Leaf

Litter Decomposition Research Project

DATA TO RECORD
q Researcher names
q Research technician
q Collection date and time
q Weather conditions
q Site observations
q Mass of litter bags

EQUIPMENT
q (8) Leaf Litter Bags per research team, from one of the four treatments:
o Native leaf litter in a restored site;
o Invasive leaf litter in a restored site;
o Native leaf litter in a degraded site; or
o Invasive leaf litter in a degraded site.
Note: We will collect these at the sample site.
q (2) Portable Scale per research team
q (1) Calibration Weight per team
Leaf Litter Bag
q (1) Handheld weather meter
q (1) Data collection form per team
q (1) Copy of the investigation protocol per team
q (1) Pencil per team
q (2) Calculators per team
q (2) Mini white boards for scratch paper per team
q (1) Clipboard per team

Portable Scale and Calibration Weight

Handheld Weather
Mini white boards
Meter
Calculators

1

Leaf Litter Decomposition Data Collection Protocols
Getting Started
1. With your Research Technician, walk to the degraded site and restored site.

Restored Plot Degraded Plot

2. Before you begin collecting data, fill out your Research Team names (by listing your
name and your team members), Research Technician, Date, and the Time you start
your data collection.

Making Site Observations

1. Your Research Technician will assign you a site to observe first. Take a minute to
examine the site from the trail, taking mental notes of what you see. With your team,
discuss what you observe.

2. Use your plant guide to identify the species in the research plot. Write down each
species on your data sheet in the appropriate box (native or invasive). If you are
unsure, ask your research technician to help you identify the plant.

3. When you have identified all the species, add up the total number and record it on
your data sheet.

4. Look at the site and try to estimate the percent of the plot that is covered by plants,
by bare soil, and by leaf litter. These three percentages should add up to 100%

5. Use the soil moisture meter to determine the water content in the soil
To turn on the soil moisture meter, hold the Menu button for 3 seconds, or
until it turns on.
Press the soil moisture meters probe into the ground. Make sure the metal
rods are completely in the soil.

Press Read/OK on the meter. The meter will show the soil moisture reading
as %VWC (volumetric water content)

6. After observing the first site, walk to the second site and repeat the observations
above.
2

Collecting Weather Data

1. To determine Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Humidity, and Air Temperature, use
the handheld weather meter. Slide the case of the handheld weather meter open
and press the left-hand Mode button to turn it on.

2. To determine Wind Direction: Press the left-hand Mode button to cycle between
the different settings on the handheld weather meter until the screen says
COMPASS. Face the direction that the wind is coming from so that the wind is
blowing directly at you. Record the degree and compass direction in the box labeled
Wind Direction on your Data Collection Form.

3. To determine Wind Speed: Press the left-hand Mode button again to cycle through
the different settings until the screen says AV WINDSPEED. Make sure the unit
setting says MPH (miles per hour) on the bottom right-hand side of the screen. If it
doesnt, press the UNITS button to cycle through the different unit settings until the
weather meter says MPH.

4. Hold the weather meter up for forty-five seconds and allow the wind to blow through
the pinwheel. Record the number shown as the Average Wind Speed.

5. To determine Air Temperature: Press the left-hand Mode button again to cycle
through the different settings until the screen says TEMP. Make sure the unit
setting says C on the bottom right-hand side of the screen. If it doesnt, press the
UNITS button to cycle through the different unit settings until the device reads C
for Celsius. Record the number shown as Air Temperature (C) on your Data
Collection Form.

6. Press the UNITS button to cycle through the different unit settings until the device
reads F for Fahrenheit. Record the number shown as Air Temperature (F) on your
Data Collection Form.

7. To determine Humidity: Press the MODE button until the device reads
HUMIDITY. Make sure the unit setting says %RH (% Relative Humidity) on the
bottom right-hand side of the screen. Record the number on your data sheet.

8. Turn the handheld weather meter off by holding down the Mode button until the
screen says OFF, and then slide the device shut.

9. To determine the Cloud Cover, look at the sky. Estimate how much of the sky is
covered by clouds (0%, 5-25%, 25-50%, 50-75%, 75-95%, or 100%) and circle the
corresponding percentage on your Data Collection Form.

3

Weighing Leaf Litter Bags

1. After collecting the leaf litter bags with your research technician, you will return to a
research station to complete your measurements. Once you return, look over your
equipment and make sure that you have everything you need.

2. Each research team will be assigned to eight (8) numbered litter bags to weigh
(Invasive/Native, Degraded/Restored). Record the type of treatment on your data
collection form.

3. With your team, use the calibration weight to check the calibration of the portable
scale by weighing an object with a known mass. The weight should weigh 100g.
Anything between 99.95-100.05 is accurate.

If the reading is outside of that range, notify your Research Technician. They will
help you to troubleshoot and/or to calibrate the scale.

Note: Depending on the wind, you may need to use the collection containers that
were carrying the leaf litter as a shield to cover the scale while calibrating and
weighing leaf litter bags.

4. Once you verify that your scale is calibrated, place each litter bag on the scale to
weigh it. Record the mass (g) into the second column on the data sheet, alongside
the corresponding bag number.

5. To determine the original mass (g), use the master data sheet located on the last
page on your clipboard.

6. Be sure to note which treatment you are working with before recording original mass
on to your data sheet.

4

Data Analysis

7. To determine Total Mass Loss, Subtract the measurement you took today from the
original mass listed on the data form.
Mass Loss = Original Mass Todays Mass Measurement
If your Measurement is greater than the Original Mass, your Mass Loss will be
negative (-).

8. Repeat steps 4-8 for each of the eight leaf litter bags.

Use the white board provided to help you calculate your data.

9. Once you have finished weighing all sixteen bags, calculate the average mass loss.
To do so, add all eight of the Mass Loss to get the Total Mass Loss, and then
divide that number by 8.
Average Mass Loss = Total Mass Loss
# of bags (8)
10. Using the mass loss from all of the other teams, sketch a graph on your white board
that compares the mass loss of all 4 treatments.

5

 LEAF LITTER DECOMPOSITION DATA COLLECTION FORM

Research
Team

Research
Date Time
Technician

WEATHER DATA

Wind Speed
(MPH)

Wind Direction
Humidity (%RH)
(o )

Air Temperature
(C)

Percent Cloud
0% 5% - 25% 25% - 50% 50% - 75% 75% - 95% 100%
Cover

Leaf Type
Hypothesis

Site Type
Hypothesis

6

 Date: Time:

SITE 1 OBSERVATIONS

Site Type (circle one) Restored Degraded

Native Species

Total # Species:_________

Invasive Species

Total # Species:_________

Soil Moisture (%VWC)

% Cover %Cover %Cover

Plants Soil Leaf Litter

Other Observations:

7

 Date: Time:

SITE 2 OBSERVATIONS

Site Type (circle one) Restored Degraded

Native Species

Total # Species:_________

Invasive Species

Total # Species:_________

Soil Moisture (%VWC)

% Cover %Cover %Cover

Plants Soil Leaf Litter

Other Observations:

8

 Date: Time:

LEAF LITTER BAG DATA

Treatment Type NR IR ND ID

Bag # Original Mass (g) Mass (g) Mass Loss (g)

NR = Native Leaf Litter in Restored Plot IR = Invasive Leaf Litter in Restored Plot
ND = Native Leaf Litter in Degraded Plot ID = Invasive Leaf Litter in Degraded Plot

Average Mass
Loss 9

 Date: Time:

LEAF LITTER BAG DATA

Treatment Type NR IR ND ID

Bag # Original Mass (g) Mass (g) Mass Loss (g)

NR = Native Leaf Litter in Restored Plot IR = Invasive Leaf Litter in Restored Plot
ND = Native Leaf Litter in Degraded Plot ID = Invasive Leaf Litter in Degraded Plot

Average Mass
Loss 10