CLIMATE CHANGE AND MICHIGAN FORESTS Get in Touch with Trees! Lesson 1

Why Are Forests Important? Habitat Economy Recreation Nutrient cycling Air purification Other______________ Prevent soil erosion Water retention Cooling Carbon sink Jobs & Careers Other ______________ When students are done brainstorming their own list of reasons why forests are important, use this slide to go over their ideas. You can have students come up and check off which they agreed on, or add their own ideas to the list. More information about each of these benefits forests provide humans and the environment: Habitat: Trees and other plants provide habitat for mammals, birds, insects, bacteria, and fungi. Economy: Forests provide the wood used for constructing buildings, crafting furniture, and making paper. Many forest plants are a source of compounds used in medicines and health products. For example, salicylic acid is a willow tree hormone that is used in aspirin. Recreation: Recreational activities in forests include hiking, camping, snowmobiling, skiing/snowboarding, off-road vehicle riding, hunting, photography, and bird watching. Many people also explore forests simply to enjoy the beauty of the natural environment. Have you ever enjoyed looking at the fall colors of a forest? Nutrient cycling: Nutrients are continuously cycled in forests. When plants and animals die, they decompose, and this releases nutrients into the soil. These nutrients can be absorbed by roots and used to help plants grow. Animals eat the plants and keep the nutrients in their bodies. When these plans and animals die, the nutrient cycle continues. Air purification: During photosynthesis plants take in greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur oxides (SOx), and ozone (O3). Plants convert these gases into usable materials, and release oxygen (O2) back into the atmosphere. In this way plants act as air filters by absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen. Prevent soil erosion: The roots of trees and other plants form an underground matrix that helps keep soil in place. Water retention: Roots hold soil in place. This prevents rainwater from draining away quickly. Instead, rainwater is slowly filtered through the soil. Excess water drains into creeks, rivers, or underground aquifers. Cooling: Trees provide shade from the sun, keeping the area cooler. They also help to absorb some heat from the atmosphere. Carbon sink: As trees grow they use the carbon from carbon dioxide to make sugars and other compounds and to build new cells. Trees “lock up” some of that carbon as wood. This helps reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The carbon is released again when trees are burned or decompose. Jobs & Careers: Can you think of any forest-related jobs or careers? Forests provide many jobs for people living in both urban and rural areas. These are all jobs that involve trees or forests: arborist, timber harvester, parks and recreation staff, forest manager, and forest ecology researcher. Throughout this unit we will explore forest-related careers.

How do plants grow? Let’s review what we know about plant growth. How do plants grow? Accept several student answers. What do plants need to grow? Plants capture light energy from the sun in their cells and use it to make sugar for food. This process is called photosynthesis. Photo means “light,” and synthesis means “putting together.” The sugar is sent to the rest of the plant and used to build more cells and make the plant larger. Photosynthesis also requires carbon dioxide from the air, and water and nutrients from the soil. [Notes Page Q1 ANSWERS: light, carbon dioxide, water, nutrients] Optional Review using Photosynthesis Infographic: Pigments are colored chemical compounds found in plants that absorb light. Chlorophyll is a green pigment that makes plants green. It absorbs the light energy needed for photosynthesis. Stomata are openings on the underside of leaves that open and close to let carbon dioxide (CO2) into the leaf and oxygen (O2) out of the leaf. The equation for photosynthesis is: 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy (sunlight)  C6H12O6 + 6O2 Three components are needed before photosynthesis can occur: carbon dioxide, light energy (sunlight), and water. These are all listed on the left side of the equation because they are the “inputs”. The “outputs” of photosynthesis are energy (in the form of carbohydrates) and oxygen. These are both shown on the right side of the equation.

What factors affect plant growth? Now that we have reviewed how plants grow, let’s discuss how their growth is affected by changes in the environment. This is important to understand because, as we discussed at the beginning of class, trees and forests provide many benefits to humans and the environment. What are some factors that affect plant growth? Accept several student answers. We are going to go over several of these factors today as a class.

How does temperature affect plant growth? Accept student answers.

Temperature determines how fast photosynthesis occurs. Temperature influences how much water is available for plants to use for photosynthesis. Temperature determines when photosynthesis can occur and how fast photosynthesis occurs. This means means temperature determines how quickly or slowly plants grow. The times during the year when the best range of temperatures and conditions allow a plant to photosynthesize and grow is called the plant’s “growing season”. Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction. Generally, the cooler the temperature, the slower the rate of a chemical reaction. The warmer the temperature, the faster the rate of a chemical reaction. So, if it is cold plants will photosynthesize more slowly, and higher temperatures speed up photosynthesis. However, eventually it can become too hot for a plant to photosynthesize. This is because some of the chemicals used during photosynthesis (called enzymes) will break apart when it is too hot. Photosynthesis also requires water. When the temperature is too high (too hot), water evaporates and becomes more scarce. This means that during periods of extremely high temperatures, plants must conserve water and photosynthesis cannot occur. During freezing temperatures, water is locked up in ice, snow, and the frozen ground where it is hard for the plant to get. Extreme hot or cold temperatures usually prevent photosynthesis. [Notes Page Q2 ANSWERS: how much water, how fast photosynthesis occurs]

How does precipitation help plants grow and survive? Accept student answers. [Answers on next slide.] Optional: Review the different types of precipitation. Rain, hail, sleet, and snow are all types of precipitation and sources of water for plants]

Precipitation Photosynthesis – Precipitation influences how much water plants can access and use for photosynthesis and growth. Heat movement – Plants allow water vapor to exit openings in the leaves, taking heat with it. Structure – Water held in plant cells gives plant leaves and stems shape and structure. How does precipitation help trees grow and survive? Photosynthesis – Precipitation influences how much water plants can access and use for photosynthesis and growth. Heat movement – Plants allow water vapor to exit openings in the leaves, taking heat with it. Structure – Water held in plant cells gives plant leaves and stems shape and structure. This is why you may have noticed a plant which needs to be watered “wilts,” or gets limp and floppy. [Notes Page Q3 ANSWERS: how much water; photosynthesis; growth; heat movement; shape; structure]

How does light affect plant growth? Accept student answers.

The amount of light and the intensity of light plants receive determine how much energy is available for photosynthesis. The amount and intensity of light plants receive determines how much energy is available for photosynthesis. The more food (sugar) a plant produces, the more it can build new cells and grow. However, we must remember that plants also need a certain range of temperatures and enough water for photosynthesis to occur. Too much sunlight can increase temperatures and limit water availability, which can prevent plant growth. [Notes Page Q4 ANSWERS: amount; intensity; how much energy is available]

How does soil type affect plant growth? Accept student answers.

Soil type determines how much water and what types of minerals are available. Soil type determines how much water and minerals are available to a plant. Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic substances that provide organisms with necessary building blocks to grow. [Notes Page Q5 ANSWERS: how much water and what types of minerals] Optional: There are three main types of soils. Clay soils have very small particle sizes and do not drain water quickly. Silty soils have a mixture of clay and sand, and retain water and minerals for an intermediate amount of time before they drain away. Sandy soils have larger particle sizes and drain water more quickly. The length of time water is held in the soil also determines the amount of minerals which can dissolve in the water. Both water and the dissolved minerals are taken up by plant roots for cell maintenance and growth. Many areas contain a mixture of these three soil types.

Are these factors the same in Temperature Precipitation Are these factors the same in every environment? Are these factors (temperature, precipitation, amount of light and the type of soil) the same in every environment? Do all ecosystems on the planet receive the same amount of light and rainfall? Experience the same average temperatures? Have the same soils? Accept student answers. No, of course not. No single factor determines how much a plant will grow. Variations in temperature, precipitation, light and soil type work together to create specific environments. [Notes Page Q6 ANSWERS: surroundings and conditions; not] What about Michigan? Does northern Michigan experience the same temperature, rainfall and light intensity as southern Michigan? Do they have the same types of soils? No. Let’s investigate how this changes the dominant tree species in these areas. Soil Light

Trees grow where they are adapted to live Tree species grow in areas where they are adapted to live. In southern Michigan, there are generally more deciduous trees than coniferous trees. In northern Michigan, there are more coniferous trees than deciduous. What are some differences between deciduous and coniferous trees that you already know? Accept student answers. Deciduous trees have broad leaves that change color and fall off the tree in the fall. Coniferous trees, or conifers, are cone-bearing trees that have narrow, waxy leaves called needles. Conifers do not shed all their needles during the fall or winter. For this reason you may have heard of conifers called “evergreens.”

Conifers are adapted to colder climates Smaller, waxy needles limit water loss and protect photosynthetic cells. Keeping leaves year-round saves energy and allows photosynthesis to occur when conditions permit. The cone shape of the tree helps conifers drop heavy snow. Coniferous trees (conifers) are more adapted to northern Michigan which is cooler and has less light intensity than lower Michigan. These two factors shorten the growing season for plants in northern Michigan. Conifers have adapted to survive these conditions. Their leaves (needles) are small and waxy, which helps to prevent water loss and protects the cells where photosynthesis occurs. Since conifers never lose their leaves, they can photosynthesize whenever conditions allow it. Keeping their leaves year-long also saves conifer trees energy because they do not have to regrow all of their leaves each spring. Generally, conifers have an upside-down cone shape that prevents heavy snow from piling up and breaking off tree limbs. [Notes Page Q7 ANSWERS: Cone-bearing, narrow, waxy leaves called needles; leaves do not shed with cold seasons]

Deciduous trees are adapted to more moderate climates Broad, flat leaves capture more light. The open shape of the branches exposes leaves to the maximum amount of light possible. Shedding leaves prevents water loss and damage during winter. Deciduous trees are more adapted to southern Michigan which has warmer average temperatures and greater light intensity. Since water is limited in winter, these warmer temperatures make water available for a longer period of time to the plants. This water availability and light intensity lengthens the growing season for southern Michigan plants. Generally, deciduous trees have an open shape that helps expose their leaves to as much sunlight as possible. Deciduous trees also have broad leaves that can capture more sunlight. However, these leaves are too delicate to withstand winter. Dropping their leaves in the fall prevents the trees from losing water and prevents cell and leaf damage during freezing winter temperatures. By gathering so much energy with a long growing season, an open shape, and broad leaves, the deciduous tree can regrow leaves each spring. [Notes Page Q8 ANSWERS: Broad, flat leaves; leaves change color in fall; tree loses its leaves in the fall] [END OF NOTES PAGE QUESTIONS]

Wrap Up Forests provide important services for humans and the environment. Factors that affect plant growth include: temperature, precipitation, light, and soil type. Plants are adapted to grow in a particular environment. Let’s review what we discussed today. We brainstormed the many ways forests help humans and the environment. We discussed the main factors that affect plant growth, and we also learned about how coniferous and deciduous trees are adapted to live in particular environments.Tomorrow we are going to talk about how precipitation and temperature create specific weather patterns, how Earth’s climate is changing, and how it may impact plants and animals, including forests and humans.