Looking at the bio diversity and number of plant species in different locations

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Environmental Systems Fieldwork Experiment

June 2008

Experiment: Looking at the bio diversity and number of plant species in different locations

Sanay Shah (13H)

Experiment: Looking at the bio diversity and number of plant species in different locations

PLANNING

Aim – Look at the percentage of sedentary species in a woodland area by the pedestrian entrance of the school and the Groenplan during the afternoon.

Hypothesis – I believe there will be a larger percentage of sedentary species in the woodland area than in the Groenplan. This is because there is no human intervention in the woodland area, which is a natural ecosystem and thus there will be a larger diversity of species.

Apparatus – Divided quadrat

         Measuring tape

         Pen/Pencil

         Plant information booklet

         Grid to collect information

Plan/Method – 1. Measure the lengths of each side of the area.

  2. Select two random numbers from a random number table in order to ensure that the results are not biased.

  3. Move along the measuring tape and place the quadrat in the correct metric section of the area being worked on.

  4. Work out the percentage of different species in the area by using the divided quadrat.

  5. With the results calculate percentage of each species in a given area.

  6. Place the results in a table and then draw a pie chart

Dependent variables – Temperature –

  • This was kept constant by carrying out the experiment during the same time of the day
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          Insolation –

  • This was kept constant by carrying out the experiment during the same time of the day

          Soil pH –

  • This was difficult to keep constant, however once another group had measured it had been found that the pH of the soil was approximately 8.0 at both sites

          Precipitation –

  • This was not a problem since there was no precipitation during the days in which the experiment was carried out

          Light intensity –

  • Once again it was difficult to control; the light intensity was stronger on Day 1 of the experiment. But in order to make ...

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