This research project studies the effects of leaving autumn leaf litter instead of removing it.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the United States generates about 35 million tons of yard waste each year. That is just a little less than the amount of municipal plastic waste! A large portion of yard waste includes leaf litter that is bagged or raked to the side of the street. But, leaf litter could be an important habitat for hibernating insects or for conserving the nutrients in the soil. So, our research is studying how leaving leaf litter in suburban lawns affects insects and soil decomposition.
Photo credits: Max Ferlauto
Our study uses emergence traps: small tents capped with two collection bottles. When insects wake up in the spring, they fly up to the highest and brightest thing they can find-- in this case the bottle at the top of the trap. They get tired flying around that bottle and drop into the bottom bottle, which is filled with a preservative fluid. Every couple weeks the bottom bottle is collected and replaced. We place two traps next to each other- one on an area where leaves are removed, and one where leaves are retained.
We also are studying soil decomposition using green and red tea bags. We weigh them, bury them, and after a certain amount of time, dig them up and re-weigh them. This allows us to calculate the rate of decomposition in areas where litter is retained or removed. This experiment is similar to studies taking place all across the world: http://www.teatime4science.org/
By Max Ferlauto