We are studying dispersal in Spanish moss using genetic markers and we need a ("safe") way to retrieve samples from up in the canopy. Obviously, we can get the low-lying stuff (via ladder and extension trimmer), but we are struggling to get samples that are higher than ~10 m. I've heard of some people using ropes, but only on TV, and I am not sure how to get trained to do this sort of thing, and whether it is safe for some of the trees. Any ideas or citations are welcome.
Hi Corey,
I know the problem. And their is a solution, a mildly destructive one.
In a past project we had the same problem. We had to get needle samples from Picea trees in a rather dense forest in the Ardennes (Belgium). We had to get samples as well from the top of the canopy. A forest ranger offered to use his shotgun to shoot out small branches at different heights in the canopy. We triangulated the target branches and our ranger shot the branches down. A bit noisy, destructive, but we had our samples and their height in the canopy.
I figger you can go ahead in the same way to get your Spanish moss at ground level as well. Problem might be to find a ranger, a shotgun or both and a ranger that doesn't miss his target. Looks queer shooting at branches, but it worked out quite well
Cheers,
Frank
Hi Corey,
I am not able to climb trees safely using ropes. So, I collect material (from aroids in canopies) using the following: I have a sliding ladder with maximum of 7 meters. So I attach it very well to the tree main trunk with ropes. After that, with the aid of a boudrier and a "boca de lobo" rope, I climb it with extreme caution. Very well attached to the ladder (and some times also to the tree), you will have more 5-6 meters height to use your collecting equipment. I always do this in strong thick trees. Please take care climbing trees with ropes or ladders. Never do this alone and look for a specialist to help you. Please evaluate if ladder is new and can withstand your weight plus equipment. Also, evaluate if boudrier and "boca de lobo" is also in safe conditions. I thought that you can also try manual catapults with little stones and nylon strings. I hope it could be useful in same manner.
@Andre: what is a "boca de lobo" rope?
@Hannes: this faze of the study is being conducted at our research center here in southern Georgian (USA), so cranes are out. At the moment, we are comparing two types of forest communities: 1) fire-managed pine forest, and 2) mixed pine-hardwood secondary forest. At a latter point, we will sample some old-growth hardwood hammock.
I would like to sample hierarchically: within a tree, between trees, among stands,then among subregions...and the ultimate sampling scheme may depend on how much genetic variation exists (both on a host tree and within a local landscape). One thing I would like to do (as a preliminary step) is to sample some trees that are covered with Spanish moss to get a sense of relative rates of vegetative vs. sexual reproduction; this might help to guide latter sampling in old growth forest.
In the pine forest and secondary forest, the density of Spanish moss is relatively low...so I need to be able to obtain it from where it exists.
And thanks again to you all for your excellent suggestions so far!!!
Hi Corey, "boca de lobo" is a simple type of knot. Please see attached. You should use (of course) with a boudrier and other stuff to be safe on the ladder, as I said. How far (height) are your specimens from the ground? I do not know if a little manual "estilingue" (slingshot?) will be strong enough. Probably a bigger one (like that used by archers) could be better.
A slingshot or crossbow allows you to get a light line over a branch. That allows you to get a stronger line over the branch. Raking the line over the branch yields lots of debris. I use that method to place ant traps and the falling litter is often abundant. It ought to work to drag down epiphytes.
I’ve spent enough time climbing trees to know that if you want samples, there’s usually a quicker way than climbing the tree (though few are as much fun). I’d agree that the shotgun method is probably the fastest and easiest. As I don’t have access to a shotgun or a marksman, I’d resort to my bigshot catapult & a throw bag/line:
http://honeybros.com/Item/Big_Shot_Catapult_Head
http://www.wesspur.com/images/treegear/thr126-500.gif
It takes a little practice to get the aim right (I recommend practicing with overripe fruit rather than stones) but you can get a line over the branch you’re interested in very easily, even at 50m high. The trick is to know that you need the string to be 3x longer than the height of the branch. Once you get the line in approximately the right place, attach a square of carpet to the string and pull that over the branch to rub off the tillandsia & other epiphytes. Alternatively, you could tie in one of those wire saws (eg. http://www.amazon.co.uk/BCB-CM020A-Commando-Lightweight-Wrist/dp/B002C3PPEE) and sample the entire branch.
- Badges
- Science method
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Ecology