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An Investigation into Ground Flora Diversity and Abundance in Coppices of Different Ages - page 1
Keywords: An Investigation into Ground Flora Diversity and Abundance in Coppices of Different Ages Biology GCSE coursework
By slashwk on 23/11/2006 17:20:03
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 1 of 8 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Aim
To investigate the differences in the diversity and abundance of ground flora in coppices of different ages.
Hypothesis
I predict that there will be a greater abundance and diversity of ground flora in the newer coppice than in the old one.
Introduction
‘Diversity’ is a scientific term used for variety. When there is a variety of different species within an area, it is said that there is a great ‘diversity’ of different species within that area. ‘Abundance’ is a word used to express a great or plentiful amount. This means that if there is a great quantity of a certain species, that species is ‘abundant’. One must be careful not to confuse ‘diversity’ and ‘abundance’. ‘Diversity’ applies to variety of species, and ‘abundance’ refers to the quantity of that species present.
A ‘coppice’ is a grove of small trees or shrubs, especially one which is maintained by periodic cutting to encourage suckering. ‘Suckering’ is when the base (stool) of a woody plant (which has been cut) produces a secondary shoot and gives rise to a new plant. The wood which is cut is used for firewood etc.
Explanation of Hypothesis
I have made my prediction after understanding the different factors involved when it comes to having diversity and abundance of species in a coppice. I have analysed that there are the following abiotic factors involved:
• Temperature
• (Relative) Humidity
• Water content of soil
• pH of soil
• Light
Temperature and humidity are factors in our investigation because they affect the way in which plants can grow successfully. Before we can understand how humidity and temperature has an effect on plants, we need a sense of how plants “breathe” or transpire.
Plants take carbon dioxide in through their leaves via tiny pores called stomata. Just as carbon dioxide is able to pass in through each pore, oxygen and water from within the plant are able to escape into the air. In turn, water is pulled up through plant roots to replace the water that has passed through the plant’s stomata. This process is called transpiration and is responsible for keeping the plant cool, maintaining plant structure, and distributing minerals from the soil as well as sugars and plant chemicals throughout the plant.
In part, a plant’s transpiration rate is affected by temperature and humidity because both affect the extent to which water evaporates. Dry, hot conditions cause plants to transpire more quickly than do moist, cool conditions. In other words, lower humidity causes more water and
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