Kluane spruce beetle interpretative trail
Over the past three years, Experiential Science 11 classes have been involved in a variety of studies about spruce beetles and the affects spruce beetles have upon forests in the Haines Junction area. As a result of an interest in these topics we have developed a wide range of related field activities. Many of these were adapted to serve as interactive educational activities that would extend many of the principles identified in the Spruce Beetle Ecological Trail. We have 9 studies activities along the trail. These include the following:
1. Fire scar analysis: includes wafers from fire scared trees, for the area, not the trail
2. hare browse inventory
3. hare turd inventory ( nutrient recycling)
4. triangular plot, forest structure analysis
5. Spruce beetle probe method
6. course woody debris recycling
7. woodpecker census
8. Wildlife tree study
9. changing forest profile photo log
The interpretative activities address the questions we have been studying as well as developing additional studies that could be undertaken by students. For example; we retained the standardized spruce beetle study methodology with some additional data collection, to afford students an understanding of this method and some of the strengths and deficiencies with standardized methods. We developed the interpretative activities, assembled the equipment needed for the studies, and packaged the studies for class use. We used a bank of questions as a means for organizing the following field studies. How extensive is the spruce beetle infestation? Study Approach: Spruce beetle probes following conventional methodology but extending the trees counted to include trees greater than 5 cm DBH rather than limiting the study to trees greater than 17.5 cm DBH. Samples located parallel to each others along baselines in infested areas. Which trees are attacked by the spruce beetle? Study Approach: Examination of factors differing between attacked (first year) trees and those resisting attack. Examination of sap flow rate, record of phloem thickness, moisture meter recording on bark probes. Are some trees more resistant to beetle attack? Study Approach: Examination of factors differing between attacked (first year) trees and those resisting attack. Examination of sap flow rate, record of phloem thickness, moisture meter recording on bark probes. Has the spruce beetle infestation had an affect on local woodpecker populations? How does the spruce beetle infestation affect the visual landscape over time? How do dead trees contribute to the forest nutrient cycle? Has the spruce beetle infestation had an effect upon hare use of the area? What do dendrochronology studies indicate about the growth of the forest near Bear Creek Summit? What is happening the ground cover with the thinning of the forest because of the spruce beetle infestation
Over the past three years, Experiential Science 11 classes have been involved in a variety of studies about spruce beetles and the affects spruce beetles have upon forests in the Haines Junction area. As a result of an interest in these topics we have developed a wide range of related field activities. Many of these were adapted to serve as interactive educational activities that would extend many of the principles identified in the Spruce Beetle Ecological Trail. We have 9 studies activities along the trail. These include the following:
1. Fire scar analysis: includes wafers from fire scared trees, for the area, not the trail
2. hare browse inventory
3. hare turd inventory ( nutrient recycling)
4. triangular plot, forest structure analysis
5. Spruce beetle probe method
6. course woody debris recycling
7. woodpecker census
8. Wildlife tree study
9. changing forest profile photo log
The interpretative activities address the questions we have been studying as well as developing additional studies that could be undertaken by students. For example; we retained the standardized spruce beetle study methodology with some additional data collection, to afford students an understanding of this method and some of the strengths and deficiencies with standardized methods. We developed the interpretative activities, assembled the equipment needed for the studies, and packaged the studies for class use. We used a bank of questions as a means for organizing the following field studies. How extensive is the spruce beetle infestation? Study Approach: Spruce beetle probes following conventional methodology but extending the trees counted to include trees greater than 5 cm DBH rather than limiting the study to trees greater than 17.5 cm DBH. Samples located parallel to each others along baselines in infested areas. Which trees are attacked by the spruce beetle? Study Approach: Examination of factors differing between attacked (first year) trees and those resisting attack. Examination of sap flow rate, record of phloem thickness, moisture meter recording on bark probes. Are some trees more resistant to beetle attack? Study Approach: Examination of factors differing between attacked (first year) trees and those resisting attack. Examination of sap flow rate, record of phloem thickness, moisture meter recording on bark probes. Has the spruce beetle infestation had an affect on local woodpecker populations? How does the spruce beetle infestation affect the visual landscape over time? How do dead trees contribute to the forest nutrient cycle? Has the spruce beetle infestation had an effect upon hare use of the area? What do dendrochronology studies indicate about the growth of the forest near Bear Creek Summit? What is happening the ground cover with the thinning of the forest because of the spruce beetle infestation