Kristy Meurer
Allison Wheat
Gretchen Wagner
Purpose:
To study the pattern and characteristics of leave fall within a set area of the woods behind Boyd Hall on Western campus.
Questions:
§ In general, when do trees start to lose their leaves?
§ What is the group's prediction for total number of leaves fallen (per week and in total) for the sample area and for all of Western Woods (behind Boyd Hall)?
§ What is the percentage of each color leave that falls?
§ Will we observe green leaves in our collection bins?
§ Will different types of weather have an impact on rates of leaf fall?
§ Is there an obvious difference in number of leaves that fall within the forest versus at the edge of the forest?
§ Which week during the month of October will experience the largest leaf fall?
§ In general, how long does it take a leave to change color?
§ Why is it that leaves fall this time of year?
Procedure:
We will establish a 65'x50' sample area within the woods behind Boyd Hall on Western campus where we will collect our data. Our next step will be to randomly place 11 chicken-wire cylinders which will serve as collection bins for leaves. In order to insure that our sampling methods will be random in nature, we will utilize Frisbees in the same way we did with our clover lab. Once we have mapped out the dimensions of our sample area we will throw the Frisbee 11 times in order determine where we will locate our sampling bins. In addition, we will locate one collection bin at the edge of the forest to determine any differences from leaf fall from within the forest. Once in place, we will check the collection bins every two days over the month of October. Utilizing a data sheet, we will record the amount of leaves in each bin for the two-day period, indicate the color of fallen leaves, and the weather on that particular day. It is also important to note that the group will be recording the weather conditions on the days in between data collection. We feel this will have important implications on our lab and we plan to make assumptions using the data later. When recording the weather, we will make basic observations as to the general type of conditions that day (rain, wind, etc.) but we also plan to record windspeed on the various days. To do this we will be consulting the Weather Channel daily to attain the accurate windspeed. Finally, we will estimate the total leaf fall for the sample area using the random sampling techniques we used with the clover lab. With that answer we will then attempt to determine the total leaf fall for all of Western Woods using the same random sampling techniques. Integral in this calculation will be the dimensions of Western Woods which we will attain from public record.
On a separate note, will utilize a camcorder to record how long it typically takes a leaf to change color. We have located three different types of leaves in a residential area on Chestnut Street. We will take daily visual recordings of each specimen. After each leave has fully changed colors, we will compile our data on a VHS tape for presentation purposes.
Predictions:
§ In general, trees start to lose their leaves as early as the beginning of October. Many trees, however, do not start to lose their leaves for quite a while. In fact, it will most likely be the case that some trees in our sample area will still have their leaves (green or other) by the start of November.
§ The majority of leaves that fall will be of a brownish hue. We expect to witness the following colors of fallen leaves: brown, red, yellow, green, and orange. Conservative percentage guesses for the previous color categories are as follows:
Brown 49% Red 7% Yellow 22% Green 3% Orange 19%
§ The leaves of various species of trees obviously change color at different rates. In general, however, we expected it to take approximately 9 days for a leaf to change color.
§ We do expect to observe green leaves in our collection bins. We can prematurely attribute this to wind and human interference in our sample environment.
§ There will be a significant difference in the leaf fall totals for a collection bin within the forest versus one on the edge of the forest. This difference will be due to the concentration of trees within the forest as opposed to the lack of trees at the edge of the forest.
§ We expect the third week in October to experience the heaviest leaf fall. We base this prediction on our assumption that the leaf fall process will be at its peak during that week.
§ Although an extremely difficult task, we will make predictions as to the total number of leaves fallen for the sample area and for all of Western Woods for the month of October. For our sample area (65'x50'), we estimate the total leaf fall for the month to be 1,200 leaves. For all of Western Woods, we estimate the total leaf fall for the month to be 165,000 leaves.
§ Different types of weather will have an impact on rate of leaf fall. We expect the leaf fall on windy and rainy days to be greater than on normal weather days. Both wind and rain will expedite the leaf fall process by aiding the leaves in their departure from the tree to which they are attached.
The following is a list of websites that the group has been using for reference as we progress through our lab:
www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/leaves/leaves.htm
(basic information)
www.mtp.semi.harris.com/fall.html
(an in-depth site link-based site)
www.dnr.state.oh.us/odnr/color/.
(Ohio foliage site)
www.weather.com/fall
(Weather Channel site)
Please respond with any questions or comments.
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