Hilsman Middle School

Hilsman Middle School
Athens-Clarke County, Georgia

Laura Wingate, Meghan Risinger,
Rineka Tolbert and LaChasha Cooper
Athens, Georgia

June 11, 1999

Hilsman Middle School Site

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Site Description

General description: Hilsman Middle School is located on Gaines School Road in East Athens. The site houses three buildings and is adjacent to a public park that includes a soccer field. The school, which is in a suburban area, is situated in close proximity to the road and has two main habitats. In front of the school and closest to the road is the forested area that mainly consists of pines. There is also an open, grassy area that includes a parking lot directly in front of the school and behind it. Gaines School Road is rather busy and may contribute to noise and air polution on the school lot. There is not a stream or garden present on or near the site. Directly in front of the school are a few planted trees and bushes.

We found the warranty deed (plat) for the school. It is dated February 10, 1964 and reads as follows:


Parking Lot
More Parking
Quad Map
Scale Map
Index
 Identification Tables of Hilsman Middle School

Tree Identification Table
Trees Native/Exotic Planted/Natural Forest Habitat Grassy Habitat Other Habitat
Magnolia grandiflora E P No Yes No
Cornus florida N P/N Yes Yes No
Pinus taeda N P/N Yes No No
Quercus laurifolia N P/N Yes Yes No

Herbs Identification Table
Herb Native/Exotic Planted/Natural Forest Habitat Grassy Habitat Other Habitat
Plantago lanceolata N N Yes No No
Taraxacum officinale Weber N N No Yes No
Trifolium repens L. N N No Yes No
Lysimachia nummularia L. N N Yes No No
Bromus secalinus L. N N Yes No No
Senecio viscocus N N No Yes No
Verbascum blattaria L. N N No Yes No
Cartex elata N N Yes No No
Lithospermum arvense N N Yes No No
Smilax rotundifolia N N Yes No No
Andropogon virginicus N N No Yes No
Stellaria media L. N N No Yes No
Scleranthus annuus N N No Yes No
Smilax glauca Walt. N N Yes No No
Asplenium platyneuron N N Yes No No
Cynodon dactylon N N No Yes No

Index
 Photographs of Herbs

Plantago lancelota

Taraxacum officinale

Trifolium repens

Lysimachia nummularia

Bromus secalinus

Senecio viscosus

Verbascum blattaria

Carex elata

Lithospermum arvense

Smilax rotundifolia

Andropogon virginicus

Stellaria media

Scleranthus annuus

Smilax glauca

Asplenium platyneuron

Cynodon dactylon

Index
 The Ants

Date collected: June 4, 1999
Description of the ants:
    morphospecies 1=small black ants (length of approx. 0.0625 in.)
    morphospecies 2=reddish-yellow ants (length of approx. 0.125-0.25 in.)
Differences between the traps:

Pitfall traps

  • no bait used to lure the ants
  • Random collection of insects (not only ants)
  • entrapment based only on the chance of encountering the trap
  • 24 hour time span for collection
  • large pitfall traps had a diameter of about 2.5 inches
  • small pitfall traps had a diameter of about 1 inch
  • ants and other insects not free to enter and exit trap once inside the trap

    • Bait traps

  • Food used specifically to lure ants to the site of the trap
  • entrapment of ants based on the ant's desire to reach the bait
  • 30 minute time span

    		•  Differences between the collection sites:

    Grassy site

  • in direct sunlight
  • directly next to parking lot
  • mowed and disturbed frequently
  • grass is low to ground

    • Forested site

  • shade provided by pine trees
  • grass and ground cover left more undisturbed
  • more vines and low-growing shrubs present

    • Morphospecies Totals From Traps
    Large pitfall Forested site:
    Morphospecies 1 (black)         		Forested site:
    Morphospecies 2 (red)         		Grassy site:
    Morphospecies 1 (black)         		Grassy site:
    Morphospecies 2 (red)
    1 32 0 0 30
    Small pitfall Forested site:
    Morphospecies 1 (black)         		Forested site:
    Morphospecies 2 (red)         		Grassy site:
    Morphospecies 1 (black)         		Grassy site:
    Morphospecies 2 (red)
    1 0 1 0 27
    2 0 9 0 4
    3 0 3 0 0
    4 0 15 1 4
    5 0 1 1 4
    6 0 0 0 5
    7 vial lost vial lost 5 1
    8 vial lost vial lost 0 7
    Bait Traps Forested site:
    Morphospecies 1 (black)         		Forested site:
    Morphospecies 2 (red)         		Grassy site:
    Morphospecies 1 (black)         		Grassy site:
    Morphospecies 2 (red)
    1 0 0 0 40
    2 0 0 0 0
    3 21 0 0 0
    4 1 7 0 0
    5 31 0 0 0
    6 11 0 27 0
    7 0 0 1 64
    8 0 0 0 0

    Which trap type caught more of morphospecies 1?

    Which trap type caught more of morphospecies 2?

    Did one trap work significantly better than the other one?

    What does all of this mean?

    References

    Discover Life | All Living Things | Identification Guides | Education | Explore Your School Yard | Hilsman Middle School

    Last updated: 19 August, 2004