How does the distribution of Plantago maior differ?

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Lukasz Weclas 3IB

Research question

How does the distribution of Plantago maior varies in Sowiński Park and Bielański Forest? Did the specialization occur?

Introduction

Each plant has its individual factors affecting distribution. For instance, Plantago maior grows in compacted soils, usually on road sides or near pathways, it often grows on lawns as a weed. Sometimes when two populations of the same specie are isolated from each other and grow in different environments, the process of speciation can occur, that is formation of new specie because of new conditions of environment or isolation.

In this field laboratory two populations of Plantago maior will be compared. One derives from Sowiński Park and the second from Bielański Forest. These two sites were chosen because of many differences between them. These are as follows:

 

Figure 1: The part of the map of Warsaw. From GoogleMaps.

Legend:

Green circle – Sowiński Park

Blue circle – Bielański Forest

Pink circle – city center

In this laboratory, the square method will be used. In each square the number of plantain, the number of leaves at each plantain will be counted. Moreover, the width of the biggest leaf will be measured. Due to obtain data and calculated value of t-test I will try to judge whether the specification occurred. If yes, possible factors causing this fact will be discussed.

Variables

Independent: choice of habitats, places on which squares will put.

Dependent: number of plantains, number of leaves on plantains, width of the widest leaf on plantains.

Controlled: the area of square frames (1m2); the season in which the measurements were taken,  

Aim

The aim of this experiment is to check whether the populations of Plantago major in Sowiński Park and Bielański Forest differ significantly.

Hypothesis

The populations will vary. Plantago major from Bielański Forest will be more frequent, will have wider leaves and the plantains will compose from more leaves than in Sowiński Park.

Materials & equipment

  1. square frames, 1m2
  2. metric rulers, ±0.1cm
  3. pH-meter
  4. the balance, ±0.01g
  5. water, 2l
  6. stopper
  7. plastic container
  8. measuring cylinder, 25ml, ±1ml
  9. paper sheets and pen
  10. plastic gloves
  11. a sieve

Procedure

  1. Place the square frame in randomly chosen place in given environment (Bielański Forest or Sowiński Park).
  2. Count broad-leaved plantain Plantago major surrounded by the square.
  3. Count the number of leaves on each plantain and measure the width of the largest leaf of each plantain.
  4. Note down all the results and gather them in appropriate tables.
  5. Repeat the procedure from points 1-4 at least 20 times in each environment.
  6. Investigate the pH of the soil from each environment; use the pH meter to do it.
  7. Note down the results.
  8. Investigate the permeability of the soil from ach environment. Follow the steps:
  • Take 20g of the soil. Prepare 30ml of water.
  • Place the soil on the sieve and put a plastic container under it.
  • Pour water on the soil located in the sieve and start a stopper in the same moment.
  • Stop the stopper after 2 minutes.
  • Measure the volume of collected water in the plastic container.
  • Note this volume down.
  1. Try to figure out whether the Plantago major from two different environments had already specialized or not. Use t-test or other method to judge it.
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Data collection

I joined the group which investigated Plantago major in Bielański Forest. The data which my partner and I had collected is coloured blue.

Data processing

  1. The mean value (eg: of the number of Plantago Major in one square) will be calculated according to the formula:

Where:

 is the mean value;

 is the sum of all Plantago Major from all investigated squares;

 is the total number of squares.

  1. The standard deviation will be ...

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