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Healing the scars: Tropical rainforest carbon cycling. Does it matter which tree species you plant?

Author(s): Ann E Russell1, Anneke Oosterom2, Eden Marek3, Lili Zhou1

1. Iowa State University 2. St. Catherine University 3. Rhodeside Harwell

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Summary:
This online module explores how differences in traits of tropical tree species translate into differential effects on the carbon cycle, integrating ecological information across scales and the human dimension, and fostering quantitative skills.

Licensed under CC Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International according to these terms

Version 1.0 - published on 11 May 2023 doi:10.25334/6J0J-E691 - cite this Last public release: 2.0

Keywords

  1. climate change
  2. carbon cycling
  3. tropical biology
  4. 4DEE Framework
  5. forest restoration
  6. tropical tree species
  7. soil carbon

Alignments

  1. Resource Type
  2. Courses
  3. Course Level
  4. Bloom's Cognitive Level
  5. Vision and Change Core Competencies
  6. Vision and Change Core Concepts
  7. Four Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) Framework
  8. Class Type
  9. Class Size
  10. Audience
  11. Lesson Length
  12. Key Scientific Process Skills
  13. Pedagogical Approaches
  14. Principles of How People Learn
  15. Assessment Type
Contents:
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Description

Overview of Module:

This open-access module takes learners behind the scenes of a long-term field experiment in a wet tropical forest in Costa Rica to examine how differences in traits of tropical tree species translate into differences in their effects on the carbon cycle. The module includes descriptions of research methods and results from this research project, and students learn about carbon cycling through four sets of activities, including interactive quizzes and a systems-based simulation model. The impact on student learning is to foster the integration of ecological information across scales (organismal to global), quantitative reasoning skills, and understanding of connections between ecological concepts and the human dimension.

Tropical rainforest that was cleared, converted to cattle pasture and grazed for decades is now being reforested. The question posed in this case study is: Do all tree species in these restorations have the same capacity to capture carbon and mitigate global warming?

Many tropical tree species look alike — same size and leaf shape — but they can differ in their traits, which can determine how fast they can grow, and how much carbon they take out of the atmosphere. Let's visit a long-term project in Costa Rica to explore how differences in carbon cycling traits at the whole-plant level translate into differences at the global level. Let's connect the dots across scales and disciplines and consider various solutions for reducing our own carbon footprint and its impact on global warming.

Learning Objectives

  • Explain how the processes of photosynthesis and respiration determine carbon stocks in plant biomass (Plant-level carbon cycling)
  • Compare how different tree species differ in their carbon cycling (Plant-level carbon cycling)
  • Describe the processes that influence global carbon cycling
  • Compare different land-uses in terms of their effects on the global carbon cycle
  • Calculate your carbon footprint
  • Analyze and compare ways by which atmospheric carbon could be reduced (Land-use change and global warming)

Notes

Acknowledgements: Jennifer Berglund and Danielle Myers helped create the carbon cycling animation and also in editing the videography. Rahul Agrawal Bejarano and Ed Waisanen assisted in creating the simulation model.

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