Exploring the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest

Student Handout #3: Virtual Tour & Introduction Questions.

 

Student Name(s) ______________________________                     Date  _________________________

 

Use the back of the page if you need more room to answer questions.

 

1) What is an “ecosystem?” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) What should scientists know about a forest before they begin to experiment with it?

 

 

 

 

 

3) What do you think would happen if scientists did not know much about these characteristics?

 

 

 

4) Which of the watersheds at the HBEF are used as references (hint: there are two)? Why are these referred to as reference watersheds?  In an experiment, what is the purpose of the reference watershed?

 

 

 

 

 

 

5) In the early 1900’s the federal government became interested in buying private land, such as that in the Hubbard Brook Valley, in an effort to protect the large watersheds of major river systems like the Pemigewasset and Merrimack.  Why do you think it might be important to protect these watersheds?

 

 

 

 

 

6) How does the type of bedrock present at Hubbard Brook compare to that found near where you live?