Sep 192011
It’s official – data collection has begun! Students in 13 SW Michigan school districts are busy learning how to sample plant biomass, insect and plant biodiversity, characterize soil and measure soil chemicals, and survey landscape-level characteristics of their schoolyards as part of the BEST Plots Research Network. Their data will become part of a large database that students and teachers can use to address questions such as:
- Do plants yield more biomass when they are grown as a mixture of plants (prairie) rather than a monoculture (switchgrass)?
- Does the soil composition affect plant biomass when we compare across schools?
- Does fertilization impact species diversity in the mixed prairie plots?
- Does the amount of pavement near the plots versus forest or grass impact insect biodiversity?
Schoolyear workshops will continue at KBS this year to support our GK-12 activities. Our all-day workshops are planned for October 5th, December 7th, February 29th, and April 11th this year. We look forward to seeing you!