NERDS 2012 Pre-Session #2

Content Lecture: Flora and Fauna

Experimental Design

Jennifer Hollander

2

Ecosystems, againElevation at Portola ~4800 feet

Lodgepole forest

Whitebark pine/ white fir

Jeffrey pine

Plant adaptations in this region• Ideal for conifers: numerous species, specially

adapted• Many plants have shallow root systems to

absorb moisture from snowmelt• Hot summers and cold winters– Conifers have needles to withstand moisture loss– Many shrubs have waxy coating on the leaves

• Fire adaptations– Historic fires every 10 – 20 years, low-intensity

ground fires• Adaptions for seed dispersal

Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)

• 3 needles per fascicle• Long needles (4-8”)• Cones about 5” long

with sharp prickle on end (medium sized)

• Seeds winged, smaller than Jeffrey or sugar pine seeds

Jeffrey Pine(Pinus jeffreyi)

• 3 needles (long)• Cones larger (6-9

in) with inward barbs

• Larger seeds, with wings

• “vanilla” scent???

Ponderosa vs. Jeffrey

Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana)

• Very long cones (~20 in)• 5 needled pine• Mid-elevation• Very large, dark seeds with

frail wings

Western White Pine(Pinus monticola)

• Long, cylindrical cones

• Large winged seeds• Needles ~3” long and

5 in a bundle• High elevation

Whitebark Pine(Pinus albicaulis)

• Very high elevation (sub-alpine)

• 5-needled pine• Cones purple when

ripe, don’t open

Lodgepole Pine(Pinus contorta)

• Needles short (~2” long) and in bundles of 2

• Cones small and have sharp prickles

• serotinous cones

Fir Trees(Abies spp.)

• Cones disintegrate when mature, stalk remains on tree

• Soft needles

White Fir

Red Fir

Douglas-fir

• Not a true fir…• Different cone

shape• Cones drop from

the tree

Bush Chinquapin(Castanopsis sempervirens)

• Shrub ~4 ft tall with slender, pointed leaves

• Spiny cupule enclosing 3 seeds

Greenleaf Manzanita(Arctostaphylos patula)

• Twisted reddish-brown stems

• Oval, flat, shiny leaves

Tobacco Brush(Ceanothus velutinus)

• Oval leaves with serrated edges

• White flowers• Seeds ballistically

dispersed

Common berry-producing shrubs:

Sierra currant

Sierra gooseberry ServiceberryElderberry

Common threats to vegetation

Mistletoe

Pine beetle

Blister rust

Adaptations by animals to living in the local climate (migrate, hibernate or tolerate)

• Behavioral adaptations:– Burrowing– Altering active times of day • Diurnal• Nocturnal• Crepuscular

– Others• Physiological adaptations:– Entering torpor or hibernation

Yellow-pine chipmunk• 36 – 50 grams (smaller

than others in its range)• Drab brown

Lodgepole chipmunk

• 60-75 grams (medium sized)

• More brightly colored

Long-eared chipmunk

Townsend’s chipmunk

80 – 100 grams

100+ grams

Golden-mantled ground squirrel(Spermophilus lateralis)

• Striped back, but no facial stripes

• Golden-brown neck and shoulders

Deer mice

• Nocturnal• Tan/grey back and

head, white underneath

• Large ears• Hanta virus

Common Freshwater Insect Larvae

• Mayflies – Order Ephemeroptera• Stoneflies – Order Plecoptera• Caddisflies – Order Trichoptera• Midges – Order Diptera, Family Chironomidae• Dragonflies/damselflies – Order Odonata

Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)

• Identification of Larvae– Long posterior filaments

(ususally 3)– Gills on first seven abdominal

segments• Adults vestigial, live for

hours to days, non-feeding, reproduction only.– Hold wings vertically at rest– Second set of wings smaller

than first

Plecoptera (Stoneflies)

• Identification of Larvae– Two long cerci (appendages) on

posterior end– Elongate flattened body

• Adults – Elongate antennae– 10 abdominal segments– Wings long, membranous, and

fold over an around abdomen at rest.

Trichoptera (Caddisflies)• Identification of Larvae– Caterpillar-like, build and live in

cases (silk + debris)– Generally six legs on first three

(thoracic) segments– Abdominal prolegs on terminal

segment.• Adults– Moth-like, but body and wings

with short hairs– Wings tented (roof-like) in

vertical plane cover abdomen at rest.

– Long antennae

Odonata (dragonflies/damselflies)

• Identification of larvae– Long, hinged labium– Large compound eye– Short antennae

• Adults

Chironomidae (midges)

• Identification of larvae– Worm-like– C-shaped– No true legs, but two pairs of

prolegs (one anterior, one posterior)

• Adults – Flies

Experimental Design

• Basic Requirements of an Experiment– Different treatments are administered to different

groups of subjects.

– What does this mean in practical terms?

Experimental Design

• Treatment– A classification, category, or factor.

• Group of Subjects– A sample– Numerical counts of key metrics

• Finally, replication is needed for statistical power– Sample replication– Treatment replication

Case Study #1

Case Study #2

• Seed removal transect• 3 sites (habitats)• 5 treatments (species)• 300 “stations”– 60 replicates of each treatment