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Harvard Forest REU Symposium Abstract 2010
- Title: Soil Carbon Dynamics at Harvard Forest: Assessment of Spatial Relationships
- Author: Maya Thomas (University of Vermont (UVM))
- Abstract:
While many studies utilize random sampling as a way to have an unbiased representative view of their study area, this study bases its sampling locations on unique combinations of forest attributes. To create these unique combinations, the first step was to use geographic information systems (GIS) to identify the different stand types and soil drainage classes in Prospect Hill. These two layers were joined and the largest polygons of each combination (well drained red maple stand, very poorly drained mixed red oak stand, etc.) were selected for the preliminary sampling site map. The center points of the selected polygons were used as a guide to finding an appropriate sampling plot and a global positioning unit (GPS) was used to obtain the new site coordinates. Soil respiration, moisture, and temperature were measured every other week for four weeks at each site location. A weighted average soil respiration for all of Prospect Hill, as well as for each of the soil drainage classes, was then calculated. The first, third, and fourth weeks had average soil respiration rates around 5.0 μMol*m-2s-1, while the second week had a lower average of 3.7 μMol*m-2s-1. Well drained areas had higher soil respiration values than very poorly drained areas. Well drained areas also had the most contribution to the overall average because they took up more than fifty percent of Prospect Hill in area and had the highest soil respiration values. Understanding the spatial distribution of soil respiration within the predominate combinations of forest attributes is important to more accurately estimate soil carbon losses from forested systems
- Research Category: Group Projects; Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Figures: MATAbstract.pdf
