From Growing Season to Fall Colors

Citizen Scientists contribute to continental scale study to assess variation in nitrogen use of red maple (Acer rubrum)

By: Steve Gougherty*
* PhD Student, Finzi Lab, Department of Biology, Boston University

Nitrogen dynamics in plants

In terrestrial ecosystems, plant growth is commonly limited by the availability of nitrogen. Nitrogen is a critical element for plant health as it is incorporated into key molecular structures such as chlorophyll, which absorbs light energy during photosynthesis, and enzymes (e.g., RuBisCo, which is responsible for fixing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as part of photosynthesis). Many plants start life with a nitrogen reserve in their seeds, but eventually come to rely on their root system to absorb nitrogen from the soil to satisfy their demand.

Acquiring nitrogen from soil can be a costly endeavor for plants, and perennial plants have developed strategies to more efficiently use the nitrogen they have already acquired. For example, deciduous trees effectively recycle nitrogen at the end of each growing season through a process known as foliar nitrogen resorption. Foliar nitrogen resorption involves the breakdown of nitrogen containing compounds (like chlorophyll and enzymes) in the leaf and the transfer to other tissues in the plant, such as developing buds. In fact, the breakdown of chlorophyll in leaves and transfer to other plant tissues is partially responsible for the ‘fall colors’ in eastern temperate forests. Even though researchers know that foliar nutrient resorption is an important component of tree’s annual nitrogen budget, extremely little is known about how variable this process is throughout geographic ranges of plants. This is an important question because understanding the nature of nitrogen limitation on plant productivity is an active area for ecologists studying energy and carbon balances of ecosystems.

Citizen Scientist role in addressing questions about red maple nitrogen use

Red maple (Acer rubrum) is one of the most abundant and broadly distributed tree species in North America (Figure 1; green shading shows approximate distribution). Its abundance and broad distribution makes it an excellent candidate to assess the potential for variation in key nutrient retention strategies, such as foliar nitrogen resorption. However, sampling red maple throughout its geographic range is a major logistical challenge for an individual researcher. As a result, I started a Citizen Science project that invites participants to sample red maple leaves in their local areas and send them to a research laboratory for processing and analysis. A broad network of Citizen Scientists is ideal for this project for several reasons: 1. Citizen Scientists know where to find red maple trees in their local areas. 2. The network allows for the potential to obtain samples from nearly the entire geographic distribution of red maple in the United States. 3. Since Citizen Scientists sample locally, it makes the two sampling time points (once when leaves are green, and once at leaf fall) feasible.

2019 was the initial year of the project and over 120 Citizen Scientists signed up to participate in the project (Figure 1; magenta dots). As leader of this project I am extremely grateful for the response we have received and look forward to disseminating our results to our Citizen Scientists and the scientific community over the course of the project. Participants interested in collecting in 2020 are welcome to sign up on our website at any time.

Getting involved in the project

Interested members of the Kentucky Native Plant Society and readers of The Lady Slipper are invited to learn more about the project at our website: sites.bu.edu/tasper . On our website we have more information about our research questions along with a signup form for participants, and sampling protocols.

Mantle Rock Floristic Inventory

Date of Project: Sat. July 13, 2019
Time: 10AM to 4PM Central Time
Location: Mantle Rock Preserve, Livingston Co.
Difficulty: Difficult

The Nature Conservancy’s Mantle Rock Nature Preserve, in Livingston Co., is a fascinating part of Kentucky. The centerpiece of the Preserve is a 30-foot high natural sandstone bridge spanning 188 feet (the longest sandstone arch east of the Mississippi) embellished by bluffs, shelters, honeycomb formations, fluorite deposits and a rock-lined stream. The nature preserve also contains extraordinary biological diversity, with spectacular springtime wildflowers and an upland forest interspersed with the best example of rare and fragile sandstone glades in all of Kentucky. Kentucky’s only known occurrence of June grass thrives here along with other glade species such as prickly pear cactus, rush foil, hairy lipfern, little bluestem, pinweed and poverty grass. Scattered deep soil pockets are dominated by gnarled and stunted post oak, blackjack oak, farkleberry and red cedar.

On July 13, the Kentucky Native Plant Society will be conducting a detailed floristic inventory of the sandstone glades, barrens, woodlands and mesic forests at this botanically fascinating site. Join with several of the region’s preeminent botanists as we attempt to locate, identify, and document as many plant species as we can. The data collected will be used by The Nature Conservancy as they develop long range  management plans for this site.

If you would like to help with this project, we would love to have you join us. This will be a physically demanding, long, hot day, off trail for the most part, on rugged, rocky terrain. A good understanding and knowledge of the plants of Kentucky is essential. Although this will be a difficult day physically, it will also be immensely rewarding, with all of us learning from each other as we document an important ecoregion of Kentucky.

Bring a GPS or smartphone, hand lens (if you have one), and field notebook . A new way to document and assist in monitoring plants that KNPS has started using, is iNaturalist, if you have a smartphone, download the iNaturalist app and bring it along.

There are no services at the site so bring plenty of water.

Directions: We will meet at the main parking area of the Mantle Rock Preserve, just off of Lola Rd (Hwy 133)
Map

Registration: This project will be limited to 10 participants. You can
register by clicking on this link: Mantle Rock Inventory

Land between the Lakes- Botanical Hotspot Tour

Date of trip: 07/06/2019
Start time: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Central Time
Location: Land Between The Lakes
Difficulty of hike: Moderate

Length of hike: 3-4 miles

Join Devin Rodgers, botanist at Kentucky Nature Preserves, as we stop at several botanically important sites at LBL from prairies to wetlands. Devin has worked extensively at LBL conducting floristic surveys, rare species surveys and habitat characterizations. Elizabeth Raikes (LBL staff biologist), Tara Littlefield (botanist at Kentucky Nature Preserves), Jim Scheff (Heartwood Director), and representatives from Austin Peay University and Southeastern Grassland Initiative will also be there to assist in logistics and identifications. In addition, you will learn about ongoing efforts to protect rare species and communities at botanical sites at LBL and how you can help by assisting with monitoring, management, and restoration projects. A new way to document and assist in monitoring rare plants is iNaturalist.

Directions: Meet at the Woodlands Nature Center parking lot at 10 AM.

Registration: This field trip is limited to 15 people. To register for this trip fill out this Registration Form.

Prairies and Forests of Shaker Village
of Pleasant Hill

TRIP IS FULL
Date of trip: 06/22/2019
Start time: 10:00 am to 01:00 pm Eastern Time
Location: Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, 3501 Lexington Rd, Harrodsburg, KY 40330
Difficulty of hike: Moderate

Length of hike: 2-3 miles

Join Laura Baird, assistant preserve manager and naturalist, on a hike to view the prairie restoration, as well as the adjacent forests at Shakertown. You will learn many prairie flowers, trees and shrubs, woodland flowers, and even some pollinators!

Directions: We’ll meet at the West Trailhead, by the Stables.
Enter on Shakertown Road off of US 68. Turn left at the entrance onto West Lot Road and drive past the pond. The road goes to a stop sign at the bottom of the hill by the creek. Turn right at the stop sign and continue over the creek, past the West Lot Dwelling. The road ends at the Stables. You’ll see a large map at the West Trailhead. You can park near it in the grass behind the Stables.

Registration: This field trip was limited to 10 people and is now full, sorry for any inconvenience.

Pine Barrens of the Cumberland Plateau

Field Trip Is Full
Date of trip: 06/07/2019
Start time: 10:00 am to 02:00 pm Eastern Time
Location: Keno and Curt Pond Ridge Conservation Site, Pulaski Co.
Difficulty of hike: Moderate – Mostly hiking along a roadside.
Length of hike: 2 miles

Join Jim Scheff (Director of Heartwood), Tara Littlefield (botanist at the office of Kentucky Nature Preserves) and David Taylor (forest botanist at the Daniel Boone National Forest) as we explore the Keno and Curt Pond Ridge Conservation Site, a botanical hotspot of prairie and pine oak barrens, seeps and upland ponds just south of Somerset. Wood Lily should be in full bloom along with several other interesting plants. Plus, you will learn about ongoing efforts to protect rare species and communities at this site and how you can help by assisting with monitoring, management and restoration projects. Hike will be approximately 2 miles, moderate, mostly roadside. 10 person limit.

Directions: We will meet in the parking lot of the Davis grocery/Marathon Gas Station off 127 just south of Burnside and then caravan/carpool to the site.  See HERE for a link to Google maps.

Registration: This field trip was limited to 10 people. It is now full, sorry.

Griffith Woods WMA

Date of trip: 05/11/2019
Start time: 09:00 am to 12:00 pm Eastern Time
Location: Approximately 4 miles southwest of Cynthiana, Harrison County
Difficulty of hike: Moderate
Length of hike: 2 miles

Join Dr. Julian Campbell at Griffith Woods and hear all about this iconic bluegrass woodland with old growth oaks and hickories, cane thickets and remnant mesic herbaceous flowers, such as bear grass and running buffalo clover. Julian has been studying bluegrass woodland vegetation for over 40 years and is the authority on past and present plants and communities in the region. Go to http://bluegrasswoodland.com/Griffith_Woods.html for information on Griffith Woods compiled by Julian. Plus, you will learn how you can help in ongoing efforts to protect rare species and communities at Griffith Wood WMA through assisting with monitoring, management and restoration projects. If you would like stay late from 1pm-4 pm, you can help to work on invasive species removal.

Directions: We will meet at 9 am in the main parking lot on east side of US 62 about 1500 feet north of the T junction with Russell Cave Road (Route 353). More detailed directions can be found at https://app.fw.ky.gov/Public_Lands_Search/detail.aspx?Kdfwr_id=9201

Registration: This field trip is limited to 15 people. To register for this trip fill out this Registration Form.