The Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study
word count (excluding references) 1492
Introduction
The Hubbard Brook Study in New Hampshire takes place in a deciduous northern hardwood forest and is involved in important environmental research to improve the planet's ecosystem. There are inputs (light, precipitation, chemicals) and outputs (water and nutrients) used to discover how a fully integrated ecosystem functions. (Bormann and Likens 1979).There are long-term studies carried out, as short-term observations give false trends of data that is not realised at the time of study.
Aims
The Hubbard Brook Research Foundation (HBRF) generally aims to present an integrated view of ecosystem development in order to promote the understanding and caring for of forest and aquatic ecosystems. (Bormann and Likens 1979)
Objectives
Objectives are specific statements of intention, which show either general or specific outcomes. These were to evaluate the effects of decreases in water overflow on several factors:
1. Light
* The effect of photosynthesis on an ecosystem
Precipitation
Chemicals
* Study the effects of nitrogen leaching into streams.
4. Water
* Measure the water stream level
5. Nutrient uptake by soil
Methods (Watershed approach)
Bormann and Likens (1979) carried out an experiment in the HBEF to calculate the response and recovery of a forested ecosystem to a disturbance. Disturbance includes conditions that lead to partial or total destruction of plant biomass, including the activities of chemical toxicity and physical destruction. Watershed 2 was subjected to clear cutting. All trees were felled in place, causing the minimal amount of disturbance. ...
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...ited by Mooney, H. A. and Godron, M. (1983), "Mechanisms of Ion Leaching in Natural and Managed Ecosystems", in Disturbance and Ecosystems, Vol. 44, pages 134-136
Pomeroy, Lawrence, R. Hargrove, Eugene, C and Alberts, James, J. (1988) "The Ecosystem Perspective", in Concepts of Ecosystem Biology, Vol. 67, page 2
Bormann, Hubert F. Likens, Gene, E. (1979), "The Northern Hardwood Forest: A Model for Ecosystem Development", in: Pattern and Processes in a Forested Ecosystem, Springer-Verlag, New York Inc: pages 24-25
McPhee, Daryl (2001), A Comparison of Anthropogenic Discharge Quality and Quantity into Queensland East Coast Catchments, Australian Prawn Farmers Association.
Available at:
http://www.apfa.com.au/files/environment/mcphee_final_report_2april2001.doc