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a) Silty clay soil
b) This soil texture can store a large amount of water (which I tested, to be discussed later) due to the electronegativity of the clay particles present, this would also increase the soils ability to absorb nutrients from inputs. Furthermore, having the silty quality means while the deep soil is good for a tap root, the top layer also has more nutrients than a sandy layer would--these qualities combined make this soil type ideal for both larger perrenials (with large taproot systems), and grasses and annual herbs (with fibrous root systems), all of which seem to be present and persistent at this site. The presence of persistent plants in turn helps slow water erosion of the top soil, preserving it.
c) Vegetation variable: Perennial woody shrubs, annual herbs, annual grasses. In the soil annelids were noted, as well as Armadillium.
d) The effects of the vegetation on soil quality were discussed in section b. However, both of the animals found in the soil are decomposers, who would be turning dead organic matter into nitrogen containing compounds. This is good for two reasons: 1) It increases the soils nitrogen content. 2) It removes dead organic material from the system, which if left in the soil could cause it to become water-logged and hypoxic.
e) Erosion is not likely in the main body of my site. However, it would receive and trap soil being washed down the slopes surrounding it (possibly giving the clay soil its silty texture?), there would be some erosion at the NE portion of my site, where the plain begins to slope down towards the reservoir, however the effect would be muted by all the persistent plants.
f) I believe many of my answers above demonstrate the importance of the soil texture, from the texture a prediction could be made about which organisms would be found there, then looking at the realized organisms found there and their interactions (biotic, and abiotic) it can help in turn explain the soil texture--all together giving a more complex understanding of the system.
g) Because I'm a dork I took five soil cores from five random locations on my site, I recorded the average of their (Weight_wet) - (Weight_dry) after leaving the wet samples in a 150 degree Fahrenheit oven for 8 hours, and found the average water density (mg/cm^3) to be 127.4 mg/cm^3. This test was performed on soil samples taken from the site five days since it had last rained, which suggests as the texture test above did that this soil has a high capacity to retain water. An interesting follow up experiment would be to do this one again, however collect the first soil sample on the last day of a rain storm, then collect samples from the site every day for a week or two, and plot the decreasing water density of the soil--to measure drainage, and ultimate retention.
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.
Results of the NPK test confirmed my suspicions of being nitrogen deficient. The second tube had no pink at all!
Purple is Nitrogen
Orange is Potash
Green is pH
Blue is Phospherous
I have alkaline soil comprised of potash and nothing else. This was under the mulberry tree. Erosion took away the nutrients. The excess blue is the capsule lid I dropped inside by accident.
I took two soil samples. Soil sample A was determined to be loam, forming a ball and keeping its shape when bounced. But not forming any sort of ribbon. The second sample didn’t form any sort of shape and was deemed sand. Sample A hinders water flow but promotes holding water and nutrients in the ground while sample B promotes water flow but isn’t very good at retaining moisture. I collected both samples within a 20 foot distance from one another and both soils are home to the same sort of organism. Worms, banana slugs, birds, the same sorts of plants. This doesn’t really make sense to me considering the soils were so different. The worms promote soil health and incorporate nutrients into the soil as do the slugs and plants. The soil might be eroded somewhat because the samples were taken from a hillside so just the geography of the location would suggest some sort of erosion. Loss of soil from erosion would damage the ability of plants to settle and live there as well as loss of nutrients in the soil. The soil would erode down the hill to settle in the small valley and potentially help and hinder the valley at the same time. Help in that the soil is nutrient rich and has already proven its good for plant life but hurt in that its settling on top of other plants and organisms that have already made home to the soil previously there. It is important to make note of soil texture because the texture determines what kind of plants and animals may live in the area the soil is present.
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ADDRESS
GETEX PTY LIMITED
ABN (99 116 287 471)
Suite 2.02, Building 2,
35 Waterloo Road
North Ryde NSW 2113,
AUSTRALIA
Phone: (02) 9889 2488
Fax:(02) 9889 2499
Email:help@getex.com.au
Silt Loam
1. How does your soil's texture aid or hinder water flow and the movement of nutrients? Silt particles are small and so have small pores. Small pores inhibit water movement and thus the movement of nutrients. Silt loam as the highest available water capacity (http://www.noble.org/ag/Soils/SoilWaterRelationships/Index.htm) meaning that it has the potential to hold the most water due to its increased surface area from the small particles.
2. What types of organisms are in the area where you collected the soil? Mosquitoes, mushrooms.
3. What effects do these organisms have on the soil's qualities? Mosquitoes will have little effect as they do not live in the dirt. Mushrooms are fungi and so help in fertilizing the soil and making it more fertile for growing plants.
4.Is the soil you collected likely to be eroded? No, since I collected the sample from the bottom of a hill. How would its loss affect the current location? It would inhibit growth by the many plants growing at the base of the hill. Where would it erode to in your site? The nearby pond. How would its presence affect the location it moves to? The soil would bring the many nutrients it has with it to the pond which could then be dissolved in the water and used by the water-bound plants and insects living there.
5. As an ecologist, why is it important to think about soil texture? Soil texture is an important factor in what kinds of organisms can grow in the area and the fertility of the soil. Soil properties that are affected by texture include: drainage, water holding capacity, aeration, organic matter content, and susceptibility to erosion (http://www.water.rutgers.edu/Rain_Gardens/factsheet29.pdf); all very important when considering and understanding the ecosystem in which the soil occurs.
In two years, I've lowered the pH from 8.0 to 6.5 with pine branches. I finally have it where I need it. Also the soil is now black and rich for at least 2".
Phospherous test was a failure. The chemical capsule was corroded from the test chemicals. Nevertheless, previous tests showed a deficiency. The fix is to plant a cover crop of buckwheat
I have lots of potassium in the form of potash. I think the original soil came from river dredge and a pottery factory kiln circa 1900s. The test shows a surplus.
I expected more nitrogen from all the green manure I added. Either the nitrogen is not plant accessible or the capsule chemicals were old. My solution will be to plant nitrogen fixing plants like Wild False Indigo or other legumes.
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yet another test. this time the topsoil in the shade right by the trees. very neutral pH, but still lacking nitrogen
How does your soil’s texture aid or hinder water flow and the movement of nutrients?
My soil is sandy loam. Sandy soils allow water and nutrients to move through them at a rate higher than silt or clays. The loamy content in my soil allows for the sequestration of both water and nutrients.
What types of organisms are in the area where you collected the soil?
There were many oak leaves on the forest floor, as well as a large oak tree a few feet from my sampling site. There were also Virginia creeper plants growing around the tree, and a spider web attached to some small saplings.
What effects do these organisms have on the soil’s qualities?
The organic matter in the forest floor can decompose and add nutrients to the soil, making it loamier. This organic matter can also serve as a home to organisms that may get stuck in the spider’s web. The oak tree and Virginia creeper plants will take up nutrients and water, depleting the soil of these qualities.
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?
Sandy soils have the higher erosion rate because of their low adhesion. Fortunately, litter and dead material on the forest floor can inhibit water flow through the woods and reduce erosion. The sediment will be transported to the lowest elevation in the ecosystem. In my case, either a wooded flooding, or the drainage ditch to the east between the woods and the agricultural field. As the erosion builds up in these low areas, water flow can be reduced, islands formed, or eutrophication can occur.
As an ecologist why is it important to think about soil texture?
Soil is the framework for many interactions within an ecosystem. Relations between plants and water and nutrient uptake can be altered depending on the soil type. Root structures will need to grow shallower or deeper depending on soil adhesion. It provides a boundary and can offer hints as to the species that will thrive in the soil.
1) How does your soil’s texture aid or hinder water flow and the movement of nutrients? Loam seems to hold water well and mine has a lot of organic matter in it which would hold water well also. I believe that this would hinder water movement because this soil would suck up water that was trying to move across it
2) What types of organisms are in the area where you collected the soil? I collected the soil at the base of a tree. Lots of little bugs were crawling around. There was moss cover and some small plants. There were many mosquitos as well!
3)What effects do these organisms have on the soil’s qualities? The trees and ground cover all leech nutrients from the soil, but as they die they give back many nutrients as well. The leaves that cover the floor all decompose and this soil seems very rich because of it.
4) Is the soil you collected likely to be eroded? Because of the ground cover and the large trees, it is unlikely that this soil will be eroded.
5) How would its loss affect the current location? Without such rich soil, there would not be such dense vegetation.
6) Where would it erode to in your site? How would its presence affect the location it moves to? It would move to the west, down a shallow hill, probably through the tracks. This would probably make more vegetation grow in that area.
7) As an ecologist why is it important to think about soil texture? Soil texture can have a great affect on the types of plants living there and the way it reacts to water. For plants, soil and water are very important and can greatly affect their survival. From plants, most organisms get their nutrients (mostly indirectly). Therefore soil is an integral part of an ecosystem.
I split the garden in two sides. On one side of the garden I had removed about a six inches to a foot of soil, replaced it, worked in compost and so forth. On the other, I hadn't done a thing.
Interestingly, the nutrient profile of the two sides were similar.
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ADDRESS
GETEX PTY LIMITED
ABN (99 116 287 471)
Suite 2.02, Building 2,
35 Waterloo Road
North Ryde NSW 2113,
AUSTRALIA
Phone: (02) 9889 2488
Fax:(02) 9889 2499
Email:help@getex.com.au
The soil texture of my site is Silt Clay Loam. This soil texture aids in the movement of water and nutrients to plant roots and other organisms in the soil by creating a network between soil particles that can hold a lot of water and nutrients that can be transported between soil particles. Within the area of my soil there is a large field of grass, some flowers, weeds, and trees. There are also earthworms and other insects living within the soil. There are also many microbes that I am unable to see but I am sure they are present. These organisms have a positive impact on the soil texture. Most of these organisms depend on the soil for water and nutrients. Some of the organisms, such as the earthworms, keep the soil texture optimal for holding water and nutrients for the microbes of the soil and the other organisms that depend upon these nutrients and water. Since there is such a large amount of plants that rely upon this soil for nutrients and water, the roots keep the soil intact to avoid erosion. There are not very many abiotic effects that are present to erode the soil. There could be an event of long drought that would kill the plants and rid the soil of a root system that keeps the soil intact. If that occured, erosion would be present on the steep hills of my site leading to the area next to the river where there is a sharp drop to the river. The soil would erode downhill to the eventual plateau of the river where the soil would be carried off. If this soil would be lost, there would be very little vegetation left and therefore a loss in nearly all organsisms that depend upon the plants for food or depend on the organisms that depend on the organisms that depend on the plants for food (predation). If the soil moved to a new area via the river, the soil would pile up on the banks of the river in new areas and cause a growth of plants along the banks of river in many different areas.
As an ecologist, it is important to think about soil texture since this really gives an idea of the amount of microbes present in an ecosystem, and how much vegetation should be present in an area that depends upon the soil texture as a holder of water and nutrients.
In addition to assessing infrastructure, the next big factor is quality of soil testing. Several samples of soil must be taken from different parts of a farm to determine what minerals the soil has, how acidic it is, and if there is presence of organic matter that helps in strong crop cultivation.
How does your soil’s texture aid or hinder water flow and the movement of nutrients?
The silty clay loam is both a positive and negative to water flow and the movement of nutrients. In a positive aspect, the clay in the soil helps retain water and nutrients for the plants to use. But too much precipitation can lead to water retention above ground as a result of poor drainage, thus negatively affecting this flow of water and nutrients that can simply be washed away into drain spouts along the street.
What types of organisms are in the area where you collected the soil?
Most organisms in this area were birds (herons, geese, ducks, etc.) and insects at the time when I collected the soil sample.
What effects do these organisms have on the soil’s qualities?
As stated in previous photos, these organisms are able to fertilize the soil when their feces decompose. The even help 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.
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?
Since my soil has a higher clay content than most, it isn’t as likely to be eroded away such as sand. If it did erode it would most likely erode into the lower elevated areas, such as the lake, which herons and other birds feed from. As the lake filled with the eroded soil, the amount of water available for the fish and insect would slowly reduce, resulting in higher food chain organisms to migrate to another location.
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.
This is the predominant type of soil: Loam. I attempted to remove as much organic debris as I could before forming into a ball, but there was no way to do this since it essentially made up the soil. This is a picture of the ball after the first bounce. I attempted to form a ribbon, but it crumbled with my first attempt and would not hold its shape. This type of soil is comprised mostly of organic material that is either dead or decaying commonly referred to as humus. As we learned from week one's lecture, humus is created by organisms that are living within the debris or on the location, such as trees which in my area created a lot of leaf debris. This mixes with the other elements of the soil and provides rich nutrients for the organisms that live there.
a. This type of soil hinders the flow of water because it must pass through the top layer of all of the decaying plants and organisms, this is also referred to as the O horizon. This layer is absorbent so it takes longer to saturate. This is why it is so rich in nutrients and also why small pools of water often develop. It holds so much water it is not being carried away or leached out of the system.
b. There are many types of organisms in this area: herbaceous plants, trees, insects that live in and under the debris, microorganisms, birds, burrowing animals (mice), as well as larger animals such as deer. All of these organisms contribute to the make up of the soil either by contributing to it, such as the leaf debris from the trees, or removing from it, like the animals that feed on it or plants that grow in it. The organisms that live in it or walk on it, help to break it down and release more nutrients.
c. It is not likely to be eroded unless a major aspect of it is disturbed or taken away. For example, if all of the trees were removed eventually the leaf litter left behind would decay and there would be nothing new to replace it. The organisms big and small that relied on that litter would have to live elsewhere. My area slopes down to a pond, eventually the top soil would transition down the hill and deposit in or next to the pond. Once there, the surplus of organic organisms and nutrients could affect the level of the water in the pond and gradually fill it in creating an entirely different ecosystem.
d. As an ecologist, it is important to understand what the consequences of our actions on the land have. Take my location, if the trees were cleared, the entire location would be affected and it would not be the preserve that it is today.
1. I think my soils texture hinders the movement of water and nutrients in the soil. It absorbs a lot of water and it is difficult for the water to percolate through.
2. In the small shovel full of soil I pulled up, there were 6 worms, a couple sentapedes and a bunch of other bugs.
3. The organisms in the soil dig burrows and tunnels. This allows water to percolate through the soil more easily.
4. The soil in this area is not likely to be eroded. There is a lot of plant life and tons of roots running through the soil to hold it down. The current location is very low lying. If much of the soil is eroded, it would be even lower. This would put it at the level of the river so it would be flooded all of the time. The location the soil moves to would build up. The soil is very rich in organic materials so the new location would get better fertilized.
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ADDRESS
GETEX PTY LIMITED
ABN (99 116 287 471)
Suite 2.02, Building 2,
35 Waterloo Road
North Ryde NSW 2113,
AUSTRALIA
Phone: (02) 9889 2488
Fax:(02) 9889 2499
Email:help@getex.com.au
a.) I found three types of soil at my site: 1) Sand, 2) loamy sand, 3) silty clay loam. I expected to find only sand because of the large cliff made of sandstone leading down to my site. But when I dug about 6 to 8 inches down in the location with several trees, I was surprised to find the silty clay loam.
b.) Because most of the site consists of sand and loamy sand, water and nutrients flow through it fairly quickly before the plants can pick it up while the soil consisting of silty clay loam is better able to hold water and nutrients.
would explain where the majority of plants in the area are very small. But the location with the silty clay loam, the soil is better able to hold water and nutrients which allowed the growth of the large Pine and Cypress trees.
c.) Where the sand and loamy sand was present, the vegetation consisted of only small low lying plants most likely due to the low water and nutrient content of the soil. On the other hand, where I found silty clay loam, there were numerous large Pine and Cypress tree's due to the retention of water and nutrients flowing through this system. This abundance has promoted the growth of much larger plants.
d.) The small plants in the area with sand help hold the soil together so that it doesn't all blow or erode away. The larger vegetation where the silty clay loam is present, help break up the clay so that it's not as compact as well as leave a small layer of decomposed biomass which is nutrient rich and promotes the growth of plants that could not previously grow there.
e.) The sand that I collected has a high probability to be eroded away down to the beach which is right next to my site at the bottom of another cliff. This erosion probably wont have much effect since the cliff that goes up the back side of my site is made of sand stone and will continue to supply it with new soil. As it erodes to the beach, the ocean will wash it away to a new location. The silty clay loam on the other hand has much less of a chance to be eroded since it is buried underneath roughly half a foot of loamy sand and nutrient rich top soil.
f.) It is important to think about soil texture as an ecologist, because different types of soil texture greatly influence the vegetation which grows on it. Beyond that, the type of vegetation that is present directly affects the type of animals that live there.
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ADDRESS
GETEX PTY LIMITED
ABN (99 116 287 471)
Suite 2.02, Building 2,
35 Waterloo Road
North Ryde NSW 2113,
AUSTRALIA
Phone: (02) 9889 2488
Fax:(02) 9889 2499
Email:help@getex.com.au
a) Sandy Loam was the type of soil at my site
b) Sandy loam is a loose soil type. Although it allows for the passage of water and nutrients, sandy loam soil can be packed tightly and hold form. This allows for the presence of large trees along with small weeds.
c) Near the spot at which I gathered soil there was an abundance of trifolium flowers (four leaf clover) and a few large trees. In the soil there are noted insects such as lawn shrimp and rollie-pollies.
d) The insects and small plants keep the top layer of the soil nice and fluffed. The heavy trees cause the soil to become tightly packed somewhat underneath the top layer of soil.
e) The soil I collected is a mixture of the tightly packed lower soils along with the top fluffy layer. Therefore the soil that is eroded will be light and fluffy, leaving the heavy and compactable soil. The erosion of the fluffy top soil is happening at the same time as the organisms are refilling it therefore the soil results in the compound layers described above. On the edges of my site I noticed an obscene amount of sand that surrounds the pathways that go through my site. This could be the place at which the eroded soil goes. My site is also close to the ocean and I assume much of the soil gets sent into the ocean. The presence of these soils in the ocean will cause an increase in nutrients for plankton and small fish therefore helping the ecosystem flourish. The gathering of loose soil near the pathways has no affect due to human interference. The soil is clearly monitored and cleared out on a scheduled time.
f) Soil texture has a profound effect on the many organisms that live around the area (both flora and fauna). If it is a clay loam then there will be a significantly different flora and fauna compared to a soil that is mostly sand. Also erosion plays a role in what kind of tolerance the organisms can withstand. If nutrients and foundation is continuously being renewed than the plants and animals that live amongst the soil will reflect these things. These are limiting factors that are determined by soil type all of which can change the abundance of different organisms and flow of nutrients.
First of all, for some reason my camera wont let me upload my pictures onto my computer this week. I'm looking into having the problem fixed and I was hoping to have it done in time to turn my work in but I only have 1 hour left and the tech support people still havent gotten back to me so I had to use an online pictuer of the type of soil I had in my area (silt loam). The URL where I obtained the picture is www.wy.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/soilmoisture/image9a.jpg. Sorry for any inconvenience this poses. Now to the questions...
The type of soil that I found on my site reminded me of typical potting soil that would be used to grow plants. This kind of soil is often absorbant, so that it can hold more water for the plant for longer periods of time therefore decreasing the amount of human attention needed. For this reason, I feel that the soil on my site is fairly absorbant which means that water probably doesnt flow over the land as readily as it would in other places. Instead it is probably absorbed and used to grow the various plants seen in the other pictures.
In the area where the soil was collected there were a large number of bugs and an even larger number of weeds, plants and trees. I think that the bugs probably work to break down organic matter such as fallen trees which provide nutrients for the soil which the plants then use to grow.
I think that this soil probabily is pretty unlikely to be eroded in this particular location. For one reason it doesnt rain a terrible amount which means that the soil can probably handle most of the waterfall through absorbtion. However if they do have a particularly rainy season, than maybe some of the soil would be washed off. In this case, it would probably be washed off into the nearby river which is where most of the water flows to from the area. Its loss from the current location could have a devistating effect because it holds all the water and nutrients that the thousands of plants in the area need to grow. On the other hand it might help to fertilize whereever it ends up as eroded soil.
As an ecologist it is important to know about soil texture because it leads to a better understanding of how the animals, plants and overall ecosystem work together in a particular area to function properly. This knowledge in turn can help them better understand how to protect certain habitats and species.
pH is good, phosphorus is good, potash is borderline, nitrogen is nonexistant! The soil is sandy in texture. I'm having a load of composted horse shit delivered to work into it, that should help with both the texture and the nitrogen.
The Loamy Sand texture of my soil promotes the movement of water through the system. The soil surface features of soil, such as pore size and shape greatly affects the movement of water. Larger pores, like those in sand, conduct water more rapidly than smaller pores, like those in clay. Sandy soils contain larger pores than clay soils, but do not contain as much total pore space.
The types of organisms that are located in the area that I took my sample from were grass, trees, tree roots, and bugs.
The organisms affect the soils' qualities in that they contribute to the richness of organic matter from their waste and decomposition. They also contribute to the soil quality their consumption/use of the nutrients and water found in the soil- by using them, they are depleting the soil of nutrients and water, which needs to be returned somehow.
I believe that this soil is more so weathered than eroded. I say this because the soil located more on the shore line is likely to be eroded, but the sample that I took was farther back from the shoreline, in a wooded area that is flatter. The soil in this area is also protected by the surrounding plant life.
This soil is silt loam soil. Because it is loam, it holds water fairly well, however silt loam tends to have pH imbalances and mineral imbalances. Plants, bees, butterflies and a chicken were all located near this soil type. The plants will draw out any nutrients in the soil. Bees and butterflies will pollinate the plants, however won't have much affect on soil type. The chicken would have picked out beneficial decomposing insects from the soil, causing less chance of nutrient-rich soil. The chicken's droppings may serve as a fertilizer and in fact help the soil. This soil is loose and thus easily eroded. There were barriers put up to block any major erosion. Soil texture is important due to its role in the ecosystem. It has a huge impact on plant growth and the nutrients provided. It is instrumental in any runoff, causing nutrients (or pollutants) to flow into nearby waterways. Good soil can help an ecosystem maintain.
A) Most of the soil at my site is loamy sand.
B) Loamy sand contains a relatively even distribution of clay, sand, and silt. Loamy sands also contains a large amount of nutrients. The particles of these components are small so it is easier to store water and nutrients.
C) When digging up the soil, there were some small insect such as annelids and beetles. Some plant organisms include weeds and porcupine grass.
D) A better quality loamy sand contain more nutrient and better ability to store water as resources for the organism. When the organism contained in the soil dies, it becomes organic matter to improve the quality of the soil.
E) The soil is likely to be eroded, because it does not hold it's shape very well. When moistured, it does not stick together and will be easier to be carried away. If it rained, the soil in my current location will be eroded away because it is at a higher elevation. The soil will erode from higher to lower elevation towards the swamp. There is a lot of organism living around the swamp, the new soil will help the new organisms with more water and nutrient.
F) Soil texture is essential to figure where the organisms get their water and nutrient from. The texture of the soil also determines the organisms' ability to develop and quality of their habitat. We can use soil test to determine which plants are suitable for which type of soil and how they are able to respond to environmental change.
a. My soil's texture aids to water flow and the movement of nutrients, as it is sandy loam and consists of lots of organic matter. It slows down infiltration more than sand or gravel, however. Nutrients are present in the soil and allow for lots of plant life, as shown in the picture.
b. The organisms in the area where I collected the soil included lots of grasses, trees nearby, and tons of bugs. A rolly-polly was walking by as I was doing the soil test.
c. These organisms have several effects on the soil's qualities. First off, they probably remove some of the water and nutrients in the soil. In addition, their death and decomposition help to keep it nutrient rich. This soil seems excellent for sustaining life.
d. The soil I collected could be eroded, but it is at a low and flat location so most likely not without the help of other factors. The nearby hill probably experiences some erosion. The loss of this soil would affect the growing potential of the plants, for if the Organic horizon were to disappear, it would be difficult for plants to get a good hold and live successfully. In my site, it is likely that the soil on the hill would erode to the area where the trail is, where it is a lower height and where people walk. The location it would move to, the trail, would then become more enriched in nutrient-rich soils and perhaps the area would level out, be less hilly and be more flat.
e. To an ecologist, it is important to think about soil texture because most autotrophs are reliant on soil to provide a place for roots. If the soil is a different, less hospitable texture, less or different plants would inhabit it, and because plants are primary producers, all the animals that depend on the plant as food or shelter will most likely die out or change. Soil provides a home for the rest of the present ecosystem.
1. My soil’s texture, which is sandy clay, partly hinders and partly aids in water flow and the movement of nutrients. The movement of water and nutrients in the soil is mostly hindered due to its main component of my soil being clay. Clay is composed of very small particles. It does not allow water to move easily through it. The particles are so small that there is not much air in between the particles and therefore not much room for water, air, and dissolved nutrients in the water to move through the particles of clay. So there is not much movement of water, air, and nutrients in clay in this ecosystem. However, the movement of water and nutrients in the soil is also partly aided due to it also having a component of my soil being sand. Sand is composed of larger particles. It allows water, air, and nutrients to pass quickly through it. The particles are big enough that there is more air in between the particles and therefore more room for water, air, and dissolved nutrients in the water to move through the particles of sand. So there is movement of water, air, and nutrients in the sand. So, since my soil is mostly composed of clay, it mostly hinders the water flow and movement of nutrients.
2. The types of organisms that are in the area where I collected the soil are insects, large trees, small trees, lots of different species of ground brush, moss, deer, squirrels, chipmunks, geese, ducks, turtles, frogs, and fungi.
3. The effects that these organisms have on the soil’s qualities are that the decaying organisms and animal’s excrements add more soil and nutrients like Phosphorus, Nitrogen, and Carbon to the soil, which help the plants grow, so they add to the soil quality. Plant’s roots help hold the soil in place. Animals do the opposite when they burrow into the ground making the soil unstable.
4. The soil I collected is not likely to erode. This is evident in its texture and the soil test’s I performed. When I rolled it into a ball, made it into a ribbon, and supersaturated it, the sandy clay remained in its shape showing that soil is not easily moved. Water moves over it and not through it very much. Also, all of the plants hold the soil together making it less likely to erode. The loss of the soil would affect the current location by that it may expose some of the plant’s roots, which may hurt the plant and may even kill it. This is because it may fall over or its roots may not be able to take up enough water and nutrients to keep it growing. The loss of the soil would also affect the current location by that it may ruin some animal’s habitats. The soil would erode to the pond down the hill in my site. The soil’s presence would affect the location it moves to by that it would make the water have a higher concentration of nutrients, organic matter, and soil in general. This adds nutrients for aquatic plants to take up and use to grow. It would also reduce water quality and may negatively affect aquatic animal’s habitats.
5. As an ecologist, it is important to think about soil texture because it affects the entire integrity of the location. It can positively and negatively affect the organisms that inhabit the location and manmade structures in the location. It affects the most essential component of life, water, and its flow through the soil and to organisms. It also affects the types of plants and animals that can live and thrive in the environment.
a) What type of soil is at your site?
The type of soil in my location is sand and loamy sand.
b) How does your soil’s texture aid or hinder water flow and the movement of nutrients?
For the sand soil type it shows the lack of nutrients probably caused by the human interactions. The sand soil type was found in the areas near the road. Water flowing after it rains brings the inorganic materials into the soil near the road. The loamy sand soil was found further away from the road. Even though it is still sandy it held more moisture, insisting that it can hold more water and there is more nutrients in it.
c) What types of organisms are in the area where you collected the soil?
In the sandy soil, the organisms collected were either just ants and weeds. I noticed that there were holes in the sandy soil, this could from organisms that live under the soil such as lizards. In the loamy sand the organisms collected was ants and also sails. This makes sense since the loamy sand is more moist it holds nutrients that the sail can decompose.
d) What effects do these organisms have on the soil’s qualities?
The sails can decompose the organic material in the soil. The ants can aerate the soil. These two things can only have a positive effect.
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?
The sand soil type that I collected I think is eroded. It is very dry, you can tell that there is not much nutrients in the sand. It wouldn't be any benefit to plant organisms. The sand soil was mostly found near human influences, like near the road. Waste from cars and emissions of carbon dioxide is the probable cause to why the soil is so sandy. The sand is detriment because the other soil that I found closest to the sand soil was moist but still a dry. It is clearly eroding the soil near it.
f) As an ecologist, why is it important to think about soil texture?
It is important to think about soil texture because it can determine what plant species can thrive, how nutrients flow to other organisms, and how water is flowing throughout the environment.
My soil texture is sand which is very porous so water goes through it quickly and doesn't really run over the soil (sand). I see many species of birds ie. Seagulls, ducks, herons, swan, and geese. These organisms poop on the sand giving it nutrients temporarily until the water erodes these nutrients away. My soil is very easily eroded since it is sand, and if eroded the soil texture and elevation will change. And the place the sand erodes to might become less healthy due to the porosity and how easy it is to erode.
Questions:
a. My soil's texture aided in the water flow and movement of nutrients.
b. Worms, ants, squirrels, birds, plants, and trees.
c. Worms can increase quality or fertility of soil, and the plants and trees produce roots that pack the soil into a more dense structure.
d.Yes, the soil is on the riverbank and could possibly erode, end up in the bottom of the river, therefore making it more shallow.