Investigating Native versus Exotic Species with Regard to Biodiversity

NH Conservation Moose Grant

Souhegan High School

Overview

“Tagging trees is fun!” -Jake Arcand
“I learned a lot by getting out into the field” -Stasia Fogg
“What we do affects the ecosystem so much” - Rose Lenahan

How humans relate with the natural world has deep cultural foundations.  Throughout the history of all civilizations, our species’ relationship with nature has given us art, music, verse, and science.  Today our global imperative is to understand nature and the implications of our relationship with regard to biological diversity.

The goal of this project is to enable high school students (1) to establish a permanent biodiversity monitoring project while (2) monitoring two congruent plots with regard to native versus exotic species in relation to terrestrial succession and biological diversity. The fundamental conservation grant question to be assessed by this project is documenting the difference in biological diversity in two congruent plots – one plot will be managed with only New Hampshire native species while the second plot will be left un-managed with its’ current population of introduced species.

Initially (April – May, 2004), students will use the protocol established by the Smithsonian Institute’s Man and the Biosphere’s Permanent Plot Program (SIMAB) to define and delineate the scope of the biodiversity of the two plots. The plots / survey will be conducted on school property (adjacent to Amherst Conservation Land). Spring, 2004 work would include surveying and mapping two permanent biodiversity plots (each plot would be 40 meters by 40 meters) for the comparison of biological diversity of native versus exotic species (already introduced). Students would note plant species density, frequency, and dominance figures, by plot.

In addition to the initial vegetation and soil surveys, students will include species located in each plot during four seasonal midpoints (with priority given to indicator species of insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and plants). Additionally, a network of high schools in New Hampshire will be contacted and invited to participate in a school habitat assessment (August & September, 2004). State-wide data on habitat conservation projects will be gathered and shared electronically with participating schools via “HabitatNet” a Souhegan High School conservation project already established and on the SHS website (www.sprise.com/shs/habitatnet/default.htm).

The project outcomes will include: (a) a student publication produced by students detailing student conservation projects that promote ecological stewardship through monitoring habitat at a permanent plot developed by this grant, and (b) the ongoing data base of species diversity indices in both the native and exotic species plots (both outcomes will be available by November, 2004 with updates posted on the website throughout the year(s) following the initial development).

Public visibility of the project and outcomes will be available at both the site (signage and published trail guide – completed by November, 2004) as well as electronically on the HabitatNet website.

Description: HABITATNET: MONITORING NEW HAMPSHIRE’S BIODIVERSITY

The focus of this project will explore the biological interdependence between habitat and wildlife.  High school students will have the opportunity to participate in a research/field program that will enable them “to make a difference” with respect to a global issue.  Beginning with local assessment of habitat and biodiversity, high school students will then develop a profile of native species and habitat needs as well as for a congruent plot that has introduced species.

Goals:

(1)   Establish two 40 meter by 40 meter permanent biodiversity plots :

(NH Plant Community Plot & Introduced/ Exotic Species Plot)

a.    survey soil and vegetation types in each plot,

b.    survey invertebrate and vertebrate species found in each,

c.     remove all introduced species in “NH Plant Community Plot”,

d.    and maintain a species data base on each of the two plots.

(2)   Monitoring the two plots with regard to native versus exotic species with regard to:

a.    terrestrial succession,

b.    and biological diversity.

Objectives:

Two 40 meter by 40 meter permanent biological monitoring plots will be established on school district land.  Souhegan High School (SHS) biology students participating in this project will first define the 40 meter by 40 meter quadrants using the Smithsonian Institute’s Monitoring & Assessment of Biodiversity protocols. (SIMAB). Initial work would include a tree census, by plot, to include tree dominance, frequency, and density statistics. Student teams would also be responsible for noting wildlife found within their assigned plots.

Defining wildlife in each plot would include both direct (sightings) and indirect (scat, tracks, disused nests, pellets) evidence. Both invertebrate and vertebrate data will be collected as well as the identification of botanical specimens found in each plot. Data sheets would be compiled by student teams and entered into the Smithsonian Institute’s Bio-monitoring Data Base for permanent plots. This data will also be available, with photographs, on the SHS HabitatNet website.

The project director, Daniel Bisaccio, is a conservation biology teacher at SHS as well as an  adjunct researcher for the Smithsonian Institution’s Monitoring & Assessment of Biodiversity Program (and serving on the SIMAB Caribbean - North America Steering Committee). He will teach /train students (at SHS and throughout the state) in the SIMAB protocols as well as in applying classroom knowledge of terrestrial succession to a field site assessment. The intent is for this project to become an ongoing curricular unit for NH students and teachers so that each year, more data will be collected and added to the accumulated data for analysis.

Results and Documentation:

Students from Souhegan High School will produce a field guide (printed and available on the school website-November, 2004) of their work. This will be used to continue the work, after the project funding ends, as a way to promote the ongoing projects that were initiated during the project period. Subsequent classes will then continue monitoring the permanent plots annually with reports submitted to the Amherst Conservation Commission. Recognition to the NH Conservation Number Plate Program will be acknowledged in both the print and website documentation as well as at the site. Additionally, the project director will present the project at area conferences (NH State Science Education Conferences and the Christa McCulliffe Technology Conference for interested educators with materials to begin a similar project).

· Methodology: SIMAB plant community sampling index, Ashton avian niche /trophic level sampling method, Simpson’s species diversity index, and bird / reptile / amphibian transect methodologies.