Investigating Ecosystems with Vegetation: A Plant Biology Lab
Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2019, Volume 40
Brandy Garrett Kluthe & Christina Mortellaro
Abstract
The Investigating Ecosystems with Vegetation Lab will provide students the opportunity to actively engage in observational research. Students will practice field sampling techniques, interpret cover class and coarse woody debris results, and to utilize data collected to interpret the ecology of a specific ecosystem. In teams, students will sample from two areas, a forested area and outside of a forested cover area (open canopy). Cover class data and coarse woody debris (CWD) will be collected to understand ecosystems. The Daubenmire method will be used to collect cover class data that include forbs, grasses, woody shrubs, and sedges. This tool is useful for a variety of educational levels because students can easily learn to identify classes of plants without species specific knowledge. The composition of the ground cover in a specific area can provide information about the specific ecosystem under investigation. This can include information about soil health, climate and other species that inhabit the sample area. Students will apply their findings to compare similar ecosystems in order to gather insight into the differences between them and to help monitor changing habitats. This lab can be adapted for an introductory course for both biology and non- biology majors or as an upper level biology course.
Keywords: ecology, Inquiry-based learning, forests, vegetation, field sampling
