Download Species diversity - Frostburg State University

A study of tree species diversity at an
un-mined and a reclaimed forest on
Frostburg State University campus
Diamond Alexander, Summyr Butts, Darius Daniels, Richard
Jackson, Tammy Johns, Belmont Johnson, Faith McFadden,
Gregory Parks, Mariah Phillips, Lucas Shafer, Chaz Ward
and Lauren Whitley
Biodiversity Group
Final Presentation
August 1, 2008
Biodiversity
„
„
The variety of living
things in the world
Types of Biodiversity
• Species diversity
• Genetic diversity
• Ecological diversity
Benefits of Biodiversity
„
„
„
„
„
Food
Drugs/Medicine
Ecological
benefits
Aesthetics
Religious/Culture
Decreasing Biodiversity
„
„
1/3- 2/3 of all species to be extinct
by the middle of the 21st century
Habitat destruction is the number
one cause
Species Diversity
„
„
Species Richness (S)- the number of
different species in a community
Species Evenness (J’)- the
distribution of individuals in a
community
Why both measures are needed
„
Evenness often decreases before richness
„
Example:
• Forest A and B would have the same richness, S = 3.
• Evenness in Forest A is greater than evenness in Forest
B.
Species 1
Forest A
4
Forest B
1
Species 2
4
1
Species 3
4
10
Coal Mining in Western Maryland
„
„
Began in the
1800’s
Two types:
• Underground
mining
• Surface mining
Underground Mining
„
„
Deep in the earth
Impacts:
• Acid Mine Drainage
(AMD)
• Spoils that are
brought to the
surface
Surface Mining
„
„
„
Topsoil and overburden are removed.
Overburden- rocks and soil that lie over a
coal seam
Impacts:
•
•
•
•
•
Habitat
Spoils
Erosion
Landslides
High walls
Reclamation
„
„
„
When mining is complete the mining
company must restore the land to its
original state.
Maryland laws began in 1955.
Federal laws began in 1977.
• Surface Mining Control and Reclamation
Act (SMCRA)
„
“a diverse, effective, and permanent
vegetative cover of the same seasonal
variety and native to the area”
Problems with Mine Spoils
„
„
„
Topsoil removed
Mine spoils used as fill
Spoils
• Low organic matter
• Low, acidic pH
• Low nitrogen (N)
• Low phosphorus (P)
• Low potassium (K)
Plant Requirements
„
pH- harmful if below 5.5,
many plants do not grow
„
Nitrogen- used for energy,
growth and overall health
„
„
Phosphorus- used for
photosynthesis, respiration,
growth and other functions
Potassium-used for
photosynthesis, energy and
other functions
Mining at Frostburg
„
„
„
Campus was built
on mines.
A forest was
planted on shale
spoils.
There are still
active mines.
Purpose
To examine the impacts of
mining on tree species diversity
Hypotheses
„
„
Hypothesis: There will be a
difference in tree species diversity
between the mined forest and unmined forest.
Null Hypothesis: There will not be a
difference in tree species diversity
between the mined forest and unmined forest.
Methods
Study Sites
„
„
„
July 22, 2008
Two sites
FSU campus
Ù
Ù
• Un-mined site
• Mined site
Ù- Un-mined Site
Ù- Mined Site
Setting up the site
„
„
„
„
Circle with a 14m radius
Center marker
Measuring tape
Flags
14
14 m
meter
s
Tree Identification
„
„
„
„
Identified and
recorded the
species
Living trees
3 inch diameter
breast height
(dbh)
Flagged trees
Soil Sampling
„
Collected 2 samples
from each site
„
Soil corer
„
Sampled “A” horizon
„
Lab testing using the
Rapitest® soil test kit
Observations
„
Other types of life in the area
„
Aged the forest as even or uneven
„
Noted dead trees and health of the
forest
Data Analysis
„
Shannon-Weiner Index
• Uses both species richness and species
evenness
• Assigns a value for diversity
• Not dependant on sample size
• Compares sites
Shannon-Weiner Index
Hs = -∑ (Pi)(log Pi)
Hs= diversity index value
Pi = relative abundance found
Pi=ni/N
ni = individuals of a species
N = total number of individuals
Maximum Diversity
„
Hs max is the maximum possible
diversity.
• Hs max = log (S)
Species Evenness (J’)
„
J’= Hs/Hs max
Results
bl
ac
su k ch
ga er
r ry
bl ma
ac p l
k e
wh gu
m
wi ite
tc oa
h
k
re h az
st d e l
rip m
ed a p
m le
cu ba s apl
cu sw e
m oo
b
bl er t d
am ac k r ee
er bir
ica ch
n
iro as
nw h
o
re o d
sp do
ice ak
pi b u
tc sh
h
pi
n
r
bl e d e
ac p
k ine
lo
cu
s
as t
pe
n
Number of Trees
Tree Species at the Two Forested Sites
40
35
30
25
20
15
Un‐mined
10
Mined
5
0
Tree Species
Evenness (J')
Species Evenness Between the Sites
1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
Mined
Un-mined
Sites
Shannon-Weiner Index
Value
Shannon-Weiner Index Values for the Sites
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
Hs
0.6
Hs max
0.4
0.2
0
Mined
Un-mined
Sites
Soil Measurements
pH
Mined
6.0-7.0
Un-mined 6.0
N
P
K
Depleted
DeficientDepleted
Surplus
Depleted
Depleted
Surplus
Discussion &
Conclusions
Hypotheses Revisited
„
„
Hypothesis: There will be a
difference in tree species diversity
between the mined forest and unmined forest.
Null Hypothesis: There will not be a
difference in tree species diversity
between the mined forest and unmined forest.
Hypothesis Accepted
„
„
„
„
Un-mined site had a higher diversity.
Un-mined site had a higher ShannonWeiner Index Value (Hs).
Un-mined site had a higher species
richness (S).
Un-mined site had a higher species
evenness (J’).
Maximum diversity (Hs max)
„
Neither site was at Hs max.
„
Different reason at the two sites.
Mined Site Hs max
„
Hs and Hs max were lower at the
mined site.
„
Only 5 tree species at the site
„
2 main species were planted.
• Red pine
• Pitch pine
Un-mined Site Hs max
„
2 main species were present.
• Sugar maple
• Witch hazel
„
„
Were not planted
It is natural for some species to be
more numerous in a forest.
Diversity and Soil Relations
„
„
Soil test results were similar, but we believe the
sites are different.
Visual observations
• Mined Site
„
„
„
Dead trees/unhealthy trees
Little vegetation
Thin O Soil Horizon
• Un-mined Site
„
„
„
Healthy trees
Abundant vegetation
Thick O Soil Horizon
Nitrogen and Phosphorus
„
Low at both sites
„
Un-mined site
• N and P added through decay
• Plants use it quickly
• Stay at low levels in the soil
„
Mined site
• Not much N and P being added
• Plants use the limited amount
• Trees are unhealthy or dying
Limitations
„
„
„
„
„
„
Site size was small (28 m diameter).
Only sampled one site per forest
Only sampled one forest of each type
Soil testing method
Season of sampling
Time to conduct the study
Suggestions for Improvement
„
„
„
„
„
Larger sites
More sites in each forest
More forest of each type
More advanced soil testing kit
Seasonal testing on soil
Unanswered Questions
„
„
„
How can humans reclaim mines so they
closely resemble the surrounding forest?
Does the mined site’s tree species
diversity and soil qualities meet the
standards of the SMCRA?
Will the trees in the mined site continue to
die?
Acknowledgements
Questions