BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ASSIGNMENTS, Fall 2016

RESEARCH PROPOSAL (this has multiple steps, with products due at various dates through the term; this link will give you the frame-work and due-dates for each step -- but stay tuned for modifications).

PROBLEMS/PROBLEM SETS:

(ADDED PERIODICALLY)

First question set (DUE 15 Sept)
    EXAMPLES for first question set

Second question set (DUE 26 Sept)
    EXAMPLES for second question set

Third question set (DUE 13 Oct)
    EXAMPLES for third question set

Fourth question set (DUE 17 Nov)
    EXAMPLES for fourth question set

LABS and other stuff:

1. Species-area lab (1 Sept)
  Here are the data for this lab (still missing two series!!): This link will download an excel spreadsheett, OR you can use this link to open a Google 'sheets' document.  You can copy the data into whatever format you want for use in the assignment.  

2. Field-trip log For trip to Branch Pond (DUE 6 Oct)

3. Bean lab write-up: (DUE  20 Oct)

4. Forest carbon sequestration lab: Hand in answers to following questions by Monday AFTER THANKSGIVING (2 Dec):
    a. Download the excel file here.  If you want to work in google sheets, then: 1) in your google drive click 'new' and 'upload', 2) choose the excel file to upload, then 3) select 'open in sheets' button (which will appear either top or bottom of page).  
    b. We will review/talk about spreadsheet functions in lab.  Building on this, use the formulas provided in the spreadsheet to estimate total aboveground biomass for the two permanent forest study plots ('maple' and 'pine'; each is on a separate tab in the spreadsheet).  Convert these values into some sort of useful "biomass density" unit (kg/ha is a good one; estimates are in kg; plots are 500 square m; ha = 10,000 square m) for each plot. (NOTE that these are 'dry biomass' estimates -- organic matter without water).
    c. Convert the CHANGE in biomass to an estimate of RATE of NET CARBON UPTAKE by aboveground biomass (this is a component of the ecosystem's net primary production, or NPP).  Put this in terms of a rate of change in biomass density (e.g. kg/ha/yr) for each plot for each of the three study intervals between measurement dates and overall (for the full 12 years).
    d. To answer questions below, you will need to convert biomass or NPP values to values for CARBON contained; dry biomass is about 40% carbon.
NOW WRITE IT UP: Format is up to you, but write-up should be clearly structured and should include
    A. A summary of results (estimates of biomass densities and NPP, and how they've changed over time) in a reasonable format (graphs are always appropriate).  If you get ambitious you might do this by species as well as total
    B. Answers to the following questions:
        1. Are these forests CARBON SINKS (accumulating biomass and so extracting C from the atmosphere on average) or SOURCES (decreasing in biomass and so adding C to atmosphere)?  
        2. Are there differences between the stands? If so, offer one hypothesis for why they might differ in this way (you may consider what you know or think likely about the history and nature of the two stands -- the pine stand is a plantation that is around 50 years old, with some other species now growing among the pines; the maple stand is much older, as we talked about in the field).
        3. For one of these stands, estimate the total amount of C being taken from or added to the atmosphere for an area of similar forest the size of campus (approximately 450 acres; look up conversion from ha to acre on google; a hectare is larger than an acre; make sure your conversion goes in the right direction!).  Find information about how much C is added to the atmosphere for each gallon of gasoline burned, and calculate the 'gasoline equivalent' of the change in standing biomass per year (either per ha, or for an area the size of campus)?
        4. Note that we are considering only LIVING, ABOVEGROUND biomass of trees here.  What are some other potentially significant reservoirs of carbon in these forests that you'd want to look at if you wanted a full estimate of the carbon dynamics of these forests?