The Effects of Intraspecific The Effects of Intraspecific Competition among Varying Competition among Varying

Groups of MarigoldsGroups of MarigoldsTiffany LandisTiffany Landis

Undergraduate Student (Microbiology Concentration)Undergraduate Student (Microbiology Concentration)

Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN 38505Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN 38505

Project SummaryProject Summary

Problem:Problem: Does Intraspecific competition affect the Does Intraspecific competition affect the marigolds vitality?marigolds vitality?

Objective/ Hypothesis:Objective/ Hypothesis: To determine if To determine if Intraspecific competition affects plant growth.Intraspecific competition affects plant growth.

Intraspecific competition foes affect density and Intraspecific competition foes affect density and growth of Marigolds.growth of Marigolds.

How I plan to accomplish my goal: How I plan to accomplish my goal: Planting Planting varying densities of Marigolds to determine if varying densities of Marigolds to determine if Intraspecfic competition affects their growth. Intraspecfic competition affects their growth.

Expected benefits and Results: Expected benefits and Results: This should be This should be beneficial to farmers and gardeners who will then beneficial to farmers and gardeners who will then know that you cannot plant a bunch of plants know that you cannot plant a bunch of plants together or they will compete each other and together or they will compete each other and eventually one will out compete the other and cause eventually one will out compete the other and cause plants to be either stunted in growth or just die. plants to be either stunted in growth or just die.

IntroductionIntroduction

Problem:Problem: Does Intraspecific competition affect the Does Intraspecific competition affect the Marigolds vitality?Marigolds vitality?

““Competition, either among members of the same or Competition, either among members of the same or different species may have broad effects on plant different species may have broad effects on plant community structure. The more crowded a population the community structure. The more crowded a population the more competition there is for resources.” (Tansley, 1917) more competition there is for resources.” (Tansley, 1917)

““Spatial arrangement of plants in a community can be an Spatial arrangement of plants in a community can be an important determinant of species coexistence and important determinant of species coexistence and biodiversity” biodiversity” (Stoll et al, 2001). (Stoll et al, 2001).

“ “The data supported the hypothesis that the spatial The data supported the hypothesis that the spatial distribution of plants profoundly affects competition in distribution of plants profoundly affects competition in such a way that weaker competitors increase their fitness such a way that weaker competitors increase their fitness while stronger competitors are suppressed when grown in while stronger competitors are suppressed when grown in the neighborhood of co specifics” (Stoll et al, 2001). the neighborhood of co specifics” (Stoll et al, 2001).

Objective/ Hypothesis Objective/ Hypothesis StatementStatement

ObjectiveObjective: To determine if : To determine if Intraspecific competition affects Intraspecific competition affects plant growth.plant growth.

HypothesisHypothesis: Intraspecific : Intraspecific competition does affect density competition does affect density and growth of Marigolds.and growth of Marigolds.

Null HypothesisNull Hypothesis: Intraspecific : Intraspecific competition has no affect on competition has no affect on density and growth of Marigolds.density and growth of Marigolds.

Methods and MaterialsMethods and Materials

I obtained six pots and labeled them according to the I obtained six pots and labeled them according to the number of seeds in each pot. number of seeds in each pot.

The plants were kept in a sunroom and watered regularly. The plants were kept in a sunroom and watered regularly. Each of the six pots was filled with soil until it came to Each of the six pots was filled with soil until it came to about one centimeter from the top of the pot. about one centimeter from the top of the pot.

I obtained Marigold seeds and planted the following I obtained Marigold seeds and planted the following densities of seeds in each pot: 3, 5, 10, 18, 34, or 68 densities of seeds in each pot: 3, 5, 10, 18, 34, or 68 seeds. After germination, the plant populations were seeds. After germination, the plant populations were thinned to 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 plants per pot. When then thinned to 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 plants per pot. When then placed more soil on top of the seeds and watered them.placed more soil on top of the seeds and watered them.

Each week I measured the number of leaves on each Each week I measured the number of leaves on each plant in each pot, heights of the plant stems, and number plant in each pot, heights of the plant stems, and number of flowers on each plant. I then gathered detailed of flowers on each plant. I then gathered detailed information from each pot number of plants, weights of information from each pot number of plants, weights of plant stems, number of leaves and length of stems. I plant stems, number of leaves and length of stems. I obtained stem weights of the plants by clipping out the obtained stem weights of the plants by clipping out the plants at soil level, clipping off the leaves and placing plants at soil level, clipping off the leaves and placing them on a scale.them on a scale.

Methods and Materials Cont…Methods and Materials Cont…

DIVISION OF ECOLOGY Intraspecific Competition Among Varying Marigold Densities.

Report of Facility Operation for the period: February 2006 (Month) (Year) Location: Tennessee Tech University Cookeville Putnam TN (Facility name) (City) (County) (State) Sample Taken by: Tiffany Landis Undergraduate Student Tennessee Tech Biology Department (Name) (Position) (Organization)

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Expected Results and Expected Results and BenefitsBenefits

I expect that Intraspecific competition willI expect that Intraspecific competition willaffect the growth of plants and that they willaffect the growth of plants and that they willcompete with each other for the same sharedcompete with each other for the same sharedresource. This should be beneficial to farmersresource. This should be beneficial to farmersand gardeners who will then know that youand gardeners who will then know that youcannot plant a bunch of plants together orcannot plant a bunch of plants together orthey will compete each other and eventuallythey will compete each other and eventuallyone will out compete the other and causeone will out compete the other and causeplants to be either stunted in growth or justplants to be either stunted in growth or justdie. die.

Project TimelineProject Timeline

Research Project

The Effects of Intraspecific Competition on Varying Groups of Marigolds

Planted seeds and watered

them

Watered plants and took

measurements

Watered Plants and took

measurements

Week 1 Week 3 Week 5

Week 2 Week 4 Week 6

Watered plants and took measurements

Watered plants and took

measurements

End of Project- collected

measurements

BudgetBudget

6 flower pots at Target $24.006 flower pots at Target $24.00 Packet of Marigold Seeds Wal-Packet of Marigold Seeds Wal-

mart’s Garden Center $2.00mart’s Garden Center $2.00 Balance on eBay $31.00Balance on eBay $31.00 Potting Soil $2.50 Wal-Mart’s Potting Soil $2.50 Wal-Mart’s

Garden CenterGarden Center

Budget ContinuedBudget Continued

Budget Potting Soil $2.50

Marigold Seeds $2.00

Balance $31.00

6 Flower Pots $24.00