Description:
Tree rings provide precise annual and seasonal information on climate, ecology, and competition over several centuries. In this dendro-ecology workshop, participants will learn the methods that tree ring scientists use to learn the language of trees. By the end of the day, participants will learn how to interpret the information we get from tree rings over the long lives of trees and have experience coring a tree.
In this course we will:
• visit a forest at the Morris Arboretum to discuss ecology, read the landscape history, and learn how to identify the external characteristics of old trees
• core representatives of a few key genera so participants will be exposed to the main wood anatomies of trees in the region
• understand all of the things that can be interpreted from tree rings
• learn the laboratory techniques used to process cores
• conduct lab work to age the trees and interpret their stories
Neil Pederson’s research focuses on climate/forest dynamics and disturbance ecology. Neil earned his Ph.D. in forest ecology at Columbia University. He has been a forester, professor, and research professor before working at the Harvard Forest. Neil focuses on the ecology of temperate, mesic forests including the eastern U.S., Spain, East Asia, and the Colchic Temperate Rainforest in Turkey and the Republic of Georgia.
This course carries 6.5 CEUs for ISA certified arborists. (S=3, P=3, M=.5).