nerds 2012 pre-session #2 content lecture: flora and fauna experimental design
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NERDS 2012 Pre-Session #2 Content Lecture: Flora and Fauna Experimental Design. Jennifer Hollander. Ecosystems, again Elevation at Portola ~4800 feet. Whitebark pine/ white fir. Lodgepole forest. Jeffrey pine. Plant adaptations in this region. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
NERDS 2012 Pre-Session #2
Content Lecture: Flora and Fauna
Experimental Design
Jennifer Hollander
2
Ecosystems, againElevation at Portola ~4800 feet
Lodgepole forest
Whitebark pine/ white fir
Jeffrey pine
Plant adaptations in this region• Ideal for conifers: numerous species, specially
adapted• Many plants have shallow root systems to
absorb moisture from snowmelt• Hot summers and cold winters– Conifers have needles to withstand moisture loss– Many shrubs have waxy coating on the leaves
• Fire adaptations– Historic fires every 10 – 20 years, low-intensity
ground fires• Adaptions for seed dispersal
Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
• 3 needles per fascicle• Long needles (4-8”)• Cones about 5” long
with sharp prickle on end (medium sized)
• Seeds winged, smaller than Jeffrey or sugar pine seeds
Jeffrey Pine(Pinus jeffreyi)
• 3 needles (long)• Cones larger (6-9
in) with inward barbs
• Larger seeds, with wings
• “vanilla” scent???
Ponderosa vs. Jeffrey
Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana)
• Very long cones (~20 in)• 5 needled pine• Mid-elevation• Very large, dark seeds with
frail wings
Western White Pine(Pinus monticola)
• Long, cylindrical cones
• Large winged seeds• Needles ~3” long and
5 in a bundle• High elevation
Whitebark Pine(Pinus albicaulis)
• Very high elevation (sub-alpine)
• 5-needled pine• Cones purple when
ripe, don’t open
Lodgepole Pine(Pinus contorta)
• Needles short (~2” long) and in bundles of 2
• Cones small and have sharp prickles
• serotinous cones
Fir Trees(Abies spp.)
• Cones disintegrate when mature, stalk remains on tree
• Soft needles
White Fir
Red Fir
Douglas-fir
• Not a true fir…• Different cone
shape• Cones drop from
the tree
Bush Chinquapin(Castanopsis sempervirens)
• Shrub ~4 ft tall with slender, pointed leaves
• Spiny cupule enclosing 3 seeds
Greenleaf Manzanita(Arctostaphylos patula)
• Twisted reddish-brown stems
• Oval, flat, shiny leaves
Tobacco Brush(Ceanothus velutinus)
• Oval leaves with serrated edges
• White flowers• Seeds ballistically
dispersed
Common berry-producing shrubs:
Sierra currant
Sierra gooseberry ServiceberryElderberry
Common threats to vegetation
Mistletoe
Pine beetle
Blister rust
Adaptations by animals to living in the local climate (migrate, hibernate or tolerate)
• Behavioral adaptations:– Burrowing– Altering active times of day • Diurnal• Nocturnal• Crepuscular
– Others• Physiological adaptations:– Entering torpor or hibernation
Yellow-pine chipmunk• 36 – 50 grams (smaller
than others in its range)• Drab brown
Lodgepole chipmunk
• 60-75 grams (medium sized)
• More brightly colored
Long-eared chipmunk
Townsend’s chipmunk
80 – 100 grams
100+ grams
Golden-mantled ground squirrel(Spermophilus lateralis)
• Striped back, but no facial stripes
• Golden-brown neck and shoulders
Deer mice
• Nocturnal• Tan/grey back and
head, white underneath
• Large ears• Hanta virus
Common Freshwater Insect Larvae
• Mayflies – Order Ephemeroptera• Stoneflies – Order Plecoptera• Caddisflies – Order Trichoptera• Midges – Order Diptera, Family Chironomidae• Dragonflies/damselflies – Order Odonata
Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)
• Identification of Larvae– Long posterior filaments
(ususally 3)– Gills on first seven abdominal
segments• Adults vestigial, live for
hours to days, non-feeding, reproduction only.– Hold wings vertically at rest– Second set of wings smaller
than first
Plecoptera (Stoneflies)
• Identification of Larvae– Two long cerci (appendages) on
posterior end– Elongate flattened body
• Adults – Elongate antennae– 10 abdominal segments– Wings long, membranous, and
fold over an around abdomen at rest.
Trichoptera (Caddisflies)• Identification of Larvae– Caterpillar-like, build and live in
cases (silk + debris)– Generally six legs on first three
(thoracic) segments– Abdominal prolegs on terminal
segment.• Adults– Moth-like, but body and wings
with short hairs– Wings tented (roof-like) in
vertical plane cover abdomen at rest.
– Long antennae
Odonata (dragonflies/damselflies)
• Identification of larvae– Long, hinged labium– Large compound eye– Short antennae
• Adults
Chironomidae (midges)
• Identification of larvae– Worm-like– C-shaped– No true legs, but two pairs of
prolegs (one anterior, one posterior)
• Adults – Flies
Experimental Design
• Basic Requirements of an Experiment– Different treatments are administered to different
groups of subjects.
– What does this mean in practical terms?
Experimental Design
• Treatment– A classification, category, or factor.
• Group of Subjects– A sample– Numerical counts of key metrics
• Finally, replication is needed for statistical power– Sample replication– Treatment replication
Case Study #1
Case Study #2
• Seed removal transect• 3 sites (habitats)• 5 treatments (species)• 300 “stations”– 60 replicates of each treatment