Mountain Laboratory
Penobscot Mountain (Acadia National Park)

A self-guided ecological field trip will be laid out along the Penobscot Mountain trail by establishing approximately 20 observation sites at various elevations. The occurrence of flora and fauna, and their relationship to microclimate at various points along the trail will be studied. For each observation site, you will be directed to make one or more observations, and to answer questions that will be posed in the handout. There will be space on the handout for you to write your answers.

The Penobscot Mountain trail is marked with trail signs and blue paint on stones and trees. Observation sites, some of which are located a short distance off the trail, are marked with green flagging. Plants which are highlighted in the handout are marked with orange flagging.

At each observation site, use your compass to measure aspect, and briefly describe the plant community typical of the site, e.g., broadleaf forest, coniferous forest, mixed forest, shrubland, etc. After discussing the study questions with your partner, fill in your answers on the handout. Before leaving the observation site, check your responses with the answers we have posted in the manila envelope located there.

Goals.

• Learn some new forest flora which are adapted to growing under sub-alpine conditions
  
• Compare mountain microhabitats with the habitats we have studied in previous labs
  
• Study effects of elevational gradient and aspect on the distribution of some flora and fauna