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Standing On the Shoulders of Giants: How Well Do Big-Leaf Mahogany Trees Grow in Different Conditions?

  • Article
  • Middle School
  • 1 Classroom Period
  • Agriculture
  • Engineering and Forest Products
  • Wilderness
  • Collaboration
  • Endangered Species Act
  • Extinction
  • Mahogany Tree
  • Rainfall
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To ensure that big-leaf mahogany harvesting is sustainable, scientists and land managers must know the conditions in which mahogany grows. Therefore, the scientists in this study wanted to examine how big-leaf mahogany responds to different amounts of rainfall and availability of nutrients in the soil.

Standing On the Shoulders of Giants: How Well Do Big-Leaf Mahogany Trees Grow in Different Conditions?

Jump To

  • Meet the Scientists
  • Thinking About Science
  • Thinking About the Environment
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Findings
  • Discussion

Meet the Scientists

Elvira Cuevas

Ecologist

I like being a scientist because I get to discover new things about the natural environment. My favorite science experience is working in the field. I can see how the... Read Full Bio

Ariel Lugo

Tropical Ecologist

“My favorite science experience is trying to understand the functioning of natural ecosystems in collaboration with bright people, including high school students.” “[Another] favorite science experience is interacting with other... Read Full Bio

Ernesto Medina

Plant Ecophysiologist

My favorite science experience is being outside in the field, observing how plants respond physiologically to their environment. I like designing experiments to answer the questions that arise from observations,... Read Full Bio

What Kind of Scientists Did This Research?

  • Ecologist: This scientist studies the relationship of living things with their living and nonliving environment.
  • Tropical ecologist: A tropical ecologist studies the relationship of living things with their environment in the tropics. The tropics make up the region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn (figure 1).
  • Plant ecophysiologist: A plant ecophysiologist studies how the environment, both physical and biological, interacts with the physiology of an organism. It includes the effects of climate and nutrients on physiological processes in plants.
A graphic of the globe showing the different regions.

Thinking About Science

Scientists from different organizations and in different parts of the world often work together to analyze, study, and understand a problem. Organizations working together to understand common problems may include government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and universities. In this research, the organizations that worked together were the USDA Forest Service’s International Institute of Tropical Forestry (figure 2), the University of Puerto Rico’s Biology Department, Mexico’s Department of Natural Resource Management (Yucatan), and the Center for Investigations in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Scientists from all of these different organizations worked together, or collaborated (kə la bə rā təd).

 

The Forest Service sign outside the International Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico
Figure 2. The USDA Forest Service’s International Institute of Tropical Forestry is located in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. The Institute was established in 1939. USDA Forest Service photo.

 

Collaboration is an important part of the scientific process. Collaboration involves at least two people with different backgrounds or viewpoints discussing a problem and working toward a solution. The process of discussing ideas and debating points may bring clarity to a problem and may provide meaningful solutions. Collaboration can occur during face-to-face meetings, by phone, through email, through virtual meetings, and through other online collaboration methods. In this research, scientists collaborated on research involving a specific tree called big-leaf mahogany. You will learn more about this collaboration and big-leaf mahogany as you read the article. Think of a time you collaborated with someone at school or at home. Why was the collaboration useful to you?

Thinking About the Environment

Balancing the needs and wants of humans with the health of the environment can be a tricky balancing act. As humans move into new areas and build new things, certain resources are used more. Animal and plant habitat is changed, and it is often no longer suitable for the animal or plant to live there.

 

Humans create changes in the environment that may influence the well-being of plants and animals in the surrounding areas. For example, a new house or building may be built on an area that used to be an animal’s habitat. Once a house or building has been built, the area is no longer suitable for the animal’s habitat (figure 3). Therefore, some animals, plants, and resources may become stressed due to the habitat changes.

 

A newly developed area were trees have been bulldozed to make room for new homes.
Figure 3. This photo shows an area after it was developed. Courtesy photo by Babs McDonald.

 

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was passed in 1973 to help protect animals and plants from extinction. The ESA provides for the conservation of species that are endangered or threatened throughout their habitat range.

 

International organizations and programs like CITES also help animals and plants. CITES stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. CITES is an agreement among 181 countries. The agreement’s goal is to ensure that the trade of wild animals and plants does not endanger the survival of these animals and plants. Trade in wild animals and plants involves trading any animal or plant part for money or other items. Examples of illegal trade of wild animals and plants are harvesting, or cutting down, of endangered tree species and trading or selling ivory from elephants.

Introduction

Big-leaf mahogany is a tree species known for its beautiful wood (figure 4a and 4b).

Two images of big leaf mahogany trees.
Figures 4a and 4b. Big-leaf mahogany trees are long-lived and slow-growing trees. The trees in these photos are growing in Puerto Rico. USDA Forest Service photos by Grizelle Gonzalez.

Over time, humans have cut down many big-leaf mahogany trees for use in furniture and other products (figure 5). Because of this regular human use, big-leaf mahogany is considered vulnerable. It has been listed in the appendixes to CITES.

A bedroom suite made out of mahogany wood
Figure 5. Big-leaf mahogany is known for its beautiful, red-colored wood. People like to use mahogany to make furniture. iStock photo by tacstef.

Species are listed in one of three appendixes depending on the level of protection they need. Big-leaf mahogany is listed in Appendix II of the CITES agreement. This listing means that the species is not yet in danger of becoming extinct. However, this listing means the species is at the point where certain precautions need to be taken to ensure its survival.

The listing in CITES is intended to make sure that trade involving big-leaf mahogany is sustainable. Sustainable trade means that big-leaf mahogany could be used and traded without endangering its survival. This listing also helps to address illegal harvesting of big-leaf mahogany and unregulated trade of big-leaf mahogany.

To ensure that big-leaf mahogany harvesting is sustainable, scientists and land managers must know the conditions in which mahogany grows. The scientists in this study knew that the amount of sunlight big-leaf mahogany received was important for its growth. The scientists did not know, however, how the availability of nutrients in the soil and the amount of water received through rainfall affected big-leaf mahogany growth. Therefore, the scientists in this study wanted to examine how big-leaf mahogany responds to different amounts of rainfall and availability of nutrients in the soil.

Reflection Section

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Methods

The scientists studied big-leaf mahogany in Central and South America. Specifically, scientists studied trees in the State of Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Mexico; and in the State of Para, Brazil (figure 6). Within each country’s site, leaf samples were taken from several areas.

 

A map of North and South America highlighting the regions of Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Mexico and Para, Brazil
Figure 6. The State of Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Mexico, is in Central America, and the State of Para, Brazil, is in South America. FIND Outdoors map by Carey Burda.

 

At each of the sites and areas within the sites, the scientists collected mature, healthy big-leaf mahogany leaves (figure 7). These leaves were selected randomly from three to five trees at each area. When the leaves were taken off the tree, the scientists traced the leaf on paper to measure the area of the leaf.

 

A scientist holding up branches of a big leaf mahogany tree.
Figure 7. Mature, healthy leaves of big-leaf mahogany can reach up to 20 inches in length. Look at the size of the leaves that Dr. Cuevas is holding in this photo. University of Puerto Rico Photo by Elvira Cuevas.

 

The scientists then dried the leaves in an oven (figure 8). The scientists dried the leaves to remove water so that they could grind up the leaf samples and analyze them for different nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and calcium. The scientists also measured the weight of the leaves and gathered information about the amount of rainfall in each area.

 

An imiage of an oven
Figure 8. An oven was used to dry the leaves to remove water from the leaves. University of Puerto Rico photo by Elvira Cuevas.

 

At each of the sites and areas within the sites, the scientists collected three samples of the upper soil layer. The upper soil layer is 0 to 20 centimeters (cm) deep. The scientists used a soil corer to collect each soil sample (figure 9). The scientists collected these soil samples 50 cm away from the trunk of each tree.

 

A person using a soil corer to take a sample.
Figure 9. Soil corers help scientists take measurements of soil samples. FIND Outdoors photo by Jessica Nickelsen.

Number Crunch

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Hint: 1 cm = .393 inches

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The soil samples were air dried, ground up, and passed through a 2 millimeter (mm) mesh sleeve (figure 10).

 

A mesh sleeve bowl and a scientific device to analyze soil nutrients.
Figure 10. Soil was passed through a 2-mm mesh sleeve before the soil was analyzed for nutrients. University of Puerto Rico photo by Elvira Cuevas.

 

The scientists need particles to be 2 mm or smaller to be tested for nutrients. To do this nutrient testing, the scientists used a LECO® elemental analyzer and a spectrometer (figure 11).

 

A computer hooked up to an elemental analyzer and spectrometer.
Figure 11. A LECO® elemental analyzer and a spectrometer are machines that help scientists determine the amount and type of nutrients in a sample. The analyzer in this picture helps determine carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen concentrations. The University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (http://www.caer.uky.edu) photo.

 

The scientists measured the amount of nitrogen, potassium, and calcium in the leaves. The scientists then used computers to help them compare the amount of nutrients in the leaves with the amount of nutrients in the soil at the different sites and areas within the sites.

 

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Findings

The scientists found an average rainfall of 2,301 mm a year and an average temperature of 26 degrees Celsius in the Para, Brazil, location. In Quintana Roo, Mexico, the average rainfall was 1,290 mm a year and the average temperature was 26 degrees Celsius.

 

The scientists found that the leaves from the two sites were similar. However, Quintana Roo had one area with smaller leaf sizes. Additionally, the amount of organic matter in the Quintana Roo, Mexico, soils was 12 times higher than the amount of organic material in Para, Brazil’s soils.

 

The Quintana Roo soils had a higher average concentration of nitrogen, potassium, and calcium than Brazil soils. From previous scientific studies, the scientists knew that calcium played an important role in seedling growth and survival. Overall, the leaves ended up being very similar between the two areas.

Number Crunches

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0 degrees Celsius = 32 degrees Fahrenheit. To calculate the temperature in Fahrenheit, use the following equation: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32
Hint: 1 mm = 0.0393 inches
Hint: 1 mm = 0.0393 inches

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Reflection Section

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Discussion

The scientists found that despite differences in the nutrients available in the soil and a differing amount of rainfall, the big-leaf mahogany leaves were similar regardless of location. This finding tells scientists that big-leaf mahogany may possibly be grown in a variety of locations with success. The scientists also noted the importance of calcium to seedling growth and survival. Therefore, soils with higher amounts of calcium would be beneficial to growing big-leaf mahogany. If big-leaf mahogany can be grown successfully in many locations, managers can feel more confident that the tree species can be sustainably harvested.

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This article is a part of our “Time Warp” series. Every article in this series explores a research topic that has been under scientific investigation for a long time. Read more about mahogany tree research completed in 1960 in the spotlight for this article.

Read Spotlight

Adapted from Medina, E.; Cuevas, E.; Lugo, A.E.; Terezo, E.; Jiménez Osornio, J.; Macario-Mendoza, P. A.; Montañez, Patricia. 2014. Conservative nutrient use by big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) planted under contrasting environmental conditions. Revista Árvore. 38(3): 479-488.

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Standing On the Shoulders of Giants (Time Warp Monograph Series) Vol. 1 No. 13

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  • The question you will answer in this FACTivity is, “How can I share information with the public about vulnerable species like big-leaf mahogany?” Materials: Markers Paper Books/web resources Graphic organizer...

    FACTivity – Standing On the Shoulders of Giants

    • Activity
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    The question you will answer in this FACTivity is, “How can I share information with the public about vulnerable species like big-leaf mahogany?” Materials: Markers Paper Books/web resources Graphic organizer...
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    Standing On the Shoulders of Giants: How Well Do Big-Leaf Mahogany Trees Grow in Different Conditions?
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  • Forests provide many resources to society. To provide these resources, forest managers are continually working on tree improvement. Tree improvement is the process of growing trees with the best wood...

    Spotlight – Standing on the Shoulders of Giants Time Warp

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    Standing On the Shoulders of Giants (Time Warp Monograph Series) Vol. 1 No. 13

Glossary

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  • accumulate

    (ə kyü m(y)e lāt): To gather or pile up little by little; to increase in quantity, number, or amount.

  • analysis

    (ǝ na lǝ sǝs): An examination of a whole to discover its elements and their relations.

  • appendix

    (ə pen diks): (plural: appendixes or appendices) Additional material attached at the end of a piece of writing.

  • clarity

    (kler ət ē): The quality or state of being clear or easily understood.

  • endangered

    (in dān jǝrd): Threatened with extinction.

  • extinction

    (ik stiŋk shən): The state of no longer existing.

  • fauna

    (fȯ nə): Animal life, especially the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment.

  • flora

    (flȯr ə): Plant, bacterial, or fungal life, especially such life characteristic of a region, period, or special environment.

  • hypothetical

    (hī pə the ti kəl): (1) Imagined as an example for further thought; (2) assumed.

  • integral

    (in ti grəl or in te grəl): (1) Needed for completeness; (2) lacking nothing essential.

  • karst

    (kärst): An irregular limestone region with sinkholes, underground streams, and caverns.

  • longitudinal

    (län jə tüd nəl): Involving the repeated observation of a set of subjects over time with respect to one or more study variables.

  • nutrient

    (nü trē ǝnt): A substance or ingredient that promotes growth, provides energy, and maintains life.

  • organic

    (ȯr ga nik): Of, relating to, or obtained from living things.

  • physiology

    (fiz ē äl ə jē): A branch of biology dealing with the processes and activities by which life is carried on and which are special features of the functioning of living things, tissues, and cells.

  • prescribed fire

    (pri skrībd fī ǝr): The controlled use of fire under specific weather conditions to restore health to an ecosystem that depends on fire; also known as a prescribed burn or controlled burn.

  • randomly

    (ran dǝm lē): So that each possibility has a definite and especially an equal probability of occurring.

  • sample

    (sam pəl): A small subset group, representative of the entire group.

  • spectrometer

    (spek trä mə tər): An instrument that spreads particles or radiation into an ordered sequence (such as by mass or energy).

  • stable isotope

    (stā bəl ī sə tōp): An isotope that shows no tendency to undergo radioactive decomposition.

  • sustainable

    (sǝ stā nǝ bǝl): Of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not used up or permanently damaged.

  • unregulated

    (ən re gyə lā təd): Not controlled.

  • vulnerable

    (vəl n(ə-)rə bəl): Open to attack or damage.

  • Elvira Cuevas sits on a kayak and lets her legs dangle over the sides.

    Elvira Cuevas

    Ecologist

    I like being a scientist because I get to discover new things about the natural environment. My favorite science experience is working in the field. I can see how the...
    View Profile
  • A photo of Dr. Ariel Lugo and a group of people hiking along a river.

    Ariel Lugo

    Tropical Ecologist

    “My favorite science experience is trying to understand the functioning of natural ecosystems in collaboration with bright people, including high school students.” “[Another] favorite science experience is interacting with other...
    View Profile
  • Ernesto Medina standing with colleagues in a forest

    Ernesto Medina

    Plant Ecophysiologist

    My favorite science experience is being outside in the field, observing how plants respond physiologically to their environment. I like designing experiments to answer the questions that arise from observations,...
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Natural Inquirer is a science education resource journal to be used by students in grade 6 and up. Natural Inquirer contains articles describing environmental and natural resource research conducted by Forest Service scientists and their cooperators. These scientific journal articles have been reformatted to meet the needs of middle school students. The articles are easy to understand, are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, contain glossaries, and include hands-on activities. The goal of Natural Inquirer is to stimulate critical reading and thinking about scientific inquiry and investigation while teaching about ecology, the natural environment, and natural resources.

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    Standing On the Shoulders of Giants: How Well Do Big-Leaf Mahogany Trees Grow in Different Conditions?
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If you are a trained Project Learning Tree educator, you may use “Forest for the Trees” and “Soil Stories” as additional resources.

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    Enjoy a journey to the tropics! In the Natural Inquirer Tropical Forest edition, readers will learn about the plants and animals that make the tropics special. The tropics are the...
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  • The Ka‘ūpūlehu dry forest is located on the leeward size of the island of Hawai‘i. The forest land is owned by Kamehameha Schools, which is dedicated to preserving traditional Hawaiian...

    Left High and Dry? Attempting to Restore a Tropical Dry Forest in Hawaii

    • Article
    • Middle School
    • 1 Classroom Period
    • Wilderness
    • Case Study
    • Forest Restoration
    • Invasive Species
    • Native Species
    • Nonnative Species
    • Tropical Dry Forest
    The Ka‘ūpūlehu dry forest is located on the leeward size of the island of Hawai‘i. The forest land is owned by Kamehameha Schools, which is dedicated to preserving traditional Hawaiian...
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    Explore Article Download Article (PDF)

    Part Of

    Hawaii Pacific Islands - Vol. 1 No. 16
  • This edition of Natural Inquirer presents the results of a worldwide effort to understand the world’s forests, organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, or FAO.  

    The World’s Forests – Vol. 11 No. 1

    • Journal
    • Middle School
    • Carbon
    • Wilderness
    • Biological Diversity
    • Carbon Cycle
    • Carbon Dioxide
    • Cartograms
    • Elevation
    • Forest Conservation
    • Forest Health
    • Latitude
    • Types of Forests
    This edition of Natural Inquirer presents the results of a worldwide effort to understand the world’s forests, organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, or FAO.  
    Explore Journal Download Journal (PDF) Descargar Revista (PDF) Télécharger le Journal (PDF) تحميل مجلة (PDF) Stáhnout Deník (PDF) 下载日记
    Explore Journal Download Journal (PDF) Descargar Revista (PDF) Télécharger le Journal (PDF) تحميل مجلة (PDF) Stáhnout Deník (PDF) 下载日记
  • In this edition of Natural Inquirer, you will learn about the world’s forests. Every 5 years the Food and Agriculture Organization, or FAO, publishes a report about the world’s forests,...

    The World’s Forests 2 – Vol. 15 No. 2

    • Journal
    • Middle School
    • Wilderness
    • Wildlife
    • Adaptation
    • Biodiversity
    • Carbon Cycle
    • Climate
    • Climate Change
    • Forest management
    • Forest Products
    • Genetic Diversity
    • Greenhouse Effect
    • Greenhouse Gases
    • Primary Forest
    • Sustainability
    • Wilderness Benefits
    In this edition of Natural Inquirer, you will learn about the world’s forests. Every 5 years the Food and Agriculture Organization, or FAO, publishes a report about the world’s forests,...
    Explore Journal Download Journal (PDF)
    Explore Journal Download Journal (PDF)
  • This is the 3rd edition of the World’s Forest Natural Inquirer based on the 2015 Global Forest Resources Assessment. This edition was completed in partnership with the USDA Forest Service,...

    World’s Forests 3 edition

    • Journal
    • Middle School
    • Agriculture
    • Carbon
    • Climate
    • Engineering and Forest Products
    • Recreation
    • Water
    • Wilderness
    • Wildlife
    • Biodiversity
    • Carbon Cycle
    • Ecozones
    • Environmental Protection
    • Forest Benefits
    • Forest Loss
    • Forest management
    • Habitat
    • Sustainability
    • Urban forest
    • Water Cycle
    • Watershed
    This is the 3rd edition of the World’s Forest Natural Inquirer based on the 2015 Global Forest Resources Assessment. This edition was completed in partnership with the USDA Forest Service,...
    Explore Journal Download Journal (PDF)
    Explore Journal Download Journal (PDF)

Additional Resources

  • USDA Forest Service: International Institute of Tropical Forestry

    Learn more about the research taking place at IITF.

    Visit Website

  • USDA: "The Future of Mahogany"

    Read a blog post on the future of the Mahogany Trees

    Visit Website

  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora: Bigleaf Mahogany

    Learn more about the Bigleaf mahogany tree and what CITES has done to protect the tree.

    Visit Website
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