Biology Investigation - Comparing the populations of two plant species in same area.
by
zulhilmiazmi7777 (student)
Comparing the populations of two plant species in same area
Introduction:
Mimosa Pudica or also called sensitive plant or touch-me-not, is a prostrate to semi erect herb, 0.3 to 0.8 m tall, often forming a small compact bush about 0.6 m tall; branches glabrous or pubescent, heavily armed with broad-based, black-tipped recurved thorns. Leaves are small, sensitive, bipinnate; leaflets about 16 pairs; petioles up to 4 cm long. Inflorescence of axillary headlike spikes, flowers pinkish, sessile. Pods usually in a dense cluster, 10 to 15 mm long and 4 mm wide, flat, segmented, somewhat constricted between the articulations, one-seeded segments[1].
Being called as Grass seed and Love grass, Chrysopogon Aciculatus (Retz) Trin is a vigorous creeping grass with stout, tough rhizomes, the culms ascending to 45 cm. Inflorescence a small panicle, 7.5-10 cm long, with numerous slender branches. Spikelet is narrow. Awn is bristly, short and fine. The branches at first ascend almost vertically, spread obliquely at flowering and then bend upward again at fruiting. Each branch has three spikelet at its tip, one sessile and two pedicels[2].
An experiment will be carrying out to compare the population sizes between these two species which live in the same area using quadrant sampling technique.
Research question:
Which species is more populated in the IB MCKK compound?
Aim:
To compare the population sizes of Mimosa Pudica and Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz) Trin in IB MCKK compound.
Hypothesis:
Mimosa pudica will occupy larger areal coverage in IB MCKK compound than Chrysopogon Aciculatus (Retz) Trin. IB MCKK compound is a windy area and populated with many small butterflies. Using insects and wind as medium of pollination, this is such an advantage for the growth of Mimosa Pudica populations in this area. The seeds of Mimosa Pudica are light, sticky and bright coloured. Many of the seeds of Mimosa Pudica can be pollinate faster with the help of small butterflies and the wind. In contrast, the Chrysopogon Aciculatus (Retz) Trin seeds which is light and dull coloured was pollinated by man[3]. When man walks in an area populated by this species, the seeds will stick to their trousers. However, not many will walk in IB MCKK compound due to its remote situation. The occupied area of this species will be less than Mimosa Pudica.
