Will the population and community of plants increase upon progressing inland from the beach?

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Biology Coursework A2….

Ainsdale Dune Ecology Field Work

(Skill A):  Planning:

Will the population and community of plants increase upon progressing inland from the beach?

        Hypothesis:        As the distance from the beach increases the conditions become less harsh.  There is less wind; the salt content in the water decreases and the soil contains more humus.  Due to these changing factors the living conditions become more bearable.  Hence I can predict: “Upon moving away from the beach a greater population will be found and also the community will generally become greater.”

Null-Hypothesis:  “Upon moving inland from the beach the number of species of plants will not increase, due to the increased farming of the land”

        When We Get To Ainsdale…

                We are going to take several readings and make several observations to determine whether or not our hypothesis is correct.  We have decided to take soil samples so that we can perform several experiments on them backing the labs.  We have also decided to record the pH of the soil, observe the different species of plants of the abundance found.  Also we are going to create a dune profile, to observe how the dunes naturally exist.

        How We Are Going To Do This…

  • We are going to use Ranging Poles and Clinometers (explained in more detail later) to record angles of depression and elevation.
  • We will use a tape to measure 200 meters inland from the beach and make observations every 10meters.
  • At every 10meter intervals we will take the pH of the soil using an analogue pH meter.
  • Also at every 10meter intervals we will place quadrates down to observe the percentage cover of certain species of plants (a greater detailed explanation later)
  • At the every 10meter intervals we will also take a soil sample, so that more experiments can be performed in the labs.

Back At The Labs…

        We will use each soil sample and record the pH of the soil using Universal Indicator solution and water.  We will calculate the water saturation of the soil.  Also we will be able to measure the percentage of humus contained in that particular sample.  Once having done this we will be able to compare the results with the ones we gain from sites nearer to or further away from the beach.

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Equipment We Shall Use…

  • Ranging Poles:        These are long poles with red and white “rings” at various lengths.  NB The positions at which each red/white ring starts are the same on every ranging pole.

 We shall start at 0meters and place a ranging pole into the ground, the other one shall be placed further inland where the ground first peaks.  The angle of elevation will then be recorded using clinometers.  The next pole shall be placed into the ground at the closest lowest point, and the angle of depression measured.  We shall do this until we reach 200meters.

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