chavez59
Soil test
Capstone 3
a. The type of soil found at my site is silt loam. There is a possibility it could be silty clay loam as well. However, repeated soil testing revealed it was likely silt loam.
b. Silt loam has a moderate amount of permeability and water can somewhat freely drain into the creek. The soil also allows for a moderate amount of nutrient movement through the soil when compared to clay soil.
c. The plant community living in this soil consists mostly of small clusters of grasses. Plant life was not thriving in the area as only a few species of plants were observed in the study site. A limited number of organisms were found in the soil. Small insects like ants were seen on the top layer of the soil. Deeper in the soil column, a few centipedes were found under rocks submerged in the soil.
d. The animals living in the soil mix the soil column through their movement and burrowing behavior. Animals and plants also add organic matter to the soil column through decomposition and excretion.
e. The soil in collected has a very high chance of erosion. Its location right against the edge of a creek suggests that erosion is possible with large levels of rainfall and it is likely that the eroding soil would spill into the creek. The loss of this soil would widen the creek itself as its surrounding soil disappears into the creek and is pushed down stream. This might provide a large aquatic environment, but take away from the riparian zone.
f. Soil texture has an influence on the productivity of the soil. Soil also contains organic matter that is important for a wide range of biotic communities. The type of soil limits with animal and plant organisms can live in the environment. For an ecologist, understanding the soil’s potential interactions with both plants and animals is essential in order to determine if introductions or conservation plans are reasonable for the community.
Soil test
Capstone 3
a. The type of soil found at my site is silt loam. There is a possibility it could be silty clay loam as well. However, repeated soil testing revealed it was likely silt loam.
b. Silt loam has a moderate amount of permeability and water can somewhat freely drain into the creek. The soil also allows for a moderate amount of nutrient movement through the soil when compared to clay soil.
c. The plant community living in this soil consists mostly of small clusters of grasses. Plant life was not thriving in the area as only a few species of plants were observed in the study site. A limited number of organisms were found in the soil. Small insects like ants were seen on the top layer of the soil. Deeper in the soil column, a few centipedes were found under rocks submerged in the soil.
d. The animals living in the soil mix the soil column through their movement and burrowing behavior. Animals and plants also add organic matter to the soil column through decomposition and excretion.
e. The soil in collected has a very high chance of erosion. Its location right against the edge of a creek suggests that erosion is possible with large levels of rainfall and it is likely that the eroding soil would spill into the creek. The loss of this soil would widen the creek itself as its surrounding soil disappears into the creek and is pushed down stream. This might provide a large aquatic environment, but take away from the riparian zone.
f. Soil texture has an influence on the productivity of the soil. Soil also contains organic matter that is important for a wide range of biotic communities. The type of soil limits with animal and plant organisms can live in the environment. For an ecologist, understanding the soil’s potential interactions with both plants and animals is essential in order to determine if introductions or conservation plans are reasonable for the community.