Kassie Kapp
Jennifer Larkin
Sara Martin
Mindy Wert

Biol 303
Professor J. Carter

The Ecology Of South Maple Creek at the University of Cincinnati
Clermont Campus, Batavia, OH

 

Introduction

The area around South Maple Creek is now a parking lot and a road way that enters into the campus and around to the back areas of campus. Many trees and vegetation were removed to make room for the parking lot and a pond. A small portion of the wooded area around the creek was conserved leaving lush growth of honeysuckle and wild roses, and many animals that are indigenous to the creek area as well as a few that are not, such as the wild rose. South Maple Creek has had new vegetation planted and much honeysuckle removed, that is growing back very quickly. The new trail that has been there for less than a year is still intact.


Materials and Methods


A map of the trail areas was created using flags, compasses to obtain opposing azimuth readings to insure accuracy, and a meter tape to measure the distance between flag points and the width of the trail at the various points. For a better look at the different maps from pervious years click
http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio303/index.htm (Carter) Three soil samples were taken, the first one from the wooded area, the second one from the creek bed, and the third from the pond area. The soil was left to air dry for two weeks. The soil was then broken down into fine particle using a mortar and pestle. Using a soil test kit and its instructions, chemical analysis was done on the soil samples to test for pH, phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. Subjective analysis was conducted on the soil by adding a few drops of water to it and rubbing it together to form a ball and then a ribbon to determine its percentage of clay and loam content.

Mechanical analysis was done by weighing out 50.88 g of soil, transferring it to a 1-liter beaker and adding 5-g of Calgon water softener to the soil in the beaker. Then a sufficient amount of tap water was added to the mixture to bring the level to 900 ml. This mixture was then stirred for approximately 15 minutes using a magnetic stirrer and the stir function on a hot plate, no heat, as well as occasional manual stirring. After the stirring was complete, the mixture sat for about one minute to settle. The muddy liquid was then decanted off over 6 times of settling out and decanting. The remaining sediment was placed on a hot plate, with heat, to dry. The sample was not dry by the end of the lab period, so it was labeled and put away until the following lab period (Carter)

 

Abstract

Throughout the Ecology course many different areas were tested for an obstacle of experiments, but the main area of focus was South Maple Creek. Many different experiments were completed, which arranged from mapping, observing animal life, shrub, tree, and herb plotting to water analysis and testing the soil for pH and various other chemicals. The soil consisted of very low results in every category. The density of the plants were found to be 28% shrubs and 10% herbs. There were ten species of trees found in the area, which were predominantly Ash. This had an average of 33%. In a one hour there were an average of seventeen species of insects and other animals found. This could indicate various conclusions about South Maple Creek.

 

Results

Ecology 303, 2006 classes main focus was South Maple creek. 3/29/06 started the mapping portion, which continued on till 4/4/06. Azmiuth readings from the compasses were recorded and then put into the computer in which the computer generated a map. (Click on link to view map http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio303/index.htm. Also refer to Mapping plots.htm.

A soil analysis was performed on 4/25/06 around Wild Cherry Left Bank.

pH: 60

Phosphorus: Trace (a.k.a. clear)

Nitrogen: Trace (a.k.a. light pink)

Potassium: Low

 

 

Flora surveys were performed on 4/30/06. Results were 138 herbaceous plants in 14 different species, 168 shrubs in 6 different species. For complete data visit:

Herbaceous Chart

shrub.htm

 

On 4/30/06 insect surveys were collected. As a result we found, 216 insects and a total of 16 different species. These results came from 3 different plot areas, which included South Maple Creek, woods by South Maple Creek, and Athletic Field. For a complete list of different insects and insects per hour click Insects 2.htm

Tree analysis was collected on 5/09/06. For this we plotted two areas, South Maple Creek and Beech Nole. South Maple Creek had the most percentage of Cherry Tree's with 28% and Beech Nole had 79% Beech Trees. Both areas had a total of 50 trees (that were measured) and 11 different species. Tree Graph.htm for graph information.

Environmental Factors of a couple different areas were performed on 5/23/06. The sky was beautiful with no clouds in sight. There wasn't much of a breeze and the temperature was about 73 degrees. Below is the data collected from the 5 plot areas:

 

Construction
zone

Short Grass

Tall Grass

S.M.C

Other grass

Creek

Light Intensity

Low

8000

6000

9000

6000

400

800

Medium

3000

2000

500

800

80

150

High

2000

750

200

90

20

30

Air Temp.

Celsius

Dry Bulb

23

22

21

23

21

18

Wet Bulb

13

12

13

11

14

13

Relative Humidity

%

30%

29%

35%

15%

43%

74%

Soil Temp

 

28

20

18

14

13

11

Wind Velocity

Head Height

0

5

3.5

3

0

0

Ground Height

0

0

0

0

0

0

Wind Velocity

Head Height

0

223.5

156.4

134.1

0

0

cm/sec

Ground Height

0

0

0

0

0

0

 

Conclusion

Once all the calculations were done the density of the plants were found to be twenty eight percent shrubs and ten percent were herbs shrub There were ten species of trees that were found in the South Maple Creek; the most prominent was the Ash where there was thirty three percent tree graph In one hour there were an average of seventeen species of insects and other animals found in this area Insects.

This research shows where plants are growing better and where animals tend to thrive. It can also tell the best way to help this new area thrive. This information will also help us to understand the native life living at Clermont College.