Greeensbebe
Soil_1
LOCATION #1:
a)What type of soil is at your site?
Silty Clay Loam!
b)How does your soil’s texture aid or hinder water flow and the movement of nutrients?
The clay in the soil helps retain water and nutrients for the plants to use; however, too much of precipitation can result in water retention above ground (i.e. poor drainage). And this would affect negatively on the flow of water and nutrients that can simply be washed away into drain spouts along the street.
c)What types of organisms are in the area where you collected the soil?
Squirrels, birds, insects, larvae, roots, and low grasses.
d)What effects do these organisms have on the soil’s qualities?
These organisms can fertilize the soil when their feces decompose. They even help to loosen it up slightly by digging up the top soil, such as when the squirrels or birds bury or look for their food, allowing for this dirt to possibly be washed away if it rained.
e)Is the soil you collected likely to be eroded? How would its loss affect the current location? Where would it erode to in your site? How would its presence affect the location it moves to?
This soil does have higher clay content, so it isn’t as likely to be eroded away such as sand. If it did erode, then it would erode down the hill towards the walking trail. Its presence would affect the location it moves to because the current organisms will probably move to their new home!
f)As an ecologist, why is it important to think about soil texture?
Soil texture is important because it determines the fertility of an area as well as how much moisture and nutrients it can retain. This determination can then be applied to what vegetation can be grown in this vicinity for other organisms to live off of.
Soil_1
LOCATION #1:
a)What type of soil is at your site?
Silty Clay Loam!
b)How does your soil’s texture aid or hinder water flow and the movement of nutrients?
The clay in the soil helps retain water and nutrients for the plants to use; however, too much of precipitation can result in water retention above ground (i.e. poor drainage). And this would affect negatively on the flow of water and nutrients that can simply be washed away into drain spouts along the street.
c)What types of organisms are in the area where you collected the soil?
Squirrels, birds, insects, larvae, roots, and low grasses.
d)What effects do these organisms have on the soil’s qualities?
These organisms can fertilize the soil when their feces decompose. They even help to loosen it up slightly by digging up the top soil, such as when the squirrels or birds bury or look for their food, allowing for this dirt to possibly be washed away if it rained.
e)Is the soil you collected likely to be eroded? How would its loss affect the current location? Where would it erode to in your site? How would its presence affect the location it moves to?
This soil does have higher clay content, so it isn’t as likely to be eroded away such as sand. If it did erode, then it would erode down the hill towards the walking trail. Its presence would affect the location it moves to because the current organisms will probably move to their new home!
f)As an ecologist, why is it important to think about soil texture?
Soil texture is important because it determines the fertility of an area as well as how much moisture and nutrients it can retain. This determination can then be applied to what vegetation can be grown in this vicinity for other organisms to live off of.