Decomposition, Evolution, Life Tables Readings (chapter numbering from the 9th edition): Chapter 21.1 - 21.6, 21.10 - 21.11 Chapter 5.1, 5.5 - 5.9 Chapter 9.2 - 9.7 Readings (chapter numbering from the 8th edition): Chapter 22.1 - 22.6, 22.10 - 22.11 Chapter 5.1, 5.4 - 5.8 Chapter 9.2 - 9.7 1) How would you go about collecting the data necessary to calculate decomposition rates? What factors affect decomposition rates and how? 2) What do mineralization and immobilization refer to in the context of decomposition? 3) If ponderosa pine needles at Turnbull have a decomposition constant (k) of 0.21 per year, how much of their mass would you expect them to lose in their first year of decomposition? (Hint: use y = 100 e-kt to solve for home much of their mass remains after one year) 4) If grass litter has a decomposition constant (k) of 0.9 per year, and your litter bag started with 4.0g of grass litter, how much mass would they have left after 3 years? 5) Some commercially harvested species of fish have been evolving to reach maturity at smaller sizes. These fish are generally harvested with nets. Using the three necessary conditions for evolution by natural