April 9, 2019

BioCube Worksheet 1
Biocube number #3 - Vernal Pool
Names: Germán Rieckehoff-Strong, Patrick Cann, Brittany Ye, Jacob Gaydos, Jade Martinez

1. Ecosystem diversity. ​After travelling around Foxcroft Farm how many ecosystems can you identify? Note where you found them on the foxcroft farm
   map provided below (place the corresponding letter (a-h) on the map in the
   appropriate location)

a. River
b. Vernal Pool
c. Swamp
d. Coniferous Forest

1. Which ecosystem was your group assigned? Vernal Pool

2. Where and why did you choose to place your BioCube in that ecosystem? We placed it in the middle of a small pond in order
   a. GPS coordinates (42.3467239, -72.4963831)

b. Physical description of your BioCube placement location:
We placed it in the middle of a small pond half submerged in the water, several plants anchored it down. The other half was open to air. The cube was placed at the base of a tree that was at the edge of the pool .

c. Explanation of why you placed your BioCube in that location
By placing the cube in an area that was flooded, in front of a tree, and open to the air, we made it so the cube was exposed to a variety of niches and different environments to allow for a maximum amount of species to be found within the BioCube.

1. Listening to nature. ​During each visit to your BioCube you will sit silently for 15 min and simply listen to what you can hear. Describe your experiences during
   this first listening period.
   My very first thought was ‘This is pleasant’. I want that on record. The nature was beautiful to listen to, and it makes me wish I did it more often. I heard various birds, and I’m fairly certain an insect flew by my ear. I felt the wind blow across my face, not too cold though, like peck on the cheek from mother nature. I heard frogs, too - peepers I’m fairly sure. For me it’s a new ecosystem, being from Puerto Rico - I never noticed just how different the world sounds depending where you are in nature - it makes me want to hear all the soundscapes. This came to an abrupt end, however, when a plane flew by, followed by a train.

2. Observing nature.​ During each visit to your BioCube you will make observations about the biodiversity you observe in the ecosystem in general and in your BioCube more specifically. As you notice biodiversity you should take photographs of what you see and write notes about each photograph. If you are unable to take a photograph - such as when you hear a bird but don’t see it - then simply take notes about what you heard. Please be sure to take legible
   notes so that the TA’s can read your notes at a later date.

a. Ecosystem observations
The water is murky/full of mud
Hay surrounding the pool
Tree extending over the pool
Sounds corresponding to ‘Peepers’ but cannot be found
Multiple spiders
Various plants
Spiny
Budding
b. BioCube observations
Some algae
Various leaves
The tree the Cube was anchored on

Posted on April 20, 2019 06:26 PM by grieckehoffs