Woodland Network '16up' About the project:            Research Purpose:  To investigate a terrestrial ecosystem and get an opinion of its health. Materials:  For outdoors: pencil, spoon or a small spade, lens, Measure tape, bag or container (to bring soil back to school).  For lab: Oven or gas jet, distilled water, Container with tight fitting lid, a scale, ceramic bowl (or similar), pH-paper Procedure:  1. Read the manual 2. Find a woodland area close to your school. 3. Start the investigation. 4. Sum up results and report your investigation directly on a mobile phone (http://schoolweb.se/woodland/phone.htm) or print the form (click here) and report later to the database. You get an opinion about the health of the area by adding plus (+) and minus (-) 5. Then compare information with similar areas around the globe. Manual: Describe the woodland area in common Theory: Monocultures, that consists of one tree, are much more vulnerable than mixed forests. Conifers can survive on poorer land than broadleaves. Occurrence of some broadleaves among conifers make soil less acid and more healthy (litter beneath broadleaves has a higher amount of nutrients than litter beneath conifers). A flat area keeps nutrients and water in site  In a hilly area etc water and nutrients might leak out. in terms of mixed forest or monoculture / conifers or broadleaves / Flat or hilly area / surroundings etc Management Theory: A well kept, growth increasing woodland is much more resistant to natural and anthropogenic stress than a neglected and old woodland. Neglected, Old or Well kept area Most characteristic field plants Theory: Field vegetation is more dynamic than trees.  Reproductive maturity is reached earlier, the life span is shorter and the dependence on environmental factors  (such as pH and nitrate) seems to be grater. Death of herbaceous vegetation beneath affected trees is a warning sign. Plants with English or Latin names Most dominant trees i.e. oak 65%, pine 15%... Discoloration Theory A typical growth decreasing symptom is discoloration (yellowing and browning of needles and leaves) - just below the top of the crown.           A very green top is very characteristic for damaged trees, which often reacts through increased activity in the reproducing parts of the plant           and an excessive seed or cone production, year after year.           A brownish color at bottom of trees is characteristic for trees standing close to traffic routes due to exhausted gases from traffic.           Gradually there will be an obvious needle / leaf loss followed by a clear defoliation.  None, Some or Widespread Defoliation (needle / leaf loss) Theory: Defoliation is a natural process. It starts at bottom and expand up. The leaf loss can be up to 90% of the tree crown.  Defoliation at top of crown is common among old and weakened trees. Wind transported pollution can damage both  young and old trees. Defoliation in a shutter is common among trees rising over "the crown-roof" At bottom of tree crown (bottomless), At top of tree crown (topless), Mostly below the top (window-type), None or Widespread Most possible stress symptom Attack of insects, Bleached soil (podzol), Clinging plants, Close to urban area, Damages to buds/shoots/twigs, Damages by frost, Damages on tree trunk, Erosion, Fungus infection, Grazing, Nutrient deficiency, Over-fertilization, Plume of smoke near by, Probably air pollution, Temperature & wind, Traffic route near by, Waterlogged area. or Not known Ground texture Remove and save the "floor cover". Dig or drill to get a rough sketch of the soil profile. Then take a soil sample from the top layer of the profile, put it into a plastic bag or a container and bring it back to school for soil analyses.Describe the soil as it looks in nature. Soil pH Weigh 1,5 g of fresh soil and put it into a container.  Add 20 ml distilled water and shake the container now and then for about 30 minutes.  Measure pH in the container when the soil has settled. Report pH .......... Content of water (procedure) Weigh a Ceramic bowl (empty) g Add about 5g fresh soil (f) g Ceramic bowl + fresh soil g Let the ceramic bowl dry over night or at least 6 h in an oven (+105oC).  Then cover the bowl and let it become room-tempered before weighing again. Ceramic bowl + dried soil      g Dried soil (d) g Content of water  100*(f-d)/f % Content of organics (procedure)   Use the Ceramic bowl + dried soil from above   Heat the ceramic bowl up to +600oC or burn it using a gas jet until there is nothing but sand left. Cover the bowl and let it become room-tempered before weighing again. Weigh the ceramic bowl + sand g Weight of sand (s) g Content of organics 100*(d-s)/f % Content of sand 100*s/f % Sum up Content of water + organics + sand (i.e. 35% + 44% +21%) Report to the database: click here for the reportform