Soil and Air Temperature Data
Humboldt Garden
Mexico City
10:15
Plot Soil Temperature
(C) Air Temperature at Surface (C) Air Temperature Waist Level (C)
Exposure
1 13 20 22 Shade
2 14 19 18 Shade
3 14 16 16 Shade
4 14 17 18 Shade
5 9 20 19 Shade
6 14 18 18 Shade
11:30
Plot Soil Temperature (C) Air Temperature at Surface (C) Air Temperature Waist Level (C)
Exposure
1 14 42 32 50% Sun
2 16 27 29 Full Sun
3 11 20 22 30% Sun
4 10 22 23 Shade
6 14 20 21 Shade
2:00 pm
Plot Soil Temperature (C) Air Temperature at Surface (C) Air Temperature Waist Level (C)
Exposure
1 10 25 26 Shade
2 20 27 27 Shade
3 17 35 32 Full Sun
4 16 27 29 Dappled Sun
5 11 37 33 ¾ Sun
6 15 31 29 Shade

During the third quarter, seventh grade science students held their ecology lesson outdoors. In a forgotten corner of the school property, in between the MS library and the bus garage, grows the Alexander von Humboldt Botanic Garden. It contains plants native to Mexico that were discovered for science by the 19th century Prussian explorer. The species are all from upland Mexico and represent a typical community that might be found in central Mexico.
Here students measured some of the abiotic elements of an ecosystem. Posted on this page you will find the results from one day’s measurements. From this data we were able to draw some conclusions about microclimates and weather. Students also observed the biotic elements of the plot: they drew three different producers and searched for signs of consumers. Making first hand observations about an ecosystem helped to make the language of ecology come alive.

Tom Janota
May 10, 2011