ABSTRACT

Our purpose was to assess the effect of a disturbed area on a primary forest. We did this by analyzing abiotic indicators which compared conditions ranging from those found in a primitive forest to those found in a disturbed area of land. Our sample site consisted of a meadow that was cleared as recently as three months ago and a primary forest. Our tests were taken in the disturbed area at a distance of ten meters from the edge, on the edge (defined as the beginning of the tree-line), five meters, ten meters, twenty two meters (we added two meters to negate the effect of the trail which was located at the twenty meter mark) and fifty meters in from the edge into the forest along a 300 degree transect line. We collected data on temperature, light (digital pictures were taken), relative humidity, wind velocity, soil pH and slope. Our results indicated that the pH decreased as it entered the forest and leveled off, the slope gradually increased going into the forest, light along the transect decreased at both levels, temperature increased irregularly at both levels, and relative humidity demonstrated an overall increase as you enter the forest. Our results indicate that the edge effect on pH and light was approximately 5 meters into the primary forest, indicated by a stabilizing pH and light penetration decline. Relative humidity was not impacted by edge effect and stabilized at the forest edge. The edge effect on temperature did not stabilize 50 meters into the forest. Additional readings are needed further into the forest to determine edge effect on temperature. Wind velocity remained at zero at all sites and therefore did not alter relative humidity and temperature readings. Further study would include more transects, days and times.

DATA

Digital Pictures

Site: 0 m Site: 10 m Site: 5 m

Site: -10 m Site: 20 m

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