Terrestrial Ecology Worksheet(1)

LAB WORKSHEET: TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY Part 1. Tree species density, frequency, and dominance 1. Given the following sample data, perform the necessary calculations to complete the final table. You may show work within the table or perform calculations on a separate sheet and scan/take a picture. a. Use DBH to calculate basal area. For each species, calculate the total number of individuals and the total basal area . Add those values to the final table. *Remember to convert total basal area from cm 2 to m 2 before calculating dominance. Sample data sheet: Data pooled for riparian plots 1 & 2 Total plot size: 200 m 2 BIO 1220L Species: White Alder Species: Western Sycamore Species: Arroyo Willow DBH (cm 2 ) Basal Area (cm 2 ) = 0.7854(DBH 2 ) DBH (cm 2 ) Basal Area (cm 2 ) =0.7854(DBH 2 ) DBH (cm 2 ) Basal Area (cm 2 ) =0.7854(DBH 2 ) 28.2 0.7854(28.2 2 )= 624.58 36.7 0.7854(36.7 2 )= 1057.85 12.8 0.7854(12.8 2 )=128.68 24.0 0.7854(24.0 2 )= 452.39 11.3 0.7854(11.3 2 )=100.29 22.6 0.7854(22.6 2 )= 401.15 15.0 0.7854(15.0 2 )=176.72 19.4 0.7854(19.4 2 )= 295.59 13.1 0.7854(13.1 2 )=134.78 25.0 0.7854(25.0 2 )= 490.88 11.2 0.7854(11.2 2 )=98.521 17.7 0.7854(17.7 2 )= 246.06 11.8 0.7854(11.8 2 )=109.36 27.5 0.7854(27.5 2 )= 593.96 14 0.7854(14 2 )=153.94 10.9 0.7854(10.9 2 )=93.313 Total no. of individuals = 7 Total Basal Area (cm 2 ) = 3104.61 (cm 2 ) Total # of trees = 1 Total Basal Area (cm 2 ) = 1057.85 (cm 2 ) Total no. of individuals = 8 Total Basal Area (cm 2 ) = 995.604(cm 2 )

b. Fill in the table using the formulas provided in the instructions to calculate density, frequency, dominance, and their relative values. Calculate an importance value for each species. 2. According to the importance values, which tree species is most important to the riparian community sampled in this study? Does this make sense given the density and size of this species? -According to the importance values, the White alder tree species is most important to the riparian community sampled in this study. I think it does make sense given their size and density. 3. Based on their trophic level, what are some important roles that trees have in our riparian study system? -Since trees are primary producers (autotrophic organisms) they are incharge of transforming light energy into chemical energy stored in carbohydrates through the process of photosynthesis. The amount of energy available for all other trophic levels is dependent on the photosynthetic ability of the primary producers. Furthermore, vegetation is important for holding the soil together. The roots of trees create a network within the soil to help reduce erosion. Leaves and other organic matter from streamside vegetation enter the water to provide a healthy amount of nutrients. Part 2. Macroinvertebrate diversity LAB WORKSHEET: TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY Species Total no. of individuals Density Relative Density No. of plots present Frequency Relative frequency Total Basal area Dominance Relative dominance Importance valu Western sycamore 1 0.005 6.25 1 0.5 20 0.10578 m^2 0.0005289 20.5 46.75 White alder 7 0.035 43.75 2 1 40 0.310461 m^2 0.001552305 60.2 143.95 Arroyo willow 8 0.04 50 2 1 40 0.0995604 m^2 0.000497802 19.3 109.3 Totals 100 100 100

7. Explain some ecological roles that macroinvertebrates have in the riparian corridor. How might these small creatures interact with other members of the ecosystem – including the trees that were surveyed? -Some ecological roles that macroinvertebrates are nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems because they are the primary consumer of organic materials.In addition to their role as primary consumers processing live organic material, they also serve as detritivores, consuming decomposing organic matter. LAB WORKSHEET: TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY

LAB WORKSHEET: TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY

LAB WORKSHEET: TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY

LAB WORKSHEET: TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY