A Comparative Analysis of Sugar Concentrations in Various Maple Species on the St. Johns Campus

It is well known that many varieties of Maple trees produce sugar containing sap in the springtime. The average concentration of Sucrose in Sugar Maple sap is estimated to be approximately 2% in concentration. The purpose of this study is to tap maples present on the St. Johns campus and obtain samples to compare their sugar concentrations to those of the sugar maples in the St. Johns Sugar bush. By obtaining samples from numerous species of maples around campus a comparison can be conducted regarding the sugar concentration of the saps of these various maple species. This study found a gradient in sap concentrations of the five species sampled that proved to be significant.