Target Range School Knapweed
Biocontrol
Study
Name________________________ Date________________________
Teacher Burreson Clouse
Assisted by
(initials)____________
Soil
Temperature ______ºF
Soil Sample
Plot ID____________
Knapweed
Plant Count |
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|
Seedling (1-5 leaves) |
Juvenile (>6 leaves,
no flowerhead) |
Adult (flowerhead or
stalk) |
Number of plants |
|
|
|
Knapweed
Basal Collar Measurement (adult plants only) |
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|
Plant 1 |
Plant 2 |
Plant 3 |
Diameter (mm) |
|
|
|
Percent
Cover by
Plant Type
|
0% |
1-5% |
6-20% |
21-50% |
51-75% |
76-100% |
Knapweed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grasses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forbs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
Observations:
Questions
about
activity:
Suggestions
for
future investigations:
Notes
for Data
Collection Supervisors:
Within
our study
area there are 4 sampling grids: 2 insectory grids and 2 control grids. Each grid is 4
meters x 3 meters in size, and there are a total of 48 total plots to
be
sampled. This sampling design
will provide experimental replication and allow for more rigorous
statistical
analysis. Although the study area is
small, there are two distinct vegetation zones within it: one that is
virtually
a knapweed monoculture (see IN and CN sampling grids) and one that is
composed
of knapweed and other native and non-native grasses and forbs (see IS
and CS
sampling grids). This sampling design
will allow us to explore several types of questions concerning
biocontrol of
invasive plants. Consider the
following:
Instructions:
As
student
approaches:
Soil
Sampling:
We
will be
collecting soil samples from each plot to determine soil moisture, pH,
and
fungal community associations. For each
student and plot:
Knapweed
Plant
Count:
(from Jacobs and Sheley, J.
Range Manage. 51(6), 1998)
Knapweed
Basal
Collar Measurement:
Percent
Cover
of Plants in Plot:
Students
will be
collecting % cover of knapweed, grasses, and forbs in each plot. Here are some guidelines for calculating
percent cover for each plant type:
***Note:
Total percentage across vegetation types should not add up to 100%,
unless
there is no bare ground showing in the sampling plot!!!
As
student leaves:
Direct
her/him to
select a prize from the box!