Comparison of Fall Temporary Spot with UVM Spot

While the UVM sit spot does not have the childhood memories of the temporary one at home, it is entwined with the new friends and experiences of college. The historical and present of the land uses do differ drastically. The phenology spot at UVM is in Centennial Woods has a past history as farmland and a present history as a natural protected area. My home phenology spot has always been a forest until the area around was developed in the 1990’s.

In ecological comparisons, the two spots have a similar canopy with a multitude of  Eastern White Pines mixed in with other deciduous trees. Yet, there are still differences as the spot in Centennial is an Eastern White Pine stand and the spot at home is a mixed forest. Also, the understory at the UVM spot is mostly clear but has some deciduous trees, whereas the home spot has a thick understory of brambles, White Birches, and Eastern White Pines. As I observed further, I notice that the wildlife abundance of squirrels, chipmunks, and birds at the home sit spot was increased compared with the UVM sit spot. The last different defining piece between the two sites is the substrate of soil. At Centennial Woods the glacial Lake Vermont has provided a sandy soil substrate, while the home spot has eroded from granite providing a relatively loamy soil with some sand from the quartz.