| 1. One hypothesis is that a late spring frost will result in low numbers of acorns. There was a late spring frost in Blacksburg in 2002. Which tree species supports this hypothesis? |
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| 2. A second hypothesis is that a severe summer drought results in low numbers of acorns. There was a severe summer drought in Blacksburg in 2002. Which tree species supports this hypothesis? |
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| 4. A third hypothesis is that oak trees produce large numbers of acorns in cycles. This hypothesis holds that northern red oak produces large numbers of acorns on a 4-year cycle, white oak on a 3-yr. cycle and black oak on a 2-yr. cycle. Which species appears to support the cycle hypothesis? |
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4. When do you think the next large crop of northern red oak acorns will be?
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5. If you had to choose between three hypotheses for what causes low
acorn crops for white oak, which would you choose?
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Extra credit: How would you design an experiment to test each hypothesis?
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Last Update: 10/22/02
Tracey S. Sherman
Virginia Tech Dept. of Forestry