Our first day at Sky School was rad. We learned so much, including: palm trees are a type of grass, not trees, and about photosynthesis and the adaptations in leaves that prevent water loss. On our way up the mountain, we investigated the effect of altitude on plant area density. We weren’t able to come to a sound conclusion about the plant area density study, because the diversity in plant area regimes yielded very different plant area densities. Also, making our experiment unbiased proved difficult. We made our measurements unbiased by tossing a rock behind our backs, and making a 10’x10′ sampling quadrat where the rock landed. We then counted the number of plants that we found inside of this area. We excluded grasses in our sampling (which includes palm trees, see above).
On our hike around the Meadow Loop, we examined different types rocks and soil colors, watched cute chipmunks and squirrels, and did a questions exercise. It was observed that the squirrel did a small dance move on a fallen log when we were discussing it’s tail. We took some unknown plant samples back to the station for identification (unfortunately, we lost the sample before we could get it identified).
Tomorrow, we are looking forward to more hikes, establishing our experiment, and collecting some more data.
Go team Ecoflow