Chlorophyll Extraction and Capacitance in Maple, Oak, and Birch Leaves to Determine Carbon Fluxes

All life depends on photosynthesis.  Photosynthetic pigments in plants fill multiple roles from increasing the range of energy captured for photosynthesis to protective functions. This process takes place in the chlorophyll found in the leaves of plants. Water, sunlight, and CO₂  found in the air are required for photosynthesis. Although plants absorb carbon, there is more being released in the air due to human activity than can naturally be recycled. The excess of carbon and other gases in the air contribute to the greenhouse effect. When these gases are not taken in by plants, they become trapped in the atmosphere and cause global heating, creating a multitude of problems. In this experiment, chlorophyll changes between the beginning and peak of the season will be explored. Chlorophyll will be extracted from maple, oak, and birch leaves collected from Harvard Forest in Massachusetts. A spectrophotometer will be used to measure the difference in chlorophyll levels in leaves collected from above and below the tree canopy, as well as different times within the season. It is expected that the leaves from the top of the canopy collected during the peak season will have more chlorophyll because they are exposed to more sunlight. With this information, carbon fluxes found in chlorophyll levels can be predicted to help further predict greenhouse gases.