Biology in the Real World, Essay Example

The study was undertaken in the Wisconsin ecological zone, where the Trout Lake Point study was used by the use of GPS.The point was at latitude of centered at 46^o 02′ 45.00″ N and longitude of 89^o 40′ 07.25″ W of old-growth forests in Wisconsin. The site for the study was important because it had different species of plants needed for research. The floor of the forest of the peninsula was mainly dominated by grass species, such as Pennsylvania sedge. This species reduces the number of species in the study area because of interspecific competition. The numbers of species plants are greater because white-tailed deer usually do not feed on them, but other ground plants. The study plot did not extend to far south or north because the Pennsylvania sedge was absent in these points.

Hypotheses

1. Pennsylvania sedge inhibits regeneration of white pine
2. Pennsylvania sedge inhibits regeneration of sugar maple

• Pennsylvania sedge decreases biodiversity

Results

The study found the study point was covered by Pennsylvania sedge, white pine seedlings, as well as a number of sugar maple seedlings. The results of the study also found that Pennsylvania sedge inhibits the regeneration of white pine and sugar maple, hence decreasing biodiversity in the study areas.

Table

Discussion and Conclusion

The study area was an ideal for the ecological study it had the species of plants (Pennsylvania sedge), which was the main focus of the study. Because of interspecific competition sedge dominates the forest. The sedge was found to inhibit the regeneration of white pine and sugar maple, which in turn decreases biodiversity. This supported the three hypotheses. It was evident from the study that white-tailed deer do not consume sedge, but consume other plants in the ground decreasing their numbers through selective herbivory. The other element that affected the accurate data was the fact that shade inhibited the growth of some species past a certain height.The use of quadrants to collect data was the best method that made data collection success.