1.
Litter Decomposition Experiments
Involving Young Technicians
Rick Biche and Team 2 (2012-2014)
A. Crosby Kennett Middle School

2.
Context
Nutrient and
carbon cycles
Students will…
• develop a model to describe the
cycling of matter and the flow of
energy among the living and
non-living parts of an ecosystem
C. VanDyne

3.
Mass Loss of Litter in the MELNHE
Stands
• Nutrient Addition (N, P, N+P)
• Stand Age
– Litter mix
– Incubation stand
• Litter Arthropods (via mesh size)

4.
Young Stand Mix
American Beech 1.0±.02g
White Birch 0.75±.02g
Pin Cherry 0.5±.02g
Red Maple 0.5±.02g
Mature Stand Mix
American Beech 1.25±.02g
Sugar Maple 1±.02g
Yellow Birch 1±.02g
Litter mixes based on data collected in 2009 and 2005 (C7) by Matt Vadabancouer,
Marty Acker, Craig See, Corrie Blodgett, and the 2010 Field Crew

5.
Building Litter Bags

6.
Assignment
• Simplified data set
• Question
– What was the effect of mesh size on the loss of
mass from litter?
– Did fertilization alter decomposition?
– How decomposition different between young and
old stands?
• Use the data to support an answer to the
question.

7.
R. Steward
Grade 8

8.
R. Steward
Grade 8

9.
M. Jones
Grade 7

10.
M. Jones
Grade 7

11.
Student hypotheses
• Young stand litter has more nutrients
• There are dead bugs in the large mesh bags
• Mature stands have a better environment for
decomposition
• Young stands have less good soil
• The fertilizer is taken by the plants before it
gets to the litter

12.
P > Con
p=0.03

13.
P > Con
p=0.03
P > Con
p=0.04

14.
Multiple R-squared: 0.8061,
Adjusted R-squared: 0.6364
p = 0.022
Df Sum Sq Mean Sq F value Pr(>F)
PlotAvgPO4 1 0.0019015 0.00190153 6.8244 0.031017 *
Treatment 3 0.0002064 0.00006881 0.2470 0.861309
Stand 3 0.0071567 0.00238557 8.5616 0.007044 **
Residuals 8 0.0022291 0.00027864
Resin strip data from Fisk, M. C., Ratliff, T. J.,
Goswami, S., & Yanai, R. D. (2014). Synergistic soil
response to nitrogen plus phosphorus fertilization
in hardwood forests. Biogeochemistry, 118(1-3),
195-204.

15.
• Shoestring crews 2012-2013 – Field help and
inspiration
• Geoff Wilson and Jackie Wilson – Support and
opportunity
• Craig See, Adam Wild, Matt Vadabancoer - Reviews
• Ruth Yanai, Melany Fisk, Christy Goodale – support
and guidance
• Sean Littlefield – field assistance
• Kevin Richard - trust
• Team 2 (155 student technicians)
Acknowledgements