FOREST EXAMINATION |Field Report

Pavithra Kannan, Sita Vakkalanka, Jackson Wilson, Carlos Ortiz

PARKLANDS FOUNDATION | HISTORY AND DATA

This experiment takes place at the Parklands Foundation, but more specifically on
the Merwin Trail. The trail is located in central Illinois around the Mackinaw River.
According to the Parklands Foundation, Since its founding in 1967, the organization
has protected and restored (through ownership, intermediary conservation buyer or
conservation easement) more than 3,200 acres of prairie, savanna, floodplain forest
and river habitat in the Mackinaw River valley of Mclean, Tazewell and Woodford
counties, and in other watersheds within Mclean County. Its upkeep of a natural
environment has earned it exemplary standings in and around the state.
What makes a healthy forest is a forests ability to sustain the unique species
composition and processes that exist within it. There are four different types of forests:
a tropical rainforest, a temperate deciduous forest, a temperate coniferous forest, and
a boreal or taiga forest. The forest along the Merwin Trail is categorized as a temperate
deciduous forest as it has for distinct seasons and precipitation, either rain or snow,
falls year round (30-60 inches per year).
The purpose of observing Merwin Trail was to assess the healthiness of the forest
based on biodiversity dependent on the types of plants (and their healthiness) and
animals found. We collected data on tree height, diameter, and variety. Also wildlife
data, such as animal evidence and sightings, and counts of disturbance sensitive plant
species helped determine the health of the biome.
In accordance to the previous
classification of a temperate deciduous
forest, this one has four distinct
seasons: hot summers, cool falls,
colder winters, and warmer springs.
The top graph on the right shows the
average highs (red) and average lows
(blue) per month over the past 5 years.
On the day of the study the
temperature was 68 degrees
Fahrenheit which is relative to the
average temperature for the month of
October. The average precipitation is
shown on the lower graph to the right.
Despite there was no rain on the day of
the study, the day leading p to it
resulted in almost 5 inches of rain.

METHODS TO COLLECT DATA

In order to properly collect the data needed to determine the biodiversity

of the forest, certain steps needed to be followed. The first step was gathering
the materials needed: string, stakes, a meter stick, a tape measure, journals, an
umbrella, a soil kit, and water. To establish the ten by ten meter grounds that
would be analyzed, the string and the stakes were used. The string measured
ten meters, and the stakes were used to set the corner points for the boundary.
Next, the cloud coverage as well as any signs of human or animal life was
accounted for and noted down in the field journals. The next action was to
analyze the tree type, diameter at breast height (DBH), as well as the height of
the tree. The tree type was determined using the guide provided to us. The
leaves as well as other characteristics of the tree helped in identifying the type
of tree. The diameter at breast height (DBH) was found by measuring the
circumference of the tree approximately fifty-four inches from the ground. In
preparation for this, each member of the group identified where approximately
fifty-four inches was regarding their body. This made the task of locating the
necessary height from the ground very simple. Once that height was found,
the meter stick was then used to measure the length of approximately one
side of the trunk. This value was then determined to be the diameter at breast
height. Simultaneously, the species of animals that were present were being
recorded and also noted down in the field journals.
At this point, two members of the group continued with the analysis
of the trees, and the other two members worked on soil testing. For the soil
testing, there were specific instructions that needed to be followed. The first
requirement was extraction. With the extraction, a soil sample was required,
as well as distilled water. Both of these elements went into the same container.
This particular soil kit required the use of FLOC EX tabs. Two of the tabs
were placed into the soil and water mixture. The wait was approximately two
to three minutes, and the soil settled to the bottom while a clear liquid was
separated from the soil. In this particular instance, the group only tested the
presence of phosphorus and nitrogen. The clear liquid from the extraction was
needed to determine the levels of both phosphorus and nitrogen in the soil.
There were three test tubes provided, and because the group only tested two
elements, only two were used. Twenty-five drops of the clear liquid which
resulted from the extraction needed to be put into each of the test tubes. Once
that was complete, one nitrogen and one phosphorus tab were placed into
separate test tubes. The solution required about four to five minutes to dissolve
and set. Once it had dissolved, the results were then recorded separately from
the rest of the forest data.

DATA COLLECTED

The following is a chart of the data collected based on the size of the trunk of the tree. This is a chart of
the entire class data compiled by each group; our group data is listed under group three.

Animals sightings, density, dominance, and calculated Shannon Index per group and class totals.

Grid of the ten meter by ten meter containing location of each tree and classification and type of tree.

ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION

According to our group data, there were eight trees that were analyzed that fell into four different
categories. Category 1, 4, 6, 7, 0-5 cm, 20.1-30 cm, 40.1-50 cm, and 50.1 60 cm respectively, was at a 0.00
density and 0% dominance. There was one tree in category 2, resulting in 12.5% dominance. There were two
trees in category 3 with 25% dominance. In category 5, there were 4 trees with 50% dominance. Last by not
least, the sixth category had one tree and resulted in 12.5% dominance. In terms of type of plants, the
dominating species was the walnut tree at 50% dominance out of the trees calculated. The class totals differed
slightly in that the only two species without representation was category 1 and 7.
Based on this analysis, the forest is a healthy forest as it can sustain a wide range of trees. The larger trees,
per usual, are older where was the smaller ones are comparatively younger. The older trees have been around
for a while and given that none are dead, the forest has been able to sustain it. The younger trees represent a
newer generation also growing steadily and also being sufficiently sustained. This shows diversification
through a prolonged time period. However, the species diversity is low among the trees in this specific
quadrant as 50% of it was dominated by the walnut trees. As for animals, there were 17 organisms found by
the group and 164 by the class as a whole. There was even some evidence of lichen and fungi growing on the
tree bark. The Shannon index for the animals was 1.80909 as a group and 1.79855 as a class. These compared
to the results conducted by A. Mataji for a Bioline study, where the Shannon index was a 2.0145, indicate that
this is also a healthy forest in terms of animal diversity.

The soil testing indicates the amount or even presence of either phosphorus, nitrogen, or
potassium. The first step is the extraction. With the use of FLOC EX tabs, this process allows an
acidic, clear liquid to be formed from the soil and distilled water. That liquid is then used to test the
amounts of the three elements (nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus) in the soil. The results of the
soil testing were that phosphorus as well as nitrogen were deficient in our soil sample. The color of
the phosphorus sample needed to be a shade of blue, and it was a very pale, light blue shade. This
result showed that although phosphorus was present, the quantity was scarce. The nitrogen showed a
similar result. This sample needed to be a shade of purple, and much like the phosphorus, it resulted
in a very pale purple. This result also demonstrated the lack of a high amount of phosphorous in the
soil. These result indicate that the soil itself is lacking in elemental nutrition, however based on the
tree health and undergrowth density, the results of the soil test may be skewed.
Aside from the quantitative data, there were some peculiar observations to be made about our
section of the forest. There was a large prairie like clearing in the midst of the rampage of trees. This
is indicative of some form of disruption in that specific area. Perhaps over predation of some plants,
natural disaster, or human disturbance. The forest is a healthy forest in terms of animal biodiversity
and plant generation diversity and despite its disturbances, it has managed to support and sustain
many forms of life.

Sources/ Works Citied:

www.parklandsfoundation.org/about/
www.ncforestservice.gov
https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/61755:4:US
http://www.defenders.org/forest/types-forests
http://www.bioline.org.br/pdf?st09043