Ecology Field Study

Description

Students will work in teams to investigate and evaluate the ecological health and ecological services at Riverbend. This introduction involves two field studies that are designed to give students a thorough experience of data collection and analysis.

You can choose two of the following:
1) Aboveground carbon sequestration of Riverbend's trees: Students learn how beneficial trees are for managing carbon levels in the atmosphere. Students measure the mass of trees in a plot and convert that to the amount of carbon stored.
2) Stream health: Students look at biotic indicators (macroinvertebrates and riparian buffers), and chemical and physical indicators (temperature, clarity, pH) to evaluate the health of Saw Mill Run, the stream running through Riverbend's property.
3) Riverbend's plant diversity: Students identify plants in a plot and measure the diversity and level of native species present. They will also have a chance to see restoration methods used on the preserve.

During the program students will use science skills such as evaluating evidence, modeling phenomena, and peer discussion. This program is designed for students in high school or advanced middle schoolers.