1.
Connecting
Kids to Local
Science
LEAF LITTER
DECOMPOSITION IN THE
MELNHE STANDS
Rick Biche
RET
A. Crosby Kennett Middle School

2.
Teacher
 Tangible data (mass
loss)
 Nutrient limitation age
appropriate concept
 Species id and litter
bag construction
Researcher
 N -> Higher N increases
litter mass loss (Fog
1988) but not always
(Knorr et al 2005)
 Little information on P
 Arthropods -> Varied
effects (Schmitz 2010)
 Litter from young stand
species should
decompose faster based
individual species rate
data from Melillo et al
1982
WHAT CONTROLS LITTER MASS LOSS?

3.
Teacher
 Authentic science
 Local science
 Real Scientists
Researcher
 Hypotheses
 Co-limitation of litter mass
loss
 Arthropods will increase
litter mass loss
 Young stand species mix will
lose mass faster than
mature stand mix
WHAT CONTROLS LITTER MASS LOSS?

4.
 4 stands
 N, P, N&P, and Control
 2 mesh sizes
 2 mm
 63 µm
 2 litter mixes
 Young: American Beech,
Red Maple, Pin Cherry,
White Birch
 Mature: American Beech,
Sugar Maple, Yellow Birch
 Collections
 June 12, 2013
 Fall 2013
 Summer 2014
METHODS

5.
MIX AND MESH

6.
Nutrients p=0.02
Mesh p<0.001
Nutrient X Mesh p=0.05

7.
Nutrients p=0.02
Mesh p<0.001
Nutrient X Mesh p=0.05
Con vs. P p=0.01

8.
Teacher
 Middle school students
can do science!
Researcher
 Beginning to see a P
effect on litter mass
loss
 Microarthropods
slowing initial litter
mass loss
 Initial litter mass loss
more rapid for young
stand litter (Pin
Cherry?)
CONCLUSIONS

9.
 The 100 students of Team 2 at A. Crosby Kennett Middle
School and Sean Littlefield for field help
 Ruth Yanai, Craig See, Adam Wild and the many members of
the Shoestring crew
 NSF Grant Proposal # DEB 0949324
 Supplement by RET 2013 (1314909)
 Hubbard Brook Research Foundation RET 2012
Photos
http://hbr.lternet.edu/events/past_events.htm
http://hubbardbrook.blogs.plymouth.edu/2009/07/09/presentation -maggie-zimmer-and-katie-
harvey/
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS