Gymnázium Globe, s.r.o. Svět práce – Projekt krajina The Tree Ring Project Gymnázium Globe, s.r.o. Svět práce – Projekt krajina

The aim of the research is to demonstrate how the amount of precipitation influences the growth of trees and increases biomass

In order to fulfill the task we involved students of our school in realisation of this project

School area

Gymnázium Globe We have an advantage - our school is located only a few metres from a forest park, so one part of our work can be held there. The students are happy that they can be outside for a while. Most of the students involved in this project are mainly between 13 to 15 years old. Last year we participated in a conference held in Croatia, in Baška. After this conference, we added dendrology to educational programmes at our school. We also have our twin schools in Daruvar in Croatia and Pomezí in the Czech Republic.

Working with Pressler gimlet

Collecting samples Here you can see how students are collecting samples prom pines, which are growing in that forest park I mentioned before. You can see some snow on the ground, even though, this photo was taken in April, weather conditions were as if it was winter.

Collecting samples After we had collected the samples, we put a thin wooden stick in each hole made in the pine tree. This was done to preserve the tree and protect it against infection

Samples processing

Samples processing Here we can see the further process with the samples, after collecting. This is also a lot of fun, especially for the smaller students. They are making competitions, who will have the best-looking and best readable tree rings.

Collected samples

Samples from the middle and the edge of the forest In this picture you can see two samples from pine trees. These samples are really different. We took both of them from the same forest, but one of them is taken from the edge of the forest, it is that sample at the bottom of the picture. The sample at the top of the picture was taken from the middle of the forest. The first sample from the edge was pretty easy to study, because the tree rings were big and easy to find, but the second one was different and more complicated in terms of its exploration.

Samples from the middle and the edge of the forest

Samples from the middle and the edge of the forest After examining the samples we came to the conclusion that conditions for the tree growth are harder in the middle of the forest, which resulted in a comparatively low increase of the biomass. Trees in the middle get less water, have less space and light which is the reason for their inhibitory growth.

Evaluation of the samples Pinus sylvestris

Growth of pines and amount of precipitation At the same time we have also decided to learn whether the amount of precipitation influences the growth of trees. For this purpose we used data from our school weather station. Our station has been operating since 1998. We also had at our command some data from the Czech Hydrometerological Institute. The average amount of precipitation in Brno is about 500 mm per year. In the years when the amount of precipitation was lower - about 350-400 mm (which was insufficient by 150 mm) we found out that the growth of trees slowed down . On the other hand, in really rainy years the growth exceeded the average

Summary We discovered, that the higher amount of precipitation has a positive impact on the growth of pines

Glossary IN THE PROCESS OF OUR PROJECT WE CAME ACROSS SOME SPECIFIC VOCABULARY : PINE - a pine is any conifer in the genus Pinus, of the family Pinaceae. PRESSLER GIMLET - an instrument resembling a drill used in denrology for making holes in trees

Glossary SAMPLE - a specimen or small quantity of something PERCIPITATION -  is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity WEATHER STATION - is a facility or with instruments and equipment for measuring atmospheric conditions 

Glossary BIODIVERSITY - generally refers to the variety and variability of life on Earth SPECIES - is the basic unit of biological classification and a taxonomic rank BIOLOGICAL LIFE CYCLE- is a series of changes in form that an organism undergoes

Worksheet

Sources http://www.globe.gov/globe-gov-home-portlet/images/banners/globe-program-logo.png http://www.naturfagsenteret.no/aim/naturfag3/files/1/8/d/7e23987a417ebadbab4d92b5013de504657b36d770/18d7e23987a417ebadbab4d92b5013de504657b36d770.png/Scale?geometry=210x60 https://IFE+BIOLOGY&title=Special:Search&go=Go&searchToken=