Tree rings

Overview of today's lab

Today, your assignment is Dendrochronology - Tree Rings. You will read about tree rings and how they are used by scientists, answer questions and play an interactive game while saving your screenshots. You will take the Dendrochrolology - Tree Rings Quiz to enter your tree disk photo, answers to the questions, and the screenshots (8 points)

Follow the instructions for the lab attached here in either the Word or .pdf document. The tree disk should be in a plastic bag with your general lab supplies (blue gloves, ruler, etc.). Save the tree disk photo and screenshots as described on your computer. Write down or type the answers to the questions (or enter them directly into the quiz below). Take the Dendrochronology - Tree Rings quiz below to enter your answers, photo, and Word document with screenshots into the correct quiz questions.

Dendrochronology Laboratory (8 points)

1. Take a photo of your tree disc (from your lab kit). Save the photo on your computer to attach to the quiz. (0.50 points)

In the Dendrology- Tree Rings quiz you will answer questions below. You may need to go back to the Stems lecture.

2. What is the age of the stem of your tree disk? How did you determine the age of your tree disk?

3. The rings are what type of tissue (be very specific)? Also, what does this type of tissue do for the plant?

4. What other types of tissue are present on your tree disc and where is each located with respect to the rings? You can insert arrows with text if you’d like.

Read page about dendrochronology at the UCAR Center for Science Education website at this address: https://scied.ucar.edu/tree-rings

Answer the Essay questions below in your OWN words for the quiz.

5. Why are spring/summer tree rings lighter than fall tree rings?

6. A climate scientist wants to use trees to get a very good estimate of past climate without damaging trees. What are some things they must do when collecting samples? Name at least two.

7. Ring patterns in living and dead trees can be used to understand conditions on Earth from more than how many years ago?

8. Are the youngest tree rings found in the center of the tree trunk or towards the outside near the bark? Are the oldest tree rings found in the center of the tree trunk or towards the outside near the bark?

9. Why do trees in the tropics lack tree rings?

After reading and answering the questions on https://scied.ucar.edu/tree-rings, click on the interactive exercise ‘Tree Rings Virtual Laboratory’ within a blue box on the right side of the screen as seen below.

This will bring you to the interactive exercise that looks like this below:

You will begin with a score of 100 points in the top right corner. The goal is to choose the correct moisture levels that will match up to the other half of the tree rings beginning with the center ring. Choose: Dry, Normal, or Wet and then click on ‘Grow New Ring’ in the top left. If you are correct and it matches perfectly, you will see your points increase. If you are wrong, you will lose points, but you can continue with the activity. Click ‘Remove Last Ring’ at top if you are wrong and try a different moisture level. Continue with this until you get at least 500 points. Of course, you can start over by clicking the home button on bottom left. Click the “?” at the bottom left of the screen for information. Take a screenshot showing the Full game box including the Score (example below).

Level 1-Moisture

Open a Word document and paste your screenshot to it. Label your screenshot Level 1- Moisture as shown above. Make sure the image is large enough to easily view the score (larger than the one shown above). Use “Save As” and name your document ‘Tree Ring Screenshots.’

Click on the small home symbol on the bottom left to go back and click on ‘Level 2 – Temperature’. This time try to select temperature characteristics that match the other half of the growth rings successfully. Again continue with this until you get to 500 points. Take a screenshot, go to your Tree Ring Screenshots Word document and paste this screenshot below the first one. Label this one Level 2- Temperature.

Go back to the home symbol play ‘Level 3 – Temperature and Moisture’. This time, there is an interaction between Temperature And Moisture. You will need to try to select the right Pair of conditions to match the other half of the tree rings. Take a screenshot of your high score. Go to your Tree Ring Screenshots Word document and paste this screenshot below the second one. Label this one Level 3 –Temperature and Moisture.

Click on the home symbol and play Level 4 – A Long Spell’ get to 1000 points, take a screenshot that shows the full game (at Level 4) and your score. Take a screenshot. Go to your Tree Ring Screenshots Word document and paste this screenshot below the third screenshot. Label this one Level 4 – A Long Spell.

For #10 on the quiz you should have these 4 labeled screenshots of the game in your Word document:

• Level 1 – Moisture -showing score of at least 500 points
• Level 2 – Temperature -showing score of at least 500 points
• Level 3 – Temperature and Moisture -showing your high score
• Level 4 – A Long Spell -showing score of at least 1000 points

11. Last Question (1 Point):

After playing Levels 3 and 4 of this game, explain how the size of tree rings is affected by the interaction between temperature and moisture. Use at least 4 different moisture/temperature combinations in your explanation and compare the resulting tree ring sizes to each other. 

Take the Dendrology- Tree Rings "quiz" to submit your answers, photo and screenshots.

Tree-ring "Quiz" (not really a quiz, but the quiz function makes it easier for students to organize information that they submit)

Question 1

1. Attach the photo of your tree disk here. Use "Browse My Computer" to locate and attach your .jpeg image. Heic images are not supported in Blackboard.
2. How old was the stem of your tree disk? Also, how did you determine the age of your tree disk?
3. The rings on your tree disk are what type of tissue (be specific!)? Also, what does this type of tissue do for the plant?
4. Besides the tissue of the rings, what other types of tissue are present on your tree disk? (name at least 2)
5. Why are spring/summer tree rings lighter than fall tree rings? Use complete sentences.
6. If a climate scientist wants to use trees to get a very good estimate of past climates without damaging trees. Name at least 2 things they must do when collecting samples. Use complete sentences.
7. Ring patterns in living and dead trees can be used to understand conditions on Earth from more than how may years ago? Type the correct number of years.
8. Are the youngest tree rings found in the center of the tree trunk or towards the outside near the bark? Also, are the oldest tree rings found in the center of the tree trunk or towards the outside near the bark? Use complete sentences.
9. Explain why trees in the tropics lack tree rings.
10. Attach the screenshot of your Level 1 - Moisture game showing at least 500 points. Use "Browse My Computer" to locate and attach your screenshot.
11. Attach your Level 2- Temperature screenshot showing at least 500 points here by using "Browse My Computer" to locate and attach your screenshot.
12. Attach the screenshot of your Level 3 - Temperature Moisture game showing your high score here. Use "Browse My Computer" to locate and attach your screenshot.
13. Attach the screenshot of your Level 4 - A Long Spell game showing at least 1000 points here. Use "Browse My Computer" to locate and attach your screenshot.
14. After playing Levels 3 and 4 in the Virtual Tree Ring Laboratory, explain how the size of tree rings is affected by the interaction between temperature and moisture. Use at least 4 different moisture/temperature combinations in your explanation and compare the resulting ring sizes to each other.