"BARKING UP THE RIGHT TREE"

BARK/LICHEN COLLECTING GUIDE

For Trees with Insect Canopy Traps

prepared by Trish Smith, Warrensburg Middle School, 9/04

1. You have the job of collecting bark samples from our study trees. BE CAREFUL NOT TO HARM THE TREE OR YOURSELF. If you pry too deeply with your tool, you may damage the living tissue under the bark, allowing disease-causing organisms to enter the tree. If the bark is attached tightly, you must be careful not to let your tool slip...you do not want to wound yourself!

SECOND DAY STUDENTS OF SOME TRAP TREES WILL SUBSTITUTE "1 METER" FOR "GROUND" AND "2 METERS" FOR "3 METERS" IN THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS. SEE MRS. SMITH BEFORE PROCEEDING.

2. Mark a paper sack with the tree number, date, and "ground". (You will need to assign the tree a tag number by choosing the lowest numbered tag in your bag. Pull it out and be ready to nail it to the tree when you get on the ladder.)

3. Start by looking at all sides of the base of the tree and selecting areas with the most signs of other life forms living on the bark. Now, take your prying tool (screwdriver, putty knife) and carefully remove the bark from these areas. Place each piece in the paper sack. Gather enough bark pieces to fill your sack half-full.

5. Mark a paper sack with the tree number, date, and "3 METERS". Measure up the side of the tree to 3 meters and mark it with chalk.

BE VERY CAREFUL WHILE ON THE STEPLADDER...BE SURE THAT YOUR GROUNDCREW IS HOLDING THE LADDER STEADY AT ALL TIMES.

6. Again looking at all sides of the tree, select areas with the most signs of other life forms living on the bark. Again, use your prying tool (screwdriver, putty knife) and carefully remove the bark from these areas and place each piece in the paper sack until it is half-full.

8. Your last task is to nail the tree number tag to the tree as high as you can SAFELY reach from the ladder. Be sure to place it on the side of the tree that is the least visible from the path or road.