Fieldwork at the Experimental Forest

Greetings Families!
As I am sure most of you have heard by now, our fieldwork today was really exciting!  Before I say anymore, I want to give a HUGE thanks to Kate Jaeckel, Lahde Forbes, Megan Landers, and Amy Ball for helping to drive and keep an eye on our CREW.  Each group was given three plots to sample, and each plot was approximately 5% of an acre.  The idea is that each group samples a plot within a burn site, an intermediate or sub-climax site, and a climax site.  We will be conducting similar fieldwork next week, but instead of the experimental forest we will be in St. Joe National Forest.  This CREW worked very hard today and each member should be proud of themselves!

Avery, Frances, and Kayley on the drive up.

To get to the site we had to hike about a 1/2 mile up to the ridge line.

This photo was taken from the top of the ridge looking West across the burn site.

Lee and Avery establishing a plot within the burn site.

Frances standing by an old growth ponderosa.  Notice the burn scars on the trunk.  Ponderosa is known as an individual persister.  Its thick bark and elevated crown allow fully matured ponderosas to resist fire damage.

Ivy, Beza, and Karina working in a sub-climax ponderosa-douglas-fir stand.

Katie and Kayley taking fuel measurements

Owen, Avery, and Lee (behind the tree), collecting DBH on an old growth pondersa.

Solomon and Chris establishing a plot within the burn site.

Emily and Avery working on fuels and duff measurements.

John Schwandt and John Kole working in a sub-climax grande fir stand.

I would say finishing three plots is worth a smile!

Just one of many trees indicating high woodpecker frequency.

Avery, Owen, and Lee triumphed over the dreaded 'Plot 13,' mightiest of plots!