Field Trip Report Sheet
Sample #2
Walk in a treed area and in an open area. Write a description of each of the following environmental factors in each ecosystem (e.g., wind strength may be "moderate" in the treed area, "strong" in the open area).
Factors
| Treed Area | Open Area | |
| 1. Wind strength | ||
| 2. Intensity of light on the ground | ||
| 3. Air temperature | ||
| 4. Ground temperature | ||
| 5. Soil moisture | ||
| 6. Soil temperature | ||
| 7. Relative humidity | ||
| 8. Number of different plants | ||
| 9. Number of different animals |
Questions
1. Account for the differences in the following abiotic factors in the two ecosystems:
- wind speed
- air temperature
- ground temperature
- relative humidity
2. Which area has the greatest number of living organisms? Why?
3. What happens to light, wind, moisture, and soil temperature when:
- a forest is removed from an area?
- a few trees are removed from a forest?
* For an interesting variation, compare a coniferous with a
deciduous forest.
Sample Plot Description Sheet
Intensively study a meter square plot and record your observations below:
Type of Plant, lichen, fungi (draw, describe or name)
| Abundant | Frequent | Rare |
Type of insects and invertebrates (draw, describe or name)
| Abundant | Frequent | Rare |
