LIVING ON THE EDGE:

A Study of Populations and Diversity

BY
Bob Steingreaber       Jeff Roe
Van Buren Community Schools
Keosauqua, Iowa 52565
 
 

Hypothesis :  Plant species diversity and total plant population increase as a result of edge effect.

 
 

Testing the Hypothesis

    Quadrants bordering cropland or pasture land will be selected, and we will identify every tree species encountered within that quadrant. Species composition and diversity would be compared among quadrants collected at the forest edge, along the transect, into the forest interior . Quantitative emphasis would be on plant species, but composition and diversity of animals would be noted as well.  The numerical data will be entered into a spreadsheet application, imported into a graphing application and a scientific visualization program such as Spyglass.    We hope to incorporate other concepts that we will learn about here at the institute.
 
 

Transfer

    This  is an example of "project-based" learning.  We hope to take the project design process and incorporate it into many aspects of our classes.  This particular project also demonstrates a shared discipline concept- Mathematics, Science, Language Arts, and Instructional Technology are all important components of this project.  The integration of the various disciplines, with the production of a final product, is a model that will serve us well when we return to our home district.
   The project model will be used to identify different plant communities, but we would like to extend it into animal communities as well.  We are especially interested in developing local  population projects based on wildlife and human interaction.

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