Studying Intraspecific Competition in Watercress Plants
Studying the intraspecific competition in water crest plants
Introduction:
Aim:
To investigate how intraspecific competition affects the growth of Nasturtium officinale given an equal amount of water, nutrients and sunlight provided.
Research Question:
To what extent does the spacing between consecutive seedlings of Nasturtium officinale influence the germination, and consequently the lengths of the shoots and roots of the plant.
Theory:
Intraspecific competition occurs when members of the same species have the same niche and therefore compete for the same resources. Competition is an interaction between organisms which live together in a habitat and compete for the limited supply of resources.
The seeds of the water crest plants used in the following experiment, known as Nasturtium officinale, are each of the same species. Hence, the need of each plant for resources such as water, shelter, light and nutrients should be identical. If seedlings of the same species are planted in a controlled proximity to one another, the experiment is aimed to determine the extent of which intraspecific competition affects the germination of watercress seeds.
Variables:
a) Independent variable: Density of seedlings in each holder of an egg tray
The number of seedlings planted on a piece of cotton wool of approximately 2cm2 is varied from 5 seedlings up to 80 seedlings. The cotton wool is then lightly rolled up into a ball and placed in the egg holder
b) Dependent variable: Length of the shoot and roots of the seedlings after one week.
5 paddy seedlings are pulled out randomly from each seedling tray and the roots are washed with running water before both the lengths of the roots as well as the shoots are measured using a ruler(±0.05cm).
c) Controlled variables:
i) The amount of cotton wool is kept constant at 2cm2(±0.2cm2) for each cup and done by one controlled piece and producing identical ones, replicating the control. ii) Each tray is watered with
Introduction:
Aim:
To investigate how intraspecific competition affects the growth of Nasturtium officinale given an equal amount of water, nutrients and sunlight provided.
Research Question:
To what extent does the spacing between consecutive seedlings of Nasturtium officinale influence the germination, and consequently the lengths of the shoots and roots of the plant.
Theory:
Intraspecific competition occurs when members of the same species have the same niche and therefore compete for the same resources. Competition is an interaction between organisms which live together in a habitat and compete for the limited supply of resources.
The seeds of the water crest plants used in the following experiment, known as Nasturtium officinale, are each of the same species. Hence, the need of each plant for resources such as water, shelter, light and nutrients should be identical. If seedlings of the same species are planted in a controlled proximity to one another, the experiment is aimed to determine the extent of which intraspecific competition affects the germination of watercress seeds.
Variables:
a) Independent variable: Density of seedlings in each holder of an egg tray
The number of seedlings planted on a piece of cotton wool of approximately 2cm2 is varied from 5 seedlings up to 80 seedlings. The cotton wool is then lightly rolled up into a ball and placed in the egg holder
b) Dependent variable: Length of the shoot and roots of the seedlings after one week.
5 paddy seedlings are pulled out randomly from each seedling tray and the roots are washed with running water before both the lengths of the roots as well as the shoots are measured using a ruler(±0.05cm).
c) Controlled variables:
i) The amount of cotton wool is kept constant at 2cm2(±0.2cm2) for each cup and done by one controlled piece and producing identical ones, replicating the control. ii) Each tray is watered with