Viola tricolor L.

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/herbarium_specimens_byname/20385/thumbnail.jp

Integrating writing across the curriculum enables special needs students to become writers

Elementary students with language and learning disabilities became independent writers and readers after the classroom instruction changed from a teacher directed, segmented, skill deficit approach which is typically found in special education classrooms to a classroom which embraced whole language philosophies and provided students with the necessary conditions for learning written language. This paper describes the specific changes in teaching philosophy, instructional practices, methods, and strategies which were implemented in my classroom. It demonstrates how individual student challenges were met which enabled the students to increase their self-esteem and awareness of themselves as writers

Mineral cycling and productivity in an upland deciduous forest: soils and methods

This study was designed to improve our understanding of the dynamics of the upland forest and of the productivity of Wisconsin forest communities. Data were collected to quantify the biological cycling of nutrients, nutrient availability and water availability, the principal factors supporting production of organic matter in forest ecosystems (Duvineaud and Denaeyer-De Smet, 1970). Using the data from this study we can then examine the stability of the upland deciduous forest and its response to the environment, for example recovery from a catastrophic event such as the March ice storm. Once this ecosystem\u27s structure and functioning are known, we can compare it to other ecosystems on the basis of production efficiency and potential. Knowledge of mineral cycling and productivity should help land planners to more efficiently manage the forest resource. This study extends work done previously on primary production in Wisconsin and complements nutrient flux studies at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Acid precipitation: A potential environmental problem at the UWM Field Station

Emissions into the atmosphere from man-related sources are changing precipitation quality and chemical climate over many parts of the United States, especially those areas downwind from highly urbanized and industrialized sections. Soils, vegetation and surface waters act as passive sinks for many elements found in the atmosphere (Oden, 1976). These elements are not fixed but are transferred from one component to the next at varying rates. High acidity in precipitation is a growing environmental problem (Oden, 1976, Cogbill, 1975b and USDI, 1973). Acids and other pollutants in the atmosphere which are washed out by rainfall can affect soil processes, plant growth, productivity and eventually species composition. The dynamic exchange of minerals between the biotic and abiotic components may be severely altered, thus reducing community stability. Precipitation was monitored for acidity at the UWM Field Station as part of a study (Kobriger, 1975) to obtain data on mineral cycling and productivity of a maple-beech forest located on a ridge crest in the northwestern portion of the upland deciduous forest of the UWM Field Station. Precipitation samples were also collected on The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus to examine comparable urban values

Productivity and energy storage

Net annual production of plant communities is traditionally determined by measuring or estimating dry matter accumulation at the end of the growing season. Published records list crop or forest yields, i.e. the bales of hay, tons of silage, bushels of grain or cords of wood harvested. The yield represents only a portion of the organic matter produced. Each year a tree forms leaves, twigs and bark which are not harvested, and each year an entire new corn plant-roots, stalks and leaves-must develop to produce the bushels of grain. Primary production is the entire amount of growth for the year. For many purposes, the accumulation of organic matter (on a dry weight basis) is an adequate measure of production; however, total dry matter production maybe misleading as a measure of the energy actually stored

Productivity of an urban park

We have moderately good knowledge of the yields of crops and of commercial forest land. In contrast, little is known of the productivity of urban park areas. Parks are neither grassland nor forest-in structure they most closely resemble savanna, i.e., grassland spotted with trees bearing large crowns. How much energy is trapped by these communities? How much oxygen is liberated? What are the water requirements and recharge potentials of such areas? How can vegetation be best managed to promote the aesthetic and recreational needs of the urban citizen-and at the same time maintain its vital function as a living filter? To begin examining these questions, we studied the productivity of an open portion of the Downer Woods located on The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus

Soil monolith construction: a practical teaching experience for field and lab

Soil formation, structures and differences are difficult to visualize or understand without being able to experience them. Most of us are familiar with the soil profiles (soil sequum) on display in many Soil Conservation Service or County Extension Service offices. Whether an ecologist, engineer, or home gardener, we have all examined the intricate structures, features and horizon development. The objective of this paper is to describe a technique to construct such soil monoliths for classroom use with minimal expense

Volume III, Sources and Migration of Highway Runoff Pollutants: Research Report

DOT-FH-11-9357The overall objectives of this research were to identify the sources of highway pollutants, and to determine their deposition and accumulation within the highway system and subsequent removal from the highway system to the surrounding environment. The purpose of this research was to identify opportunities to practice pollution mitigation. Data collected at four sites included atmospheric deposition and removal, saltation, highway surface loads, runoff quantity and quality, groundwater percolation, soil and vegetation, traffic characteristics, highway maintenance, climatological data and source investigative studies