Lichen Study Project

During the Lichen study, Group C was designated a specific area to study and record data within the university setting. The group was given the southern portion of the Ohio University campus, which includes the beginning of South Green Drive closest to Ping Recreation center all the way to Stewart Street. Each member selected their own tree to observe and measure the lichen content of. For the tree that I had chosen, it was located near South Green Drive and the Ohio University Golf Course. The exact coordinates of where the tree is located is 39°19'18"N & 82°5'40"W and can be spotted across the street from Adams Hall.

As you can see in the pictures above, the tree is located within walking distance from South Green Drive. From the tree, it took about four to five steps to reach the road. 

This tree is identified as a maple tree because of the distinguishable opposite leaf arrangement. This tree has simple leaves which means that it has single leafs instead of multiple, smaller leaflets. Located below are the template measurement pictures that indicates the direction and the lichen in each quadrant. The lichen grading scale has been implemented ranging from zero to three. The zero indicates that there is no lichen present and the 3 indicates that the lichen covers over 10% of the specific quadrant. 

This picture indicates the North side of the tree. 

This picture indicates the South side of the tree.

                                              This picture indicates the East side of the tree.

This picture indicates the West side of the tree.

The numbers below indicate the amount of lichen in each quadrant.

To find the standard deviation, a measurement used to show the variation there is from the average mean, you must first calculate the grand total of the values and divide by the total amount of values in each quadrant.

North quadrant: 2-3-2-1 Total = 8

South quadrant: 0-0-0-0 Total = 0

East quadrant: 2-0-0-0 Total = 2

West quadrant: 1-0-0-0 Total = 1

Grand total = 11

11/16 = .688

The next step is to determine the difference of each data point from the average and square the results. 

0 - .688 = (-.688)^2 = .473

1 - .688 = (.312)^2 = .097

2 - .688 = (1.312)^2 = 1.72

3 - .688 = (2.31)^2 = 5.34

Lastly, you must determine the average of these values and take the square root of all of them accordingly You must divide but the total number (16) minus 1. In this case I will be indicating the square root function with brackets. 

[1.72 + 5.34 + 1.72 + .097 + .473 + .473 + .473 + .473 + .097 + .473 +.473 +.473 + 1.72 + .473 + .473 + .473/ (16 - 1)]

The calculated standard deviation for this specific tree is 1.01.

So, What is a Lichen?

According to Decoded Science, lichens are considered to be a hybrid and have a symbiotic relationship between an algae and a fungus. Most fungi are not able to survive on their own and need algae as a partner. Since lichen has a fungal part, it is able to produce its own food through photosynthesis. By cohabiting with fungus, the algae is able to live within a variety of different environments. This relationship is both beneficial to both parties because the fungal part of the lichen needs food from photosynthesis and the algae part of the lichen bonded to the fungus makes the environment it can live in have a wider variety than an algae on it's own. 

The Relationship Between  Lichen and Air Quality

Lichens are an excellent indicator for long term air quality. Certain species such as Usnea are only capable of growing in areas with good air quality. Other species are able to grow in environments to indicate poor air quality. This is extremely useful in locating the air quality in a specific location, Overtime, the changes in lichen species can reveal changes in the air quality. According to Concord.org, hardy lichens can be used as bioindicators, especially for sulfur dioxide. These bioindicators are considered living organisms that respond in a way that changes the environment. 

Who is Beatrix Potter and what is Her Contribution to the Lichen Study?

The Scientist states that Beatrix Potter was the first person in Britain to write a scientific paper on the topic of symbiosis in lichen. She conducted experiments in her kitchen and recorded all of her observations of algal and fungal properties. 

Candellara Sp. Yellow

CNALH states that Candellara is a yellow colored lichen that is located on rock or bark often in relatively eutrophicated habitats. They are located in pan-artic and southwards into north temperate regions.

(http://www.lichens.ie/lichen-descriptions/foliose/candelaria-concolor/)

Physica Sp. Blue/Green

This is a type of algae that is found on bark and can grow in urban areas and can even grow in areas of forestation. The color is noted as greenish, blueish, or gray. 

Methodology

When looking for a tree to observe, you must find a large enough tree to collect data from and it must be a tree with alternating branches. When measuring the lichen, it is important to measure three feet above the ground because it is around the area of peak prime growth and a breeding area. The equipment used for this experiment was the four quadrant tool. This was important in collecting the accurate amount of data for each 4" x 4" area. This data will be used for graduate research at Ohio University to observe the amount of lichen in certain locations on campus to observe the air quality. 

River Erosion

According to Alex Jackson, erosion is considered the breakdown of material by an agent. With the case of the river, the agent is considered water. The water in the river has the capability to erode the river's channel and load. This load is consisted of eroded material, usually rock that is then transported within the river until it deposits the load. This load can be eroded laterally and vertically. With lateral erosion, the river channel is made deeper, while vertical erosion is made longer. 

A Level Geography states that there are four main types of river erosion that can embed in the beds and banks. These main types of river erosion include hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition, and corrosion. Hydraulic action occurs when the pressure of water breaks away rock particles from the river bed and bank. The force of the water will hit the bank, and then further push the water into its cracks. The air then becomes compressed and overtime the riverbed may collapse due to too much pressure and can lead to undercutting. Abrasion is when there are pebbles in the bed of the river and it causes them to turn hollows into potholes. This happens when the pebbles in the depression are spinning around near the floor of the channel river. Attrition occurs when eroded rocks collide and break into smaller fragments. Thus, making the rocks more smooth and rounded. This type of river erosion does not actually erode the river. Finally, corrosion occurs when carbon dioxide dissolves in a river to form a weak acid which dissolves rocks. This is common where limestone and chalk are most commonly found in the channel. 

Shows the sediments in the river carried downstream by the water flow. 

(http://www.fondriest.com/environmental-measurements/parameters/hydrology/sediment-transport-deposition/#std1a)

Fondriest Environmental states that sediments of any river can be found nearly in any body of water. When the sediment is floating within the water column, it is considered suspended, referencing the term "suspended load". "Bedded load" is considered to be the sediments at the bottom of the water. The bed load is the portion of the sediment transport that rolls, slides, or bounces along the bottom of the waterway. This can happen when the force of the water flow is strong enough to overcome the weight and cohesion of the sediment. The suspended load is considered different than the suspended sediment in that the load is considered to be the the amount of sediment that is carried downstream within the water column by the water flow. The wash load is a subset of the suspended load. This load is considered to be the smaller particles that remain in permanent suspension. In flow periods the wash and suspended load can be indistinguishable. The solution load is considered a special method of transportation in which the particles are dissolved into the water so only rocks, such as limestone or chalk can be transported in solution. 

River erosion that has occurred on the banks of the Licking River bank in Newark, OH.

(http://www.epa.ohio.gov/pic/media/licking_river2007.aspx)

Water and Urbanization

According to the Population Reference Bureau, within the last 200 years, the world's urban population has shifted from 2% to 50%. The growth of these urban areas come from an increase in migration and the fertility of these urban populations. It is also due to the increase in desires of what these urban areas have to offer versus rural areas. With the availability of more jobs and resources, more and more populations are moving away from these rural areas and overcrowding these cities which are increasing the scarcity of the resources already there. These urban populations change their environment through their consumption of food, energy, water, and land. Because of this, the urban population begins to pollute the environment they live in and reduces the health and quality of life. Urban areas consume more food and durable products than any other area. Also, urban areas increasingly use aggregate energy use, despite the rise in new technology. Because of the urban consumption of energy, it can create heat islands that can change local weather patterns. This creates an area where cities are more warmer than rural areas due to the radiation of heat back into the atmosphere in heavily populated areas. Some urban environmental health problems include inadequate water and sanitation, lack of rubbish disposal, and industrial pollution. Some health problems of urbanization include respiratory infections and parasitic diseases. In some major cities, researches have found that the rate of infant mortality are higher in cities that are growing more rapidly than of those who are not. Much of what urbanization is dependent on how the populations behave with their consumption and living patterns. Since the 1950's, many cities in developed countries have met environmental urban challenges. Having a strong urban governance is essential in making an adequate progress of reverse some effects of urbanization.(http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2004/UrbanizationAnEnvironmentalForcetoBeReckonedWith.aspx).

http://www.jameskoss.com/2013_09_01_archive.html

The image above is displaying the before and after of urbanization in New York. For more information, please visit the following web address. 

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/processes/statewide/related/highway_functional_classifications/section06.cfm

This image described the urbanization areas located in the state of Ohio.

http://defenceforumindia.com/urbanization-the-only-solution-for-a-modern-india-1536

This map shows the percent of urbanized areas throughout the world.

According to The Nature Conservancy and Harvard University released a new study indicating the effect of staggering urban growth on nature and people finds that if we don't improve urban planning now, we may lose some animals, plants, and natural resources for good. In 2007, the United Nations revealed that by 2020, the worlds populations that live in cities will rise from 50% to 60%. According to the report, humans are building the equivalent of a city the size of Vancouver every single week. Most of these developments are occurring in cities such as China, India, and Africa. Natural areas that are most affected by urbanization are more likely to have the highest concentrations of endemic species. 8% of species of vertebrae have been labeled endangered due to the effects of urban development. Economic concerns have emerged through urban growth. The accidental or intentional start of fires increase, which in return cost additional amount of dollars that can threaten homes, businesses, and buildings. It is the population and the governments responsibility to protect the biodiversity and the land in which we live on (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080610182856.htm).