We just finished learning about the carbon cycle. I don't remember learning about it, but I'm sure that I did.... interestingly, the amount of carbon entering the atmosphere was not as great as I had imagined. Although, there is still an imbalance caused by human activity. I am wondering how scientists calculated the amount of carbon going in and out of the atmosphere? What exactly is a pedogram? How many tons? How can I change my practices to decrease carbon going into the atmosphere? How can the developed world create policy to change this? Could we plant a certain number and type of plant to balance out the cycle again?
Thinking about the research project... Does the beaver pond at BHW hold carbon? Rivers and oceans were included in the diagram but not ponds or lakes. Another idea I had was to determine which pond critters lived at various water levels in the beaver pond or in a wetland? Does temperature and light effect which organisms live where? How do these organisms interact with one another and the pond community in general?
Today we were led on a tracking expedition with Dan from White Pines Camp through Temposi Natural Area. What always amazes me is the amount of knowledge you need to have about plants, animals, insects... to read the environment. I guess you could have a little knowledge and build upon it through experience, but just to know the behaviors of each organism and how that effects the land around it is immense.
Upon the hike we explored off the trail through the woods and on wet areas. One thing that stuck out was the different types of insect/plant activities that we saw. Sawfly pupal casings were on a black birch, a strange horn-like gull on a witchhazel bush, white oak gull, oak twig pruner that killed twigs, carpenter ants inside the trunk of white pine, and slug trails on a beech tree.
Scat was abundant today. Herbivores have round poop; such as deer, rabbit, porcupine, and moose. The latrines we found were amazing and not stinky! There was an enormous porcupine latrine found at the bottom of its black gum tree home. The light brown, oval scat was deep and turning into soil. Porcupines will sleep in tree trunks with their bums downward, so their quills deter a predator from attacking. Another latrine we found today was that of raccoon. They like to use areas next to large trees which are also next to water. The scat we found was the size of small dog scat and dark in color. Scat is used as a message system to communicate to other raccoons.
I need to look up black gum, sweet pepper bush, goldthread.... bark is an area of identification that I need to become stronger.
Lastly, we found an amazing white pine tree which was being used by many organisms. Carpenter ants had begun to eat/move (?) its heartwood and sapwood leaving the tree hollow, but the cambrium intake. Woodpeckers began to eat the carpenter ants, which left holes in the tree. This hole became a hole for a flying squirrel, which also used the home for a latrine. Scarib beetles made larva casings out of this scat. It was really just amazing that so many organisms can utilize an ecosystem I consider so small, but is really very large to them all. Much signficant activity can go on in such a small space.
It is wonderful that you are motivated by these activities and asking questions (checking on plant IDs etc.). This is the impact of an inquiry-based approach. You are experiencing it.
ReplyDeleteI really like how many questions you asked, and how a lot of the questions led to new questions. I often have some of the same questions, and I'm glad that we can explore some of these with our inquiry project. I was also impressed with the way that Dan Gardoqui seemed to be able to just tune in and read the wilderness.
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