Contact: Eric Keeling, SUNY New Paltz: keelinge@newpaltz.edu
Initiated: 2013
Project Status: TBA
Description
The Edge Effects Project is supplemental to the Permanent Forest Plot Project (PFPP). Sites with both edge and interior plots will increase publication opportunities. The study of forest edge effects is currently an important topic in ecological research. However, there are few studies with multiple sites that use the same protocols. Including edge and interior plots may provide more meaningful data and publication possibilities for the broader EREN PFPP research effort than interior plots alone.
Hypotheses/Objectives: The objective of the Edge Effects Project is to build on the work of the PFPP by including both edge and interior plots in your EREN PFPP site.
Summary of Methods: Refer to the PFPP materials for the general methods to support this supplemental Edge Effects Project. Edge plots are easy to add to an existing PFPP site. Including both edge and interior plots in a PFPP site is already built into the current PFPP protocols, so adding an edge/interior component to existing PFPP activities does not add significant time or work other than what is needed to add extra plots to an existing site. No new field techniques or new types of data collection are necessary.
Expanded project info: Complete Edge Effects protocols and background information coming soon.
Curriculum: Refer to the PFPP Collaborators Page (curriculum exchange site) for relevant curricular materials. Edge plots add educational value to EREN PFPP studies.
- Comparing edge and interior plots provides an opportunity for students to test simple hypotheses about differences in community composition and do statistical analyses without the need for additional sites.
- The topic of edge effects is included in standard ecology textbooks in chapters on landscape ecology (e.g. Smith & Smith 8th ed., CH 20). Students will be able to relate the EREN field activities to ecological concepts learned in the classroom.
Other Project Materials: For up-to-date files and data, please request access to shared files by emailing Eric Keeling at keelinge@newpaltz.edu.
Thank you for your patience while we work to provide updated information on this project.