Field Lab #2 Hoh River Valley

T3 Fall 2001

Gestalt of the forest

We will do this out at Rialto Beach by hiking up into the forest above the beach. Head into the forest with a partner and then pick a spot. Sit for 15-20 minutes and just let your mind wander on the sights around you. At the end of this period, jot down your feelings about this particular forest and spot. How do you feel here? Be as specific as you can. If there are certain aspects of the forest that really strike you, take note of them.

Observation and sketching

For each plant you sketch, locate a specimen and record the following information. Take detailed notes—attempt to describe it fully. Use your ruler to give measurements of the various parts of the plants. Observe closely, use your hand lens whenever it will help.

Overall forest type-Observe the overstory trees, the understory trees (shrub layer), list the most abundant herbaceous plants

Habitat/ niche-observe the immediate surroundings where the plant is growing, include what it is growing on. Characterize the microhabitat of the plant—condition of soil, surrounding drainage patterns, other plants in the area.

Physical description of plant-describe the plant body in as much detail as possible. Include texture of leaves, stems, arrangement of leaves, growth habit (spreading, upright etc.), description of leaves, overall plant form, any reproductive structures, colors, size, etc. Look at several individuals to get an idea of the variation.

Species Area Curve

While half of the class is rafting down the Hoh, the other half will enter the Olympic National Park and hike the Spruce trail. This trail goes along the river and on the trail, you will go through three different forest stands that are in different stages of succession. As part of this hike, you will need to complete the following exercise on species/area curves.

One of the questions that needs to be addressed in any field study is "How much area should we sample?" Ideally, we would like to study all the individuals, but time and funds usually limit the scope of the samples. One way of answering this question is to sample a number of small plots and identify the species present in each plot. A cumulative count of the species can then be tabulated and the sampling continues until no or "hardly any" new species show up. On this trip, you will sample three plots (one in each forest type on the trail). We will compile and analyze the data next week in class.

    1. Materials needed: notebook, plant id book, string 3.16 m (10 ft 4 in) long
    2. Once you are in the appropriate forest type, randomly select an area to sample. One way to do a "semi-random" sample, is to have you and your partner randomly pick numbers between 1 and 100. Assign compass directions to each number and then pace off the numbers chosen. Make this spot a particular corner of your plot. e.g. you pick 77; your partner picks 12. So you pace 77 paces perpendicular to the trail and then 12 parallel. Make this the SW corner of your plot.
    3. Using the string, measure and mark the corners of your plot (a square 3.16 m on a side). Use some natural materials (e.g. a piece of lichen or bark to mark the corners of the plot).
    4. Identify each woody perennial plant that is within your plot. You do not need to count how many individuals of each species there are, just a list of all the species in the plot. Create a species list for your plot.
    5. Repeat in each of the forest types. Clearly mark your lists so that you know which stand they came from