Land Ecosystem (4 Hours)

Discover the complex interactions of the forest ecosystem during this hands-on day of study. Students will learn the producer, consumer and decomposer organisms; measure the physical factors which influence which species inhabit the ground cover, understory and canopy zones; and investigate the growth and survival strategies of the forest's plants and animals. Maximum number of  classes is two.

 Upon arrival to the preserve, groups will be formed and oriented in the parking lot.  Students will then enter the Orchard House and after a brief orientation on the function and structure of ecosystems the students will divide into groups that will rotate through the different study sites, upland forest site, lowland forest site, and Wildlife Center. During the day the students will focus on the importance of energy flow within the food web and the interrelationships of living and non-living components of the forest. At each study site within the different forest communities, (upland and lowland), students will conduct measurements of temperature, light, height of canopy layers, age of forest stand, and soil depth using appropriate equipment. Investigations into the diversity of producers, consumers and decomposers in each community and their role in the ecosystem will be conducted at each study site. A visit to the Wildlife Center to view mounted specimens of native fauna will complement the field experience.

Rotation for one group will be upland forest; lowland forest, and Wildlife Center, rotation for a second group will be lowland forest, Wildlife Center, upland forest. Rotation for a third group will be Wildlife Center, upland forest and lowland forest.