is more like a natural area
Limitations
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Weather
Lack of testing time
Not enough experience with identifying trees
Only having one field guide
Not knowing the history of forest we tested
Small testing space
Suggestions
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Use the La Motte Test Kit for pH
Expand the area of the plot to get a wider
range of organisms
Find out how old the pine plantation is
Go to more than 2 sites
Get a bigger soil sample for more testing
Go out on more than one day
Questions for future studies
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Did the age of the pine plantation affect the
soil chemistry and therefore the biodiversity?
Would the pine forest be more diverse if we
had counted the wildlife?
Did the amount of animals affect the soil
chemistry?
Things to consider during a
reclamation project
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Diversity
plants, trees and animals
„ attract animal species
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Functions of ecosystem
bird sanctuary
„ playground
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Credits
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Ashley Campbell
Julian Cook
Brittany Crowner
Che’Kia Harrod
Anneishia Patterson
Jasmine Pullen
Tiffany Royster
Annie Solomon
Darrick Stewart
William Thrall