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Soil testing ... each rod was a metre in length. I did not see the entire operation, but there were at least 5 rods down there ... possibly more. This part of the process was for testing the soil density by seeing how many "hits" were needed to push the rods to certain depths.
A picture of my soil location after I removed debris.
A) I found my soil to be silt clay loam and this soil has a moderately fine texture. The finer the texture, the greater the chance of the soil holding the water, meaning that the soil will not move as freely. This also means that the soil is more nutrient rich because the nutrients do not flow as freely and the soil retains a lot of nutrients.
B) Plant life was in the area where I collected my soil (no vegetables or fruits). Also I noticed some slugs and rollie-pollie-ollies :)
C) The plant life helps the soil become more easily "grounded up". Since it is hard for plant roots to penetrate the soil, if the plant roots do it will help the ground become more "softer" for other plant life around the area. Also, slugs will find cracks in the soil during the day and since my soil can crust, it helps the ground become looser for plants to seed. All in all the organisms help the soil quality by taking up extra nutrients and water in the soil for healthy growth and help with mixing the nutrients and water up by loosening the soil.
D)My soil is likely to be eroded because my soil tends to crust at the surface and this allows water in and moves the soil. The current location could become less populated with organisms because the erosion would possibly wipe out the plants by exposing their roots and force organisms (Such as snails) to a different hiding place. It would most likely erode to the left of my picture because the highest elevation is in front of my location and this would make water seep down and erode. The presence of would affect the location it is moved to by having extra soil and this means more holding capacity and nutrients.
E) It is important for an ecologist to think about soil texture because one needs to know what types of organisms are most present in that location if they are trying to manage a specific species. It is also important because one needs to know how to handle the types organisms they are trying to conserve (if they are) and this means more tilling/less tilling, etc because of less or more water in the soil.
a) Sandy loam
b) The large sandy soil particles in sandy loam allows for a larger capacity of water flow, and in turn, allows for the movement of nutrients.
c) Types of organisms surrounding soil: pine trees, cypress trees, periwinkles, blackberry bush, pill bugs
d) The wooded species' debris, as in wood particles, makes up a good amount of the soil.
e) Sandy loam tends to be less erodible than that of the silt types. Without a doubt, there would be no ecosystem if the area were to loss this soil. If the soil were to erode, it would end up near the marsh in the middle of my area. It's presence in the marsh may allow for the growth of more water-supported plants.
f) As an ecologist, soil texture is important, as it can help determine the production of the plant species in the area, in relation to the average annual precipitation.
Questions
a.) I did a soil test in two different areas of my site. One area contained loamy sand and the other area just contained sand.
b.) Because the soil has large air spots, water passes through it more easily. However, this results in it not being able to store nutrients as well.
c.) In both areas, only a few organisms existed in soil. There weren't too many insects but a good amount of leaves and grass. I had to remove all of those before performing the soil test.
d.) These organisms took up a lot of the soil. When I removed it all, there appeared to be very little of the soil itself. I had to do a lot of digging in order to gather a good amount of soil to form into a ball.
e.) Since I used two areas, I think the area with the sand is more likely to be eroded than the area with the loamy sand. The loamy sand is in greater abundance. The loss of sand wouldn't effect much of the location in general.
f.) Soil texture is important because it helps to determine how nutrients are passed in that area, which can have a direct effect on the organisms that live and thrive there.
My soil texture aided water flow because my soil was a silt loam, therefore the soil compacted but remained loose enough for the flow of water and movement of nutrients.
The soil I collected was surrounded by grass and small leaves, as well as ants and other tiny insects.
These organism contribute to the soil organic matter which helps improve the overall structure of the soil. Organic matter allows the soil to support beneficial microorganisms that improve the soil’s quality. Also, provides essential nutrients that are crucial for other plants to grow.
The soil I collected is in an undisturbed area with natural vegetation, therefore I don’t think it is likely that the soil is eroded. On the other hand, due to climatic factors such as rainfall, wind, and the drastic temperature changes between seasons, there is a possibility that the soil was eroded naturally.
The loss of soil would affect the current locations natural vegetation and the organisms that rely on that vegetation.
Since my site is on a slight hill leading down to a pond, I would assume that the soil would erode down into the water.
The presence of soil into the water could affect it by causing different plants to grow in the water, which could effect the whole ecosystem in the pond.
It is important to think about soil texture because different plant organisms grow depending on the soil texture. The plant organisms present in an ecosystem determine which species are present and what nutrients are provided for the greater benefit of that ecosystem.
Creating a ribbon of the soil... I estimated it was about 4 cm in length and the texture of the wet soil was smooth as opposed to gritty.
Silty Loam
a) Silty loam allows nutrients and water to pass through, but not as well as sandy loam. When packed, the soil sticks together, but the edges crumble away when tossed.
b) In the area around the soil there were ants, worms, other little insects, and green leafy plants.
c) The insects help the soil by burying organic material, giving it nutrients. The plants then use the nutrients in order to grow.
d) The soil I collected is likely to be eroded as it is located in one of the high areas of my land. This means that it is more likely to be washed away by rain or other precipitation.
a) Sandy Loam
b) The sandy soil has enough clay and organic matter to facilitate water and nutrient retention. The large sand particles facilitates water and nutrient flow, due to the spaces that it creates.
c) There are many black berry bushes, trees, bees, flowering plants, and many birds.
d) These organisms provide nutrients back to the soil. Trees and plants shed their old leaves which decomposes and becomes soil.
e) Yes, the soil is likely to be eroded, mainly due to the fact that the exposed soil rests on a slope. strong winds and rain could contribute to erosion. The eroded soil would flow towards Lake Merced.
f) Soil texture determines what types of organisms can potentially inhabit an area.
The trail soil was difficult to scrap up enough to form a ball. You can see the sand sitting on top of the trail in patches. I believe that this sand may have been deposited here when the trail was developed.
This machine could detect electric cables underground. But it had not occurred to them that there might be irrigation pipes and gas mains running underneath!
I only know where some of them are ... others were dug in years before I got there. Luckily they did not burst anything!
a) The type of soil at my site is loam sand.
b) My soil's texture aid and hinder water flow and movement of nutrients by absorbing those nutrients and water.
c) The types of organisms in my area were birds and ducks.
d) The effects these organisms have on the soil's qualities is spreading nutrients around.
e) The soil I collected doesn't seem to be eroded. Its loss would affect the current location by having a lack of nutrients for plants and organisms. However, the site of my soil is more likely to erode if it were sitting on the surface of the soil and the location it would move to is attracting more organisms to migrate over.
f) It is important to think about soil texture as an ecologist because it can help them see how it can have an impact on plants and organisms as well as water retention and how water flows.
a) Sand
b) Water flows right through it, its sand. Nutrients flow through it along with the water.
c) This was collected under eucalyptus trees which originate from Australia. There are vines which grow up the trees as well.
d) Eucalyptus trees shed a lot of leaf-litter which returns their nutrients to the soil. They also block out other plants from living underneath them.
e) Yes there is erosion occurring on site. This was collected at the top of a basin where the organic layer and A layer of the soil are often shallow. The displaced soil may nourish plants downhill from the site.
3) It is important as an ecologist to have an understanding of soil science and the soil composition of the site being studied as the soil determines what life will be supported their. While this sand would indicate that there is not very nutritious soil at this site there is clearly a lot of biotic life that it supports and feeds. This is because the large plants have roots which extend deep beneath the surface layer of the soil. If equipped with a soil auger and a mallet, the B and C layers of the soil structure could be examined. That would explain the geological history of the site which could provide insight to the history of the biotic life of Stern Grove Park.
from the soil test, i found out that my soil is silty clay loam. it was very dried when i collected my sample so i had to add some water to the soil sample. when i added water to my soil sample it turned from light brown to very dark color.
How does your soil’s texture aid or hinder water flow and the movement of nutrients?
since my soil is silty clay loam i would think that the soil would hold water and nutrients very well, since this soil texture prevents the movement of water and nutrients.
What types of organisms are in the area where you collected the soil?
the soil that i collected is next to a tree. on the ground i find different insects including worms.
What effects do these organisms have on the soil’s qualities?
i think the worms help the movement of soils. while the other insect and tree's twigs and leaves can contribute to the organic resources of the soil which in turn is a major source of nutrients of the soil.
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 is silty clay loam, most likely the soil isn't going to be eroded. if my soil sample would erode most likely the soil would loose nutrients and in turn not many plants would flourish in this area, or perhaps even the tree. if the soil was eroded, it would like it erode by the river since it have lower elevation than the site where i collect my soil. i think if my soil were eroded closer to the river, the soil around the river would probably have the same organism that were present today, since it have the same nutrients as my current soil sample site.
As an ecologist why is it important to think about soil texture?
as an ecologist it is important to think about soil texture because soil texture can determine what type of organisms live around it. soil texture is the basis of the type of organisms' habitat.
Soil testing ... each rod was a metre in length. I did not see the entire operation, but there were at least 5 rods down there ... possibly more. This part of the process was for testing the soil density by seeing how many "hits" were needed to push the rods to certain depths.
a) My site had sandy loam
b) Water moves more quickly through soil with larger particles, so since the soil it my site seems to be quite sandy, it should allow for relatively free/rapid movement of water. The soil will be able to retain less water than soils with finer particles. Since there will be less soil particles for them to associate with, nutrients should also move quite freely around the site.
c) The organisms in the area are mostly grasses.
d) Grasses are generally good for soil structure and can increase organic carbon content. If the grasses were being grazed then that could remove nutrients from the soil and possibly not return them (particularly if the grazers were excreting elsewhere). However, there does not seem to be many or any animals in the site that graze on these grasses.
e) The soil probably has a good chance of being eroded due to its texture, however the prevalence of grasses growing in the area limits the chance. Also, although there is a lot of human traffic through the site, there are very well defined trails and people tend to stay on them so this will limit erosion due to human activity. Erosion would reduce the quality of the soil and perhaps limit the number of plants that would grow there. Additionally, it would likely wind up in the creek, where it would muddy the water and effect the biotic systems there.
f) It is important to consider soil properties because soil is essentially at the base of all trophic systems. Since it determines how, where, and what plants will grow, it hence influences the entire system.
My soil turned out to be a Sandy Loam. Alot of plant life resides around the area I found this soil in, I think their roots probably effect the soil's texture. I think it could be eroded, which would make walking around the area awkward- most of the soil would travel downhill into the pond nearby.
a) The type of soil at my site is loam sand.
b) My soil's texture aid and hinder water flow and movement of nutrients by absorbing those nutrients and water.
c) The types of organisms in my area were birds and ducks.
d) The effects these organisms have on the soil's qualities is spreading nutrients around.
e) The soil I collected doesn't seem to be eroded. Its loss would affect the current location by having a lack of nutrients for plants and organisms. However, the site of my soil is more likely to erode if it were sitting on the surface of the soil and the location it would move to is attracting more organisms to migrate over.
f) It is important to think about soil texture as an ecologist because it can help them see how it can have an impact on plants and organisms as well as water retention and how water flows.
The soil that is around the perimeter of my site could be classified as sand, as it breaks apart very easily. The moist soil did not form a ball, and it was already moist due to rain. The soil's texture could hinder the movement of nutrients, as sand can filter particles in water. There are many plants that absorb nutrients in my plot study, as well as birds and fish. These organisms absorb water and nutrients, which can contribute to the quality of sand. Also, the plants ability to grow in sand also is an important factor. The soil collected is likely to have been eroded, as sand is very easily moved by factors such as wind and excess water runoff. The loss would have affected the current location by pushing more of the sand into the large bed of water. Its presence would absorb the water from the large wetland, however the effect would not be catastrophic. As an ecologist, it is important to consider soil texture in an environment, as it can affect the organisms that live there, the movement of nutrients, and the way that the organisms can survive.
a) My site has sandy clay soil.
b) This type of soil texture hinders water flow and movement of nutrients because there is less space between particles for it to move through.
c) In this area the organisms present were snails and pickleweed.
d) The pickleweed has roots in the soil, but there was very little amounts of this plant in the immediate area so it does no have much of an impact. More plants could create change in the soil by creating space and taking up and adding nutrients to the soil.
e) This soil type is likely to be eroded because it has the ability to move down a slope. When it does, it will move into the street nearby. This would cause slopes nearby to move downward and more dirt would be in areas where people walk on paths.
f) It is important to talk about soil texture because that is where plants grow and the level of available nutrients affects what types of plants can grow there and subsequently the level of overall biodiversity due to animal species that live off of those plants.
Soil testing ... each rod was a metre in length. I did not see the entire operation, but there were at least 5 rods down there ... possibly more. This part of the process was for testing the soil density by seeing how many "hits" were needed to push the rods to certain depths.
The soil is sandy loam. I think it aids in the movement being sandy clay loam in that the sand makes the land not compacted so that the runoff doesn’t pool but there is enough clay to prevent a lot of erosion. It also hinders water movement because the sand can let some nutrients go and the clay can clump making it hard to spread the nutrients if they gather in one area. There were worms and other microorganisms around the pond and stream and then there were fish, turtles, insects, etc in the pond/stream. The worms and microorganisms help keep the soil loose where the clay is a problem and the other critters in the water and around help with replacing the nutrients in and around the water. I think that erosion may be a small problem due to the fact that there is water moving but I don’t think that runoff erosion is a big problem because the area is flatter.
The texture of my soil is sandy clay loam.
Clay particles pack more tightly together, so they will retain water and nutrients better.
Organisms near this area are deciduous trees, shrubs, insects, squirrels, deer, and many others.
Decomposing plant and animal matter as well as excrements will leave nutrients in the soil for living plants to make use of, and plant roots can also deposit nutrients in the soil.
Clay-like soil resists erosion, but it is still possible. Because this area lies adjacent to a cornfield, it is more likely that soil from nearby will erode into my area, which because of the many trees will help retain soil amounts.
As an ecologist, soil texture is important because of the way it affects water movement throughout an area and how nutrients are distributed for future use
My soil is clay so it hinders the flow of nutrients and water through the environment. The nutrients rest mostly on top of the soil because it is so thick and nonporous and wash away with the first rain. Water soaks into the clay and keeps some the environment overly saturated with water. Some organisms in this area are clovers, maple trees, large ferns, tall grasses, and some small flowering vines. These organisms lend nutrients to the soil and may help keep the soil from remaining too moist by removing some of the water it retains with their roots. This soil is unlikely to be eroded because of its thick and heavy consistency. Its loss would result in a whole new arrangement of plant life better suited to the new soil. This in turn would change the animal life found in this area because the plants they feed on could no longer survive in the different type of soil. It would erode to the gully in the middle of the woods and its presence would create more plants in the area which is mostly barren now plant life akin to the plants found in the area where I found the soil. This would include vines and clovers as well as flowering ground covering plants. As an ecologist it is important to think about soil texture because it is an abiotic factor that plays an important part in the ecosystem it can affect the type of plant species that are able to grow in it which in turn affects the types of organisms able to survive in the environment.
a) What type of soil is at your site?
Silty clay
b) How does your soil’s texture aid or hinder water flow and the movement of nutrients?
This soil was very dry. It would help with water movement, but would not be so good in nutrient retention.
c) What types of organisms are in the area where you collected the soil?
Shrubs, bushes, and small trees. There were also a lot of birds/finches and some ants.
d) What effects do these organisms have on the soil’s qualities?
Ants build their nest underground, so they can add to the soil’s richness. The roots of plans may also have an affect with nutrient exchange. The soil provides great support and anchors the plants.
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 is likely to be eroded since it is located by the bridge connecting both parking lots. Many joggers and their dogs can affect this site. This will cause the soil to erode towards the concrete bridge.
f) As an ecologist, why is it important to think about soil texture?
Soil texture gives us an idea of what it is composed of. We can use this information to see which plants will benefit from this type of soil. Some animals depend on certain plant species to thrive.
Location 2 was taken from a dryer area- closer to the grassier area, rather than the marsh. Refer to watershed photo. In this location there was 66% sand, 1% clay and 33% silt. After looking at the chart, I can to the conclusion that it was sandy loam.
1. Since this soil is sandy loam, the water, nutrients, and air are able to flow easily through it because there is more sand than anything else, which means that there are bigger particles, which indicates that water, nutrients, and air will not get trapped like in a clay based soil.
2. There were a lot of grasses, and vegetation. Not as much organic material as the other two locations.
3. These grasses affect the composition of the soil in the sense of pH, and chemical balances.
4. This soil would be more likely to erode because it is sandy loam. If the soil were to move, then the plant's roots in the area could become weak from exposure, from there not being enough soil. It could affect the location that it moves to in the sense that it could change the pH to other locations.
A. The type of soil is loam because the ribbon length is less than 2.5cm.
B. I think water moves by gravity flows through open pores between soil and particles. Water flows fast because loam has very large pores. Due to the fact water flow fast through loam, plants in the loam would easily get nutrients from air and environment.
C. Grass are showed in the picture. I also saw earthworm and ants in the soil.
D. According to the article, "How earthworms can help your soil," the author states earthworms can improved nutrient availability for soil and improved soil structure.
E. The environment I choosed is golden gate park. Therefore, the soil is not eroded. They are not lack of water.
F. Soil is very important factor in an environment . The quality of soil in the environement stands for the quality of this environment. In addition, the quality lives of organisms under the soil also need good quality of soil.
The soil's texture aids in water flow in the hill soil, at the pond it holds water. The organisms present are grass, field weeds, bugs, and birds and frogs. The organisms keep the soil from eroding away.
The soil is not likely to be eroded because the hill is not steep enough, the tall grass and roots holds soil together, and all the soil would move down hill into the pond and probably fill it in.
This soil near the water is a loam soil.
My soil is clay so it hinders the flow of nutrients and water through the environment. The nutrients rest mostly on top of the soil because it is so thick and nonporous and wash away with the first rain. Water soaks into the clay and keeps some the environment overly saturated with water. Some organisms in this area are clovers, maple trees, large ferns, tall grasses, and some small flowering vines. These organisms lend nutrients to the soil and may help keep the soil from remaining too moist by removing some of the water it retains with their roots. This soil is unlikely to be eroded because of its thick and heavy consistency. Its loss would result in a whole new arrangement of plant life better suited to the new soil. This in turn would change the animal life found in this area because the plants they feed on could no longer survive in the different type of soil. It would erode to the gully in the middle of the woods and its presence would create more plants in the area which is mostly barren now plant life akin to the plants found in the area where I found the soil. This would include vines and clovers as well as flowering ground covering plants. As an ecologist it is important to think about soil texture because it is an abiotic factor that plays an important part in the ecosystem it can affect the type of plant species that are able to grow in it which in turn affects the types of organisms able to survive in the environment.