Boreal Ecology Article Review: "Lowland boreal forests characterization in Algonquin Provincial Park relative to beaver (Castor Canadensis) foraging and edaphic factors"

This is a review for the article: "Lowland boreal forests characterization in Algonquin Provincial Park relative to beaver (Castor Canadensis) foraging and edaphic factors".

Noble, T. Donkor is associated with the department of Renewable Resources in University of Alberta, and is currently (year 2009) a professor in the Biology Department of Canadian University College.

This paper covers a research done in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, that studied the combined effects of herbivory by beavers and edaphic conditions on woody plant community structure of lowland boreal forests that surrounds beaver ponds. 16 beaver ponds were studied (one being control with beaver absence) and analyzed for soil moisture and nutrient content relative to its distance from the pond, the number of certain saplings also relative to the distance, and the different species that was present also distance related. The results showed that herbivory decreased with increased distance from the pond, soil moisture decreased with increased distance, intermediate distance showed highest level of richness in woody plant species, mesic species decreased with distance while xeric species increased with distance, and nutrient content (ie. phosphate, magnesium and organic content) did not vary consistently with distance.

The major strength of this paper is that it is put in an unsophisticated manner– though the experiment requires complicated procedures it is interpreted into a simple and accurate data, which is straightforward and consistent. The weaknesses of this paper are its generalizations and assumptions – for example, the precise number of beavers in different ponds should have been recorded in the paper for detailed comparison along with the average measurements. Also, assuming that beaver’s preferred woody species should be more abundant with increased distance from the ponds (pg 6) should not have been made since the species live in different soil-moisture levels, which vary with distance – number of species that cannot tolerate drier soils will decrease with increased distance. Overall, the experiment done in this paper gives an excellent general view of the effects of the factors that were tested and increased my understanding of the boreal forests in relation to ponds.

Boreal Ecology Article Review: "Testing hypotheses of trophic level interactions: a boreal forest ecosystem"

This is a review for the article: "Testing hypotheses of trophic level interactions: a boreal forest ecosystem".

A. R. E. Sinclair is associated with the Centre for Biodiversity Research in University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

This paper describes an experiment done in boreal forest ecosystem at Kluane, Yukon, for a period of approximately 10 years, to determine whether the trophic level interaction follows the bottom-up hypothesis or the top-down hypothesis. Two types of experiments were done to test the hypotheses – addition and removal experiments – where they tested the direct and indirect effects of adding certain factors (fertilizer, hare food) and effects of removing certain factors (predator, hare, vegetation), and effects of adding and removing simultaneously to test the double effects. The results indicated that top-down hypothesis had a stronger direct effect on the trophic level interaction where predators of higher trophic level controlled the quantity of their prey.

The major strength of this paper is its thorough experimentation, where they analyzed many different crucial aspects of direct and indirect effects, as well as the double effects of addition and removal of factors – which requires a high level of knowledge and a broad range of view, which they used to form logical conclusions. The weakness of this paper is in the procedures – if there was any level of wind, it may have moved the fertilizers during the air-distribution if they were not extremely careful; another weakness is that the length of this experiment was not long enough to observe the full extent of the indirect effects. Regardless, the experiment has taken a step from looking at the hypotheses at a theory level to the actual real-life view.

This paper fits well with the course context since it analyzes the interaction between trophic levels in the boreal forest specifically (since the top-down hypotheses may not apply to other episodes). This reading helped understand the direct and indirect significance of predator-prey interactions in the boreal forest and both bottom-up and top-down hypotheses, and what must happen in order to make the hypothesis true.

Source Cited:

 “Testing hypotheses of trophic level interactions: a boreal forest ecosystem,” A. R. E. Sinclair, et al, 89:313-328, 2000.

Boreal Ecology Article Review: "Potential impacts of clearcutting on parasites of minnows in small boreal lakes"

This is a review for the article: "Potential impacts of clearcutting on parasites of minnows in small boreal lakes".

David J. Carcogliese is associated with St. Lawrence Centre and Environment Canada in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

This paper describes an experiment done to describe the correlation between lake parasites and deforestation around the lake. The results was that when there was clear-cut or partially clear-cut of trees around the lake, it increased erosion (which may have partially went into the lake as runoffs), increased water temperature, altered water chemistry, and modified watershed hydrology, and affected the number and types of parasites in the lakes – for example, parasite species R. Canadensis was absent in clear-cut lakes. The paper supports the idea that deforestation reduces the parasite infracommunity complexity in lakes.

The major strength of the paper is its procedure; while being careful not to miss any data, it also admits its mistakes in a brief manner – while it does not make the readers think the experiment is totally invalid, it allows for the reader to do his/her own evaluation and judgement of the experiment.  However, the major weakness is that this paper is biased to support its own hypothesis; the data of the charts clearly show that there were increases in at least two taxa (some in very large parasite quantities), it focuses on the absence of R. Canadensis (also assumes that mayflies, its host, declined without sufficient proof), not to mention the errors in the experiment, and assumes false conclusion that clear-cutting may reduce the number of parasite taxa. Despite my opinion of the procedure being descriptive, I evaluate this paper as unreliable source of data due to the major weaknesses pointed out above.

This experiment was done in boreal forests around lakes; in class we’ve covered how the presence of boreal forests affects larger organisms. This paper may broaden students' understanding of how clear-cutting boreal forests may affect smaller aquatic organisms. As already mentioned, I think this paper has excellent procedure – while being simple, it is descriptive and it is something college students can perform; its techniques may be a good learning source.

Source Cited: 
“Potential impacts of clearcutting on parasites of minnows in small boreal lakes,” David J. Marcogliese, Mark Ball, Murray W. Lankester, 48: 269-274, 2001.

Boreal Ecology Article Review: Litter decomposition and nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in peatlands and uplands over 12 years in central Canada

This is a review for the article: "Litter decomposition and nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in peatlands and uplands over 12 years in central Canada".

T.R. Moore is associated with the department of Geography and Global Environmental and Climate Change Centre in McGill University which is located in Montreal, Canada.

This paper describes the 12 year study done to compare the rate of litter decomposition between northern peatlands and uplands, as well as the changes in the percentage of nitrogen and phosphorus in decomposing materials. Higher water table and cooler temperatures in peatlands generally manipulate a slower decomposition rates than uplands; thus, peatlands were found to contain larger amounts of organic litter than uplands, in most areas. The nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics relied on the litter’s initial concentration and the availability of the gases from the surrounding soils;  Tim R. Moore et al states, “decomposition over 12 years has resulted in a general narrowing of the N:{ ratio in the ten litters…this reflects a lowering of the ratio in litters with a high initial ratio and a raising of the ratio in those with a low initial ratio” (323).

Although methods for obtaining measurements were published in another paper, the major strength of this paper is that the litter amount and N:P (nitrogen vs phosphate) levels were recorded with detail and have already been measured for comparison. However, the weakness is that the research should have been broader; measuring the atmospheric pressure (due to latitude and elevation) may have revealed some additional information about decomposition rate; in addition, the study should have clarified the age of the litters used – the decomposition rates may vary according to its age. Nevertheless, this reading has valuable information that can only be gained with 12 years of patience and careful study; it helped me understand that nitrogen and phosphorus levels may not decompose but actually accumulate with time.

This reading has information to help students visualize and understand Boreal forests more thoroughly.  One can learn and understand the logic behind nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation. In my logic, gases should be released as matter decomposes; however, the study reveals that gases can accumulate with decomposition and it may broaden students' knowledge.

Source:
“Litter decomposition and nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in peatlands and uplands over 12 years in central Canada,” Tim R. Moore, J.A. Trofymow, M. Siltanen, L.M. Kozak, 156:317-325, 2008.

Boreal Ecology Article Review: Assessment of Soil Quality for Biodiversity Conservation in Boreal Forest Ecosystems

This is a review for the article: "Assessment of Soil Quality for Biodiversity Conservation in Boreal Forest Ecosystems".

Galina N. Koptsik and Svetlana Yu. Livantsova are associated with the Soil Science Faculty, and Serguei V. Koptsik is associated with the Faculty of Physics in Moscow State University, Russia.

A study was done in Russia, to observe the correlation between soil types and the types of species grown there. The layer of thickness, organic content, elements present, acidity and exchangeable cat-ions of soils were examined by the method of sampling and using chemical analysis. The study showed that certain species are able to out-compete others and dominate a particular soil type; similarly, different soil types formed under certain vegetations. Mainly, the pH and organic matter content strongly predicts the species diversity within the soil type.

This paper has very descriptive text information as well as graphs; the authors also suggests that soil quality management could be used to maintain compositional stability at forest ecosystems. However, although the authors have suggested it, they do not follow through – with the knowledge they had obtained from the research, they should have proposed a method to carry out the soil quality management. Since the reading was extensively descriptive and took me 3 times to read it in order to understand, it carries much valuable information that may advance the ways to treat forests.

This reading helps readers understand the correlation between soil type and its vegetation. With the obtained understanding, which was based on realistic settings, readers may be able to visualize and further understand the relationship between boreal forest and its soils.

Source Cited:
“Assessment of Soil Quality for Biodiversity Conservation in Boreal Forest Ecosystems,” Galina N.Koptsik, Serguei V. Koptsik and Svetlana Yu. Livantsova, 627-634, 2001.

Boreal Ecology Article Review: "Natural Disturbance Dynamics in the Boreal Forests of European Russia: a Review"

This is a review for the article:  "Natural Disturbance Dynamics in the Boreal Forests of European Russia: a Review".

Andrei Gromtsev is researcher associated with the Forest Research Institute and Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

This reading covers the causes and the effects of natural disturbances in Russian-European boreal forests. Natural disturbances mainly include fires, wind throw, and insect outbreaks that affect the life and expansion of boreal trees such as pine and spruce – in nutrient poor dry areas, fires can allow pristine pine growth; whereas in moist areas, fire can allow shade tolerant spruce to grow abundantly. On the other hand, natural disturbances such as insect outbreaks can lead to weakening of the trees, which will make them more vulnerable to being destroyed by wind throw.

The major strength of this reading is its focus on fires and descriptions of its causes on forests in different terrains.  However, the author could have explained in more detail about the insect outbreaks and wind throws, since this paper is about “natural disturbances” (as the title suggests) and not only fires. Nevertheless, this paper has helped me understand and learn how these seemingly harmful natural disturbances can actually promote growth pine and spruce.

Although this paper primarily focuses only on spruce and pine, this paper fits in with the course content perfectly since they are explained in detail and are some of the topics that is covered in this class.

I think this reading can be used to not only to increase the student’s reading stamina (since it is over 12 pages), but to also help students understand the importance of fires in boreal forest expansion as well as to help students become aware of the danger natural disturbances can have on them.

Source Cited:

“Natural Disturbance Dynamics in the Boreal Forests of European Russia: a Review,” Gromtsev, Andrei, Silva Fennica 36(1):41-55, 2002.

Boreal Ecology Article Review: Helping Ecology Students to Read: The Use of Reading Reports

This is a review for the article, “Helping Ecology Students to Read: The Use of Reading Reports."

The senior author, Eugenia Etkina, is an Assistant Professor of science education in the Department of Learning and Teaching, Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University, New Brunswick.

As the years have progressed, students have shown reduced reading ability. The increased usage of multimedia (television, computer, video games, etc) may have lead students to adapt to a more visual form of learning.

The authors of this article have conducted surveys and studies in order to find and correct this problem. The paper describes the entire process of the conducted study, and shows that the current generation lacks ability to read critically.

 The article is presented in a way that is easy to understand and learn from; it may be highly beneficial to the readers since it shows some steps to improve studying and reading methods.

This reading has two important uses. There will be many assigned readings for those majoring in science. Sometimes, the pages and the amount of reading assignmed may be overwhelming. Thus, one importance of the reading is simply for some reading practice and getting used to the amount of work. Second, there is much valuable information in this article; thus it may be used to elevate the education quality for students in this generation.   The subjects in the reading are dealing with Ecology students; if one is studying in the field of Ecology, he/she can relate them.

I believe this reading can improve students’ reading abilities, and it can also show students that critical reading skills are an important aspect of learning. Some of the teaching improvement techniques can be incorporated into some science classes.

Source Cited:

“Helping Ecology Students to Read: The Use of Reading Reports,” Etkina, Eugenia, and David Ehrenfeld., BioScience 50: 602-608, 2000.