To investigate the effect of trampling on the frequency of creeping moss - Plan

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Anwar Sufi 12N        Centre Number: 10257

Biology Coursework Plan        Candidate Number: 1186

Aim: To investigate the effect of trampling on the frequency of creeping moss

Hypothesis: 

As you move away from the footpath the frequency of creeping moss increases.

Scientific name: Pseudoscleropodium purum

Justification of hypothesis:

As the distance from the path increases, the frequency of creeping moss increases. This is because people tread on this area and therefore make the abundance of creeping moss lower. Box Hill had “1 million visits a year” Emma Peasland, senior tutor, FSC, 24/01/07 (personal communication). It has been around and popular for over 20 years. This means the footpath has been trampled on by a possible 200 million people. If the soil has been trampled on by a possible 200 million people then the footpath is likely to be compressed and the roots of the creeping moss are forced to be of low height and therefore be weak and unstable. Because they are unstable, they will easily be ripped out of their roots.

“Soils that are deep, well-drained, and have desirable texture and structure are suitable for the production of most garden or landscape plants. Deep soils can hold more plant nutrients and water than can shallow soils with similar textures. Depth of soil and its capacity for nutrients and water frequently determine the yield from a crop, particularly annual crops that are grown with little or no irrigation. Plants growing on shallow soils also have less mechanical support than those growing in deep soils. Trees growing in shallow soils are more easily blown over by wind than are those growing in deep soils.” (cals.arizona.edu/pubs)

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Independent Variable: 

Soil Depth (trampling)

Variables:

My measured factors are soil pH and soil temperature. My assumed factor is light intensity. My first variable is soil pH. I will be measuring this to find out if it will have any impact on the abundance of creeping moss. It may have an effect on the abundance of creeping moss because if a plant is not working within its acceptable pH range then it will die. The soil pH affects the individual life of a creeping moss and therefore affects the frequency of creeping moss on the ...

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This is a good plan on the whole with clear justification for choice of apparatus and method described in detail. Variables could be more fully discussed, however.