Investigating a rainforest secondary succession (unit 2.5)
Task:
Willie Smits has developed a model for sustainable use of the rainforest that not only recovers the rainforest and restores biodiversity but also supports the local population. We know that the local population had devastated the region through the development of fossil fuel extraction followed by unsustainable logging practices and slash and burn agriculture. The soil became lifeless, food and water became scarce and unemployment turned many locals to crime and poaching. Slash and burn practices and poaching took it's toll on the orangutan population. This led Willie to develop a sustainable model of restoration which he claims has been a overwhelming success. Has it?
Use the information in your text pages 124-145 to develop an investigation into the claims by Willie Smits. You are going to assume that this is similar to secondary succession in theory. How would you investigate restoration of the forest? What issues would you consider? What is your research question? What methods would you use? What equipment? What sampling method?
You will complete an internal investigation planning lab. This will follow the regular structure of a lab but will be only criteria A: Context and B: Planning. See below for the criteria. One key factor! You are not required to be detailed in the steps you take for each measurement, but you must measure a variety of factors that might determine health.
Willie Smits has developed a model for sustainable use of the rainforest that not only recovers the rainforest and restores biodiversity but also supports the local population. We know that the local population had devastated the region through the development of fossil fuel extraction followed by unsustainable logging practices and slash and burn agriculture. The soil became lifeless, food and water became scarce and unemployment turned many locals to crime and poaching. Slash and burn practices and poaching took it's toll on the orangutan population. This led Willie to develop a sustainable model of restoration which he claims has been a overwhelming success. Has it?
Use the information in your text pages 124-145 to develop an investigation into the claims by Willie Smits. You are going to assume that this is similar to secondary succession in theory. How would you investigate restoration of the forest? What issues would you consider? What is your research question? What methods would you use? What equipment? What sampling method?
You will complete an internal investigation planning lab. This will follow the regular structure of a lab but will be only criteria A: Context and B: Planning. See below for the criteria. One key factor! You are not required to be detailed in the steps you take for each measurement, but you must measure a variety of factors that might determine health.
Ex: What I don't want!
"Step 1: Use a 500ml beaker to collect 300ml of soil."
"Step 2: Collect soil by using a trowel and clear the first 5cm of top soil using a ruler and digging a 5cm hole in the soil. Use the soil from the 5cm hole to place in the beaker."
"Step 3: Add 200ml of water to the soil sample and mix with a stiring rod for 1 minute to ensure that all sample is consistently mixed."
Ex: What I do want!
"Test 1: Temperature:
- Use a thermometer to collect data at a variety of different sites.
- Select each site by using a satelitte overlay and placing a grid reference over the site. Use a random number generator to generate a number of sites which will be used to determine a random sampling of sites to be measured.
- At each site, measure the site at a height of 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, and 5m.
- Different heights will be measured to determine if there is any development of an vertical gradient.
- At each site, return to measure temperature of the 5 heights for 5 weeks returning at 4pm each Monday and Friday.
- 10 measurements over the 5 weeks will improve the reliability of the measurement."