Ground Cover

What We're Doing

In this activity, you will map the soil environments at your field site.

Why We're Doing It

There can be many different types of soil habitats within an area. Some of these habitats can support food sources better than others. The more of the area with good quality food source habitats, the larger and more diverse the soil critter population will be. Because the actions humans take can affect these soil habitats, it is important that we understand how to recognize and protect valuable soil habitats.

Making the connection:

  • By doing this activity along with Food Source Habitat, you can gain a better understanding of how the ground cover roots can affect soil organisms.
  • By doing this activity along with Looking for Life and Rock Flip, you can see how micro-habitats relate to the critters they observe.
  • By doing this activity along with Soil Properties, you can see how soil properties relate to food sources and habitats.

Getting Our Hands Dirty

Hypothesize

What soil habitats are in our field site? What percent of our field site contains good quality food sources for soil organisms?

Plan it!

Do it!

  1. Take a walk around the field site and note generally where the various soil habitats are. On the Map Your Field Site worksheet , quickly sketch any buildings and major topographical features, such as hills or streams.
  2. Walk around the field site a second time. This time, color the squares on the grid according to the soil habitat type, using the color key on the Map Your Field Site worksheet . Take your time and be as accurate as possible.

Record it!

  • When you return to the classroom, count the number of squares for each color and record it on the chart on the Ground Cover worksheet.
  • Complete the math problems on the worksheet using the numbers you collected. This will tell you what portion of your field site is poor, average, and good quality food source habitat.
  • Add the map and worksheets to your field journal.

Remember, be sci-wise!

  • Be a good observer. Noting details of your field site will help you to record the soil habitats accurately.
  • Double-check your work. If you have time, walk over the field site a third time to check your map.

Thinking About It

  • What kinds of habitats did you find at your field site? What percentage of your site was of good quality for finding food sources?
  • Based on the data you mapped and interpreted, do you think your hypothesis was correct or incorrect?
  • Compare the field site map you created in this activity with the one you created when choosing your field site. How closely do the major features and buildings you recorded match? Which map is more detailed? Which do you think is most accurate? What kind of information does this map have that the other map does not? What kind of information does the other map has that this one does not?
  • Looking at the math calculations you made, can you infer what percentage of your field site is not likely to have a good variety of soil critters?
  • Looking at the math calculations you made, can you infer what percentage of your field site is most likely to have healthy earthworms?
  • After mapping the field site in this way, do you still think this site is a good choice for doing field work on soil critters? Why or why not?
  • Based on your research, what actions would you suggest for improving the soil at your field site? How might these actions benefit humans?
  • Complete this section of the Factors That Affect the Soil Overview worksheet .
  • Looking at the big picture, how might the data you mapped and analyzed here help you answer your research question?

Still Interested?

If you liked this activity, try this:

  • Mapping and Measuring
    To make an even more accurate map of your field site, measure the area of your site and create a scale to show the ratio between the real space and your map (i.e., one inch = one foot). With permission, actually grid off your field site and then remap it. Compare it to your earlier maps. Which is more accurate? Why? What other ways can you think of to make your map more accurate? What techniques do cartographers use?
  • Sampling
    Take soil samples from different types of soil habitats within your field site. How do they compare? Which areas have greater numbers and diversity of soil life? Why?

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You’ll need to set up a quadrant for your research. Click here to find out how!