Living on the Edge: Trees of Western Woods

This topic submitted by Jessica Brown, Amy Barton, Elissa Masin, and Jill Greenwood (BROWNJL1@muohio.edu) at 11:01 PM on 10/16/02. Additions were last made on Wednesday, December 10, 2008. Section: Negron-Ortiz

Natural Systems 1 Fall, 2002 -Western Program-Miami University

Living on the Edge: Trees of Western Woods
Jessica Brown, Amy Barton, Elissa Masin, and Jill Greenwood

Introduction
While walking through Western Woods we observed that the forest community on the edge was different from that growing farther in the forest. Even on our short walk in Western Woods, we recognized differences between vegetation composition in the two areas. An edge is described as a meeting place between two habitats. From this we developed our hypothesis. We believe that the trees, herbaceous plants within the forest will be older and have a larger circumference than those that grow on the edge of the forest. We also expect to find a greater variety of species growing inside the forest of Western Woods. Therefore, we expect the trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants on the edge of the forest to be younger, have a smaller circumference, and a less diversity of species. We feel this is a good question for us to research because we have the means to accomplish this task at hand. While we know there may be many different aspects of the trees and forest that could be tested, such as the height, due to our limited knowledge, resources, and time, we feel this is a reasonable task for us to undertake. Thoughout this experiment, while discovering the differences in Western Woods around the Western Lodge, we also hope to gain knowledge about this topic because edge effects are such a widespread problem in the world today. We find this interesting because there is so much deforestation happening, and we realize that the loss of trees is worse than society understands. Society doesn't understand that the driving forces behind edge effects are human interactions. Forests are a big part of global change. Besides the part played in the world's ecosystems, forests are very valuable to human for many resources, like food, medicine, and genetic information. Global change like that caused by edge effects will affect humans through all that humans rely on forests for (Hansen 2001).
Relevance of Our Research Question
To get a better understanding of what edge effects truly are, we looked for other sources to explain this term. An edge is described as a meeting point of two habitats; "the egological effects that occur at the boundaries of ecosystems. These include changes in species composition, gradients of moisture, sunlight, soil, and air temperature, wind speed...many edge effect have negative consequences." (Natural Areas 2000). The edge of a forest affects the overall forest structure, leaf fall, and the composition of the species that live there. Trees that live near the edge are usually killed by this change and a new type of species begins to live on the edge (Gascon 2000).
A woodland area is created by two different habitats, an edge habitat and an interior habitat. These two habitats are considerably different. The interior habitat has not been touched by the edge effects, while the edge has been. This edge habitat can reach from a few to several hundred feet into the woods (Land-Use Planning 2002). A study showed the importance of this problem. Bradely Graham, an author from the United Kingdom, wrote a letter to an organization about this issue. Law does not protect eighty-five percent of ancient woodlands. These woodlands could be cut down or otherwise destroyed. The remained fifteen percent are only under a status of ñSite of Special Scientific Interest.î One idea given to help prevent these habitats from being destroyed is to get up buffer zones, areas that cannot be changed (Graham 2002).
A group of researchers investigated woodland edges at various distances from other habitats. They compared highways, projected reserves, and accessible public lands. Edges were tested less than two hundred fifty feet, between two hundred fifty-one and six hundred feet, and greater than six hundred feet away from the effected habitat. They found that the edge effects were a high edge, a moderate edge, and low to no edge, respectively. A high edge is a point where edge effects are great. A moderate edge would have effects but no as great as those of a high edge. A low edge would have very little effects. The study, however, also shows that these intervals were for this specific experiment, and that though they have value pertaining to other experiments, they are not one hundred percent accurate (MSHCP 2002).
Edge effects are wide spread and have the possibility of affecting every person on earth.. Through research we have found that the study of this problem is not without precedent. We as a study team hope to discover more about this topic through our own research.

Inside Western Woods

Materials and Methods
We will be testing our hypothesis that the vegetation composition and especially trees within the forest will be older, have a larger circumference, and will have a greater species diversity by using transects. We will conduct five transects twenty meters long and one meter wide each across the edge of the Western Woods by Western Lodge. We will leave two meters between each transect. Within each transect we will measure the circumference of each tree, determine the age of the tree, and identify the species of each tree, along with identifying shrubs and herbaceous species along the edge. The point at which we will measure the circumference will be one meter above the ground. After collecting all the needed data from the edge of the forest, we will measure fifty meters into the forest, taking the same data from the vegetation composition that fall within one meter of the fifty line. We will only be collecting data from those trees that are over one meter in height. For those that fall under this one-meter, we will simply record the total number.
Our sample will be statistically sound because we are testing a large sample of species. We will be going deep enough into the woods to be sure that our second tree line will not be impacted by edge effects.
The first section of our study will sample the trees, shrubs and herbaceous species that have experienced edge effects. We need a large sample from the edge to reach a sound conclusion, thus testing a total of one hundred meters across the forest edge, giving us a sufficient sample.
The second part of our study we will sample species within the forest that are unaffected by the edge effects. This is important so we have a large number untainted to compare to those species that have experienced the edge effects.
We observe that trees in a natural setting do not grow in straight lines. For this reason, we will be testing an area on each side of the line on the edge and the line fifty meters in to the woods to get a good sampling.
One set of data we will be collecting from the plant is the circumference. We will be doing this because the available equipment allows this data to be collected, and we will answer our hypothesis. We will also be testing the age of trees because we have a device to do so, and once again, it is good for comparison with the results we will find with testing the circumference. Along with the circumference and age, we will be determining the species of the trees, made possible by tree guides.
One aspect we will not be testing that could be sampled is the height of the trees. We will not be doing this because it is not feasible and will not answer our hypothesis.
Along with our knowledge, we asked for advice from our professor, Dr. Vivian Negron-Ortiz and our teaching assistants. Their advice gave us insight on the best sampling methods and how many of these samplings we should do.
Our results will be unbiased. We will not be conducting a random sampling method, making the results more impartial. All of the data we will be collecting is scientific, measurements instead of judgments.
For our lab we will need three main materials. The first item we will need is a measuring tape. This will be used to measure the circumference of the tree, along with the distance into the woods for the second sampling line. The second article we need is device to determine the age of the tree. The third vital item is a book to help us identify plant species.
The class will be helping us to collect our data. We will show them how to measure the circumference of the trees along with identifying the species. To make sure that the data collected by our peers is reliable and consistent, we will first give a demonstration of the measuring techniques. We will also supervise the data collecting to make sure the class is using proper methods.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS- STUDENT GENERATED LABS

Week 8:
Saturday & Sunday October 5th and 6th
* Measure and plot the transects to be studied
* Meet as a group to collect data in forest,
measure circumference of trees
Tuesday & Thursday October 8th and 10th
* Class helps to study transects already plotted
* Post critical reviews
* Post progress reports
Week 9:
* Collect any more info needed
* Post progress reports
* Meet with peer science tutor if necessary
Week 10:
* Work on analyzing the data
* Post progress reports
* Meet with peer science tutor if necessary
Week 11:
* Post progress reports
* Meet with peer science tutor if necessary
Week 12:
* Post critical reviews
* Post progress reports
* Meet with peer science tutor if necessary
Week 13:
* Post progress reports
* Meet with peer science tutor if necessary
Week 14:
* Post progress reports
* Meet with peer science tutor if necessary
Week 15:
* Post progress reports
* Finalize everything
* Meet with peer science tutor if necessary
Week 16:
* Download the Help Sheet
* Final report preparation
* LABS DUE!!!!
-Post to web
-Make Mac copy on floppy disk
-Include a paper copy

Data Sheet 1:
Edge of Forest Saplings Honeysuckle
Transect Number

Tree Species Age Circumference

100 meters into forest Saplings Honeysuckle
Transect Number

Tree Species Age Circumference

Data Sheet 2:

List of Works Cited:
Gascon, Claude. "Receding Forest Edge and Vanishing Reserves." Science. May 2000: page 1356.
Graham, Bradley. ñLetter to Woodland Trust.î 8 Feb 2002. 24 Sept. 2002.

Hansen, Andrew J., Robert P. Neilson, Virginia H. Dale, Curtis H. Flather, Louis R. Iverson, David J. Currie, Sarah Shafer, Rosamonde Cook, Patrick J. Bartlein. "Global Change in Forests: Responses of Species, Communities, and Biomes." Bioscience. Sept 2001: pages 765-780
Natural Areas: Protecting a Vital Community Asset; glossary.î 19 April 2000. 24 Sept.
2002.

ñLand-Use Planning in Oak Woodland.î Integrated hardwood Range Management
Program. Update 2000. 24 Sept 2002.

ñThe MSHCP Reference Document.î Riverside Co. Integrated Project. Update 2000. 24
Sept 2002.