The Mysterious Green Patch (9-12) Grade - 2020 SRS - 2020 SRS

Project Title: The Mysterious Green Patch: Effects of Soil Characteristics on Plant Diversity in Long Valley
School Name: Pajaro Valley High School, CA
Teacher Name: Gary Martindale
Student(s) Name: Juliana Arrona, Ariana Ramirez, and Ashley Rubio
Grade Level: (9-12)
Project Description: “Our research site was a mysterious green patch surrounded by dry plants. We wanted to know why. Our testable question asks “How do soil characteristics affect plant abundance and diversity in Long Valley?”
Abstract:
• Our research site was a mysterious green patch surrounded by dry plants. We wanted to know why.
• Our testable question asks “How do soil characteristics affect plant abundance and diversity in Long Valley?”
• We hypothesized this change in vegetation was caused by a higher concentration of nutrients (NPK-nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) closer to the green patch.
• After doing research, we believed that the differences in vegetation were caused by an alluvial fan.
• Some erosion events result in alluvial fans that deposit sediment and other particles in a fan shape, which happen around valley-like areas.
Atmosphere Protocols: Soil fertility and Soil characterization
Language:  English

Hello. My name is Camille Gernhart. I am a geologist with the Arkansas Geological Survey. Here is a link to my bio. I thought the subject of your research was interesting. I have seen similar rings of vegetation and wondered what caused this to happen. I thought the methods you used to test your question were appropriate. Your results were a little confusing. In the beginning of your project you were testing Zones A, B, and C. However, not all zones were represented in your results. I would've liked to see a core for Zone B as well as a soil description. Based on the results of the NPK/pH tests, do you believe it's possible Zone B is an older alluvial fan? I think you are definitely on the right track to further your research by comparing your results with other known alluvial fans to see if there is a correlation. I thought your poster was laid out very well making it easy to read and follow your process. 

Hi, I'm Enrique Gomezdelcampo, a faculty member in hydrology at Bowling Green State University, who specializes in watershed modeling and ecohydrology. I think that your research topic and how you went about it is really good. I liked that you noticed a pattern out in the field and wondered why would it developed there. Do you think that the creation of alluvian fan would happen that quickly (Nov 2016-June 2017)? Wouldn't you be able to see scars in the landscape (no vegetation) if it had happened recently? The soil profiles are definitely different from Zone A to Zone C. How is the soil profile for Zone B?  The sandy profile for Zone A allows water to move quickly through and it seems that that creates higher biodiversity.  Could that be the reason for the green patch?  How regular in shape is that "green patch"? Can you see a different pattern if you go back in time using Google Earth time slider? Does topography shows that the soil in Zone A tends to be drier than in zone C? It would had been nice to have a better picture of your Zone A as compared to Zone B and C. Good work, now you need to keep exploring different hypothesis.

Dear Juliana, Ariana and Ashley:
 
            Andy Cameron here.  I was in the Elkhorn Slough classroom during WATCH days and we spoke a bit.
            I like the presentation of your poster.  The language is clear and words are well chosen. That makes it easy to read and understand. By mentioning in the introduction that the differences correlated with an alluvial fan you focus the rest of the poster text. The definition and the picture of the fan cements the idea.
            I like the pie charts to represent the plant abundances.  They make the amounts easy to see. Adding the percentages on the graphs is useful too. It is clear that you didn’t have time to identify the plants to their scientific names. That’s OK.  You did characterize them to some level. Next time you could tell us how you characterized them. For example: tall grass, short grass, cocklebur, etc. That helps to firmly place the different plants for the reader.
            I like the way you suggest further studies in your conclusions. It means you have put your results in perspective.  The connection to climate change is good too.
            You have done a good job here.  It’s clear from the presentation that you have launched a clever study and thought about your results. Good work!