Research/Project Results

Boreal Coniferous Forest/Stream Biome

Koliganek, Alaska,

United States

School: Koliganek School

e-mail: lparks@koliganek.swrsd.schoolzone.net

Class: Grade 9-12

This ecology study is in the Boreal Coniferous Biome, close to the Alpine Biome. It encompasses both a forest and a stream. The students were led by Les Parks (teacher), Chris Robinson (student teacher) and a Wildlife Biologist from the Alaskan Fish and Wildlife Service. It is a sophisticated study, using transects and quadrats, generating values for frequency, relative frequency, density and relative density for all biota. Importance Values are a measure of how important a species is to an ecosystem, based on how commonly it occurred (frequency) and how "clumped" it was (density).

Site Description

Type of Ecosystem: Boreal Forest, Freshwater Stream

Latitude: 59 degrees 50 minutes north

Longitude: 157degrees 30 minutes west

**Stream Abiotic Measurements**
Water Temperature (C)	0
Water pH Level	7

**Stream Biotic Measurements**
Species	Relative Frequency	Relative Density	Importance Value
Coho (Silver) Salmon	50%	5%	55
Chinook (King) Salmon	50%	95%	145

**Forest Abiotic Measurements**
Available Sunlight	Low to High (through 4 Quadrats)
Soil Moisture Content	18%
Soil Inorganic Content	69%
Soil Organic Content	13%

**Forest Biotic Observations: Animals**
	Species	Relative Frequency	Relative Density	Importance Value
Mammal Species	Lemmings	50%	50%	100
Bird Species	Crow	50%	50%	100
Insect Species	Brown Recluse Spider	33%	57%	90
	Chinese Beetle	67%	43%	110

**Forest Biotic Observations: Plants and Fungi**
	Species	Relative Frequencey	Relative Density	Importance Value
Tree Species	Spruce	18%	6%	24
Shrub Species	Alders	18%	16%	34
	Willow	14%	4%	18
	Blueberry	18%	8%	26
	Cranberry	9%	1%	10
Herb Species	Grass	18%	60%	78
	Moss	5%	37%	42
Fungus Species	Fungi	9%	3%	12