1. Production and Reproduction
Teacher Quality Grant
“Enhancing Elementary Teachers' Content Knowledge of Ecosystems across Georgia”
Production and Reproduction

2. Photosynthesis N photosynthesis
What do the plants do with their sugar (glucose)? N
photosynthesis
Try to grow and reproduce!

3. There are a lot of different growth points on trees!
Allocation
There are a lot of different growth points on trees!

4. Roots Feeder roots to acquire water and nutrients,
coarse roots to provide support and storage.
Measurement:
Ingrowth Cores
Rhizotrons
Install root-free soil contained in a mesh bag and let the roots grow into it over time
(remove with a knife).
Place a plexi-glass window in the soil and let the roots grow along it over time (keep it dark).

5. Roots Feeder roots to acquire water and nutrients,
coarse roots to provide support and storage.
Measurement:
Ingrowth Cores
Rhizotrons
Both approaches allow seasonal assessments of feeder root growth.
+ Easy set up
- Feeder roots only
- Not too visual
+ Visual
- Feeder roots only
- Involved set up

6. Trunk and Branches Support for leaves. Measurement:
Allometric Equations: estimate tree weight based on diameter and height.
Tree height (H) measured with a clinometer.
Clinometers measure height based on the distance from the tree.
Clinometers don’t have to be expensive.
+ Easy to use
- Some are expensive

7. Trunk and Branches Support for leaves. Measurement:
Allometric Equations: estimate tree weight based on diameter and height.
Trunk diameter (D) measured with a D-tape.
Report diameters based on circumference.
It is standard practice to measure diameter 4.5 feet above the ground surface - DBH

8. Trunk and Branches Support for leaves. Measurement:
Allometric Equations: estimate tree weight based on diameter and height.
Tree height (H) measured with a clinometer.
Trunk diameter (D) measured with a D-tape.
The equation can be used once to see how much a tree weighs, or many times to see how much weight the tree gains over time.
Tree Weight (pounds) = 0.19 * H * D2

9. Trunk and Branches Support for leaves. Measurement:
Dendrometer Bands: follow the change in tree diameter over time.
+ Easy to use
- Some are expensive
Tree trunks grow laterally rather (than vertically), and dendrometer bands expand with lateral growth.

10. Trunk and Branches Support for leaves. Measurement:
Increment Cores: use ring analysis to measure tree age and growth.
Pine trees in our area develop distinct annual growth rings.
Each year, pines add 2 rings:
• Early wood (light)
• Late wood (dark)
Both types of wood are made of the same cells – tracheids.
• Early wood tracheids
large diameter
thin walls
developed in the Spring
• Late wood tracheids
small diameter
thick walls
developed in the Summer

11. Trunk and Branches Support for leaves. Measurement:
Increment Cores: use ring analysis to measure tree age and growth.
Pine trees in our area develop distinct annual growth rings.
Each year, pines add 2 rings:
• Early wood (light)
• Late wood (dark)
Both types of wood are made of the same cells – tracheids.
An increment borer can be used to remove a small core without harming the tree (too much).
+ Pretty easy to use
Borers are expensive
Rings are harder to see in hardwoods

12. - Can’t go back too many years
Twigs (Small Stems)
Support for leaves.
Measurement:
Terminal Bud Scale Scar Analysis: use the distance between terminal bud scale scars to measure annual twig growth.
+ Pretty easy
- Can’t go back too many years

13. Photosynthesis and reproduction!
Leaves, Cones, and Seeds
Photosynthesis and reproduction!
Measurement:
Litter Traps: catch “litterfall” in a defined area.
Knowing the area of the trap allows you to scale the estimate up to a tree or areal basis.
The “litter” can be sorted into: • needles
• cones
• seeds
• other (branches)
counted, and weighed.
+ Easy
- Very seasonal

14. Pines (and other conifers) reproduce using cones!
Pine Life Cycle
Pines (and other conifers) reproduce using cones!
Male (Staminate) Cones
Female (Ovulate) Cones
Small & fleshy
1st year
Produce pollen
2nd year immature
Plant sperm
2nd year mature
Why are male cones usually located lower on the tree than the female cones?

15. Pine Life Cycle Pines (and other conifers) reproduce using cones!
Most other plants reproduce using flowers!
Flowering plants use animals for pollination!

16. Pine Life Cycle Pines (and other conifers) reproduce using cones!
Most other plants reproduce using flowers!
Flowering plants use animals for pollination!
Carrion plant flowers look and smell like rotting meat, attracting scavenging flies
Some orchid flowers look like female wasps, attracting male wasps
Some associations are very specific.
Fly on Stapelia lepida flower
Wasp pseudocopulating with Chiloglottis trapeziformis flower

17. Pine Life Cycle Pines (and other conifers) reproduce using cones!
Most other plants reproduce using flowers!
Petals (corolla) advertise to specific animals
• Animals visit to drink nectar and bump into pollen producing stamen.
• Pollen grains stick to the animals
• When the animals visit another flower, the pollen is transferred to the stigma.
Efficient pollination!
Compare to wind-based pollination in conifers

18. Pine Life Cycle Pines (and other conifers) reproduce using cones!
Most other plants reproduce using flowers!
American Robin
After pollination and fertilization, the ovary develops into a fruit
Scientific name =
Turdus migratorius
Efficient seed dispersal!
Compare to wind-based dispersal in conifers
Fruits promote seed dispersal.
Plant diversity is very high under powerlines!

19. Credits:
Photosynthesis:
Excavated Tree:
Ingrowth Core:
Ingrowth Core in Field:
Rhizotron:
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Clinometer:
Geometry Figure:
Forestry Supplier Clinometer:
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Kids with Clinometers:
DBH Measurement:
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D-Tape:
DBH Measurement:
Dendrometer Bands:
Trunk with Bicycle:
Pine Cross-section:
Tracheid Micrograph:
Increment Corer:
Increment Core:
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Twig Figure:
Twig Picture: 5cjA3orNAhWBfCYKHbJ6BC4Q_AUIBigB#tbm=isch&q=twig+terminal+bud+scale+scars&imgrc=xGuTr7PYhEthVM %3A
Litter Traps:
Pine Life Cycle:

20. Credits:
First Year Ovulate Cone:
Second Year Immature Ovulate Cone:
Second Year Mature Ovulate Cone:
Pine Seed:
Staminate Pine Cone:
Winged Pine Seed:
Pollination Collage: varied sources
Fly on Flower:
Wasp Pseudocopulating with Flower:
Flower Parts Figure:
Red Flower with Honeybee:
Honeybee Covered in Pollen:
Pollen Grain:
Stigma with Pollen:
American Robin Eating Berry: photography/
Birds on a Powerline: