School Woodland Biodiversity

Students will examine the shape and size of seeds, know how those differences relate to seed dispersal and be able to compare the trade-offs of those differences.

• Students will know the spatial relationship of trees and seeds/seedlings of the same species in their woodland plot and be able to explain how the species came to be there.

Students will know that having different types of trees affects forest ecosystem function, and will be able to explain the impacts of changing species composition on function.  

• Students will know the products and reactants of photosynthesis and be able to explain how the process of photosynthesis affects leaf structure.
• Students will know where light is more and less available and be able to measure the differences in leaf area and stomata density between leaves in the sun and in the shade.  

• Students will know what herbivory is and will be able to identify different forms of herbivory.
• Students will know how plants defend themselves and will be able to identify different forms of plant defense mechanisms.  

• Students will know what trees live in their schoolyard and will be able to identify at least four trees. 
• Students will know how to describe the forest community in their schoolyard and will be able to explain differences between two species in terms of one of the following: general health, location, density, carbon storage, or basal area.  

• Students will be able to collect and analyze leaf litter data from different trees, and be able to make a prediction about why the amount of leaf litter differs between species.

• Students will be able to compare the decomposition rates (or amount of decomposition over a set period of time) between different species of trees.

• Students will know that fungi and microbes are present on leaves and will be able to identify and quantify bacterial and fungal colonies.