ThomAlan
Silty clay loam
My soil was a silty clay loam
•The high clay content of my soil does not allow water to infiltrate very quickly. Therefore, water flow and movement of nutrients through this soil may be hindered.
•This soil is from a deciduous forest/wetland area. It is a low point, so all of the water that runs off of the nearby fields collects here. There are many oak, maple, and birch trees. There are also a few raspberry bushes, some wildflowers, fungi/mushrooms. Lots of frogs and toads, worms, slugs, birds, etc. and I saw deer and raccoon tracks as well.
•The trees roots take up a lot of water from the soil, and the roots also help create a soil structure and pore space for water to infiltrate through. The worms and insects also create small pathways through the soil. Smaller plants and ground cover protect the soil from erosion, and all of the animal feces and dead plant litter adds nutrient and organic material to the soil.
•The soil I collected is susceptible to erosion because of its high clay content. The small clay particles can easily be picked up by moving water and carried away. However, there is lots of vegetation, which reduces erosion. If the soils in this area were to erode (in the case of a major storm, or flood) than it would affect this location by removing some of the topsoil. The topsoil the most nutritious and important part of the soil, so if it were eroded away it could damage the forest vegetation. High levels of erosion could also expose tree roots causing damage, and the runoff that enters the nearby pond/river would affect that aquatic ecosystem as well. However, the location I chose from is at a low point that collects water, so I would expect soil that erodes from the surrounding areas to settle here, as opposed to these soils leaving. The fact that other soils are eroding to here means that this area could have a higher content of topsoil than other areas. It could also be higher in nutrients than surrounding areas. The wet conditions at my location could also lead to higher levels of organic material in the soils, as leaves and plant material are washed in and decompose aerobically.
•Soil texture is extremely important because it is one factor in determining what kind of vegetation can grow in an area. For instance, Jack Pines need sandy soils to grow properly, and Kirtland Warblers rely on Jack Pines for their survival. So as an ecologist that cares about preserving Kirtland Warblers, you have to understand and care about soil textures.
Silty clay loam
My soil was a silty clay loam
•The high clay content of my soil does not allow water to infiltrate very quickly. Therefore, water flow and movement of nutrients through this soil may be hindered.
•This soil is from a deciduous forest/wetland area. It is a low point, so all of the water that runs off of the nearby fields collects here. There are many oak, maple, and birch trees. There are also a few raspberry bushes, some wildflowers, fungi/mushrooms. Lots of frogs and toads, worms, slugs, birds, etc. and I saw deer and raccoon tracks as well.
•The trees roots take up a lot of water from the soil, and the roots also help create a soil structure and pore space for water to infiltrate through. The worms and insects also create small pathways through the soil. Smaller plants and ground cover protect the soil from erosion, and all of the animal feces and dead plant litter adds nutrient and organic material to the soil.
•The soil I collected is susceptible to erosion because of its high clay content. The small clay particles can easily be picked up by moving water and carried away. However, there is lots of vegetation, which reduces erosion. If the soils in this area were to erode (in the case of a major storm, or flood) than it would affect this location by removing some of the topsoil. The topsoil the most nutritious and important part of the soil, so if it were eroded away it could damage the forest vegetation. High levels of erosion could also expose tree roots causing damage, and the runoff that enters the nearby pond/river would affect that aquatic ecosystem as well. However, the location I chose from is at a low point that collects water, so I would expect soil that erodes from the surrounding areas to settle here, as opposed to these soils leaving. The fact that other soils are eroding to here means that this area could have a higher content of topsoil than other areas. It could also be higher in nutrients than surrounding areas. The wet conditions at my location could also lead to higher levels of organic material in the soils, as leaves and plant material are washed in and decompose aerobically.
•Soil texture is extremely important because it is one factor in determining what kind of vegetation can grow in an area. For instance, Jack Pines need sandy soils to grow properly, and Kirtland Warblers rely on Jack Pines for their survival. So as an ecologist that cares about preserving Kirtland Warblers, you have to understand and care about soil textures.