Ecology at Clermont College















Julie Kegley
Logan Asbury
Carey Miller
Kristen Robinson
Amanda Thompson



Abstract

Soil and water testing, tree and animal analysis were conducted to document the present status of the South Maple environment to compare with future environmental changes of South Maple Creek.  Various testing of the area, such as water testing and soil testing,is for preparations to better the creek by ridding “junk” plants and adding others.  Soil testing documented the minerals found.  Water testing detected for oxygen levels and minerals.  Tree and animal surveys documented current populations for comparison to future changes.



Introduction

South Maple Creek needs improvement to enhance the conditions of the area.  It is invaded by Amur Honeysuckle and Black Locust. Soil and water conditions were documented.  Analysis of that area showed a low density of insects.  Soil analysis was done to determine what types of plants are able to grow there and what plants could be introduced with a promising chance of survival.  Tree analysis was used to determine what trees are dominant in the area, and what type of forest the area is.  Knowing the aspects of a body of water can help determine what kind of aquatic life can survive there and also provides answers about the aquatic organisms themselves.  This area is of ecological importance since it is a major community.  These experiments enable us to develop a better understanding and appreciation of this environment and the associated factors present.



Literature Review

In understanding the environment, sometimes the best place to look is not seen by the naked eye.  The elements which make up everything also affect the pH of soil and water.  Salt effects pH greatly.  Generally, an increase of salts causes an increase of pH of soil.  This effects the plants because when the pH is higher in soil the Carbon content tends to be higher. (Sardinha, 2003)  Too much can cause carbon poisoning.  Phosphorus reduces the presence of salt.  Too much salt can cause growth to be inhibited. (Tian, 2003)  Salt increases with the presence of nitrogen and carbon, which usually correspond with each other. (Sardinha, 2003)  As the amount of carbon increases, so does nitrogen as seen in table 1.  Both are found varied in soil depth and distance from the tree. (Kaur, 2000)  The pH can be lowered when a plant performs photosynthesis since that process produces hydrogen ions which cause acidic reactions. (www.greenmanspage.com)  The Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) describes the area as CcC2, RpC2, and EbC2 which shows that that area has some silt loam and is in a state of eroding. (clermontswcd.org) 



Water can determine how the environment reacts to outside factors.  Clermont has about 27.94 cm of runoff (McKee, 2005).  Large amounts of that runoff contains “sediment, nutrients, acids and salts, heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and pathogens” (Smith)  This comes from “automobile emissions, runoff from parking lots”. (Smith)  These same water sources make up much of the public water system.



Methods and Materials

Compass and meter tapes were used to map the perimeter of South Maple Creek woods.  A soil test kit, including tests for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and pH, were used to analyze the soil in Morel Hill and South Maple Creek woods; which were then compared.  The percentage of variously-sized soil particles were also calculated, (Carter, 1991).  A random pair’s tree analysis and flora and fauna sampling were also performed with meter tape and diameter tree tape.



Data


Random Pair Tree Analysis


  Pair Number  

 Species 1    Diameter 
 Species 2    Diameter 
  Distance  
1  

Ash    25.5
Ash    21.23
15.4 m  
2  

Cherry    14
Cherry    6.5
8.84 m  
3  

Red Maple    7.2
Cherry    11.26
9.14 m  
4  

Elm    9.5
Elm    7.25
3.75m  
5  

Elm    11.0
Elm    12.75
3.96m  
6  

Elm    16.0
Ash    15.0
5.8m  
7  

Hickory    5.8
Osage Orange    4.8
2.72m  
8  

Osage Orange    5.4
Wild Cherry    4.9
6.01m  
9  

Elm    2.3
Wild Cherry    5.8
1.56m  
10  

Osage Orange    3.8
Buckeye    5.7
2.52m  
11  

Ash    6.3
Honey Locust    8.7
1.27m  



Water Analysis


  Chloride Content Hardness Dissolved
Oxygen
pH
Pond 0.1064gmCl/LH20 128ppmCaCO3 5.96mL 6.5
Creek 0.1773gmCl/LH20 214.75ppmCaCO3 8.04mL 7.0


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Invertebrate Sampling


Species

South Maple Creek

Ponds

Earthworm

9

4

Spider

7

0

Pill bug

22

4

Centipede

1

0

Millipede

1

0

Springtail

9

0

Cricket

1

0

Butterfly

1

0

Ants

32

0

Snail

1

0

Toad

1

11

Bird

4

3









Soil Analysis

The soil survey for Morel Hill was found to be a pH of 5.5; phosphorus was trace-low, nitrogen high, potassium very high, soil was a clay loam and 23.342% of the soil was supernatant.  















Summary



















            South Maple Creek is a large area that is doing well.  The soil test showed that the area is clay loam.  The pH is at a state which is good for the area which is shown in the flourish and growth of the plants in the area, which is one reason why the Amur Honeysuckle is taking over and must be removed.  The animal populations seem to do well in the area and there are plenty of all the essential animals needed to interact in this major community.  However, Shelford’s Law of Tolerance is happening in the area with Amur Honeysuckle.  The community can be taken over by too much Amur Honeysuckle and suffer great loss of other plant and animal life.  The runoff could cause toxic poisons to get into the soil and negatively affect the wildlife.  Wild Cherry and Elm trees were the most abundant in the South Maple Creek Forest area, meaning that the nutrients in the soil are suitable for these trees.  The canopy was relatively scattered, while the understory was thick until the Amur Honey Suckle was removed.  The herbaceous layer was improved due to the adding of various plants including: sweet cicily, celandine poppie, wild blue phlox, toadshade trillium, wild ginger, rue anemone, mayapple, blood root, jack in the pulpit, pepper and salt, appendaged water leaf, dwarf larkspur, and fire pink.  The fact that the Amur Honey Suckle was taken out, increased sunlight to the herbaceous layer will allow these plants to flourish. 






























References


Carter, Janet. http://biology.clc.uc.edu/index.htm


1) http://www.greenmanspage.com/guides/phfacts.html.  4 May 2005.

2) Kaur, B.; S.R. Gupta; G. Singh.  28 April 2000.  Soil carbon, microbial activity and nitrogen availability in agro forestry systems on moderately alkaline soils in northern India.  4 May 2005.


3) McKee, Steve; Karen T. Ricker; Larry C. Brown.  Water Resources of Clermont County.  http://ohioline.osu.edu/aex-fact/0480_12.html.  4 May 2005.


4) Rismiller, Steve.  Clermont Soil Survey. 2 June 2004. http://www.clermontswcd.org/ssl8.html.  4 May 2005.


5) Sardinha, Mafalda; Torsten Muller; Helge Schmeisky; Rainer Georg Joergensen.  26 February 2003.  Microbial performance in soils along a salinity gradient under acidic conditions.  4 May 2005.


6) Tian, C.Y.; G. Feng; XL. Li; F.S. Zhang.  31 October 2003.  Different effects of carbuncular mycorrhizal fungal isolated from saline or non-saline soil on salinity tolerance of plants.  4 May 2005.