Species Abundance on Nurse Logs Jason Lee Middle School Team Umizoomie

Introduction Our Research Question: What species do we find most abundant on nurse logs in an old growth forest, red huckleberry, western hemlock, salal, or fungi? Our Hypothesis: We believe that there will be more abundant red huckleberry because we observed many previously and we believe it is easiest for them to grow on the nurse logs. (We did not all agree on our hypothesis)

Definitions Nurse Log: A tree that has died and fallen and is now providing a great place for plants to grow. Old Growth: A forest that has not undergone any changes in the last 150 years. Foxy Tail: A piece of cloth with a ball attached to one end used to ensure randomness in locating a population to study.

Materials Foxy tail: To use a foxy tail, close your eyes, and spin 3 times. After the 3rd turn, throw the foxy tail and go to the closest nurse log to where it landed. Flagging: Take your flag and put it next to your nurse log. Measuring Tape: To measure 3 ½ feet on our nursing log. This is the part of the log we will be studying.

Methods Each divide research team into small groups. Each group will go on different trails or paths into the old growth forest. On trail, use foxy tail to locate nurse log. Measure 3 ½ feet on nurse log to find the 4 species. Record the number of each species (red huckleberry, western hemlock, salal, and fungi) on the nurse log. Repeat steps 3-5 25 paces farther down trail.

Data Red Huckleberry Western Hemlock Salal Fungi

Results Our hypothesis was not supported by our evidence.

Limitations Some logs did not have many species. We only studied 6 logs. We also only studied 3 ½ feet of those 6 logs. We may have miscounted plant species. We may have misidentified some species. There were some unknown species. We could not identify everything, we only focused on 4 species. We were limited on time. There were more trails to look at that we did not traverse.

Discussion We would do differently…. More time efficient Study the whole log Study more logs ID more plants growing on the logs A question that came up was what kind of conclusions would we come up with if we compared out data with that of a new growth forest?

Larger Implications Our results would be supported nation wide Fungi are the most abundant on nurse logs – future studies may include what species of fungi dominates the logs and why.

Thank You! Questions? Banner, John, Saafir, Denver, Penelope, Kyla, Sav, Shunel, Rhonda, Mara Leigh, Maeve, Phelan