SEE-U 2000: Black Rock Forest - Module 6:Exercise 6

## General Methadology for Instructors and TAs

## Exercise 6: Producers—Measuring Photosynthesis in Forest Ecosystem
Module 6: Producers: The Basis of Ecosystems

1. Background Lecture:
   - Introduction to ecosystem material and energy flow
   - Role of producers
   - Photosynthesis—reaction equation
   - Plant morphology enabling psn—leaf structure in vascular plants
   - Plant use of photosynthate—maintenance respiration, growth, etc.
   - GPP vs. NPP
   - Geographic distribution of terrestrial and marine production.
   - Google Search: Photosynthesis
2. Activities in the experiment:
   This is a field exercise using a local moisture gradient to demonstrate soil moisture effect on plant species distribution. We will focus on the Glycerine Hollow area of BRF and three tree species, Chestnut Oak, Red Oak and Red Maple. In addition, an understory vegetation survey will be conducted to demonstrate the secondary affect of soil moisture on plant community diversity.
3. Questions are:
   - How does soil moisture affect primary production as reflected by total carbon estimates of three tree species?
   - How does resource availability affect understory plant community diversity?
4. Independent variable
   - Moisture availability—inferred from landscape position, biome type, soil moisture data from K. Griffin
5. Dependent variables
   - Total plant carbon estimates
6. Student evaluation
   - Students will be evaluated based on write-up, group oral presentation and participation in discussion.

Authors: A. Hoylman, K. Griffin and T. Kittel