Joe Miragliotta

5/1/19
Ecology lab

Biodiversity Lab Report

Abstract
In this experiment we studied the biodiversity of three different seeds. The
reason for studying the biodiversity between the seeds is to find out how well they
compete with each other. We planted the seeds of the sunflowers, tomatoes, and
cucumbers to see how they grow being planted together and how they grow individually.
We measured the above ground biomass of each of the seeds from each treatment.
The sunflowers did grow better when they were planted with the other seeds. While the
tomatoes and cucumbers did better when they were planted individually.
Introduction
The effects of biodiversity on the function of the plants is when there is more
plants there will be more competition. When there is more competition there will be
more variation between the different species so that each species get what they need.
With that happening the more diversity there is then the ecosystem will be healthier.
Having biodiversity in a farm can lead to the farm having an increase in the
productivity because the different species of plants could use different nutrients from the
environment. This will allow the maximum amount of plant matter to be produced per
year.
I hypothesize that since the sunflower is not a vegetable the sunflowers would
not grow very well with the other plants. To test my hypothesis I would plant one seeds
of each species individually and repeat it four times. Then I would plant one seed of
each species together and also repeat that four times.
Methods
What are the species?
The experiment is to see the effects of biodiversity on three different
seeds. The species of the seeds that we used in the experiment are cucumbers,
tomatoes, and sunflowers. The species of seeds that are used in this experiment are
cucumbers, tomatoes, and sunflowers. The scientific name for the sunflower is
Helianthus annuus and the common name is the sunflower. The sunflower is native to
North America and are grown because they are heat-tolerant, resistant to pests, and
simply beautiful. They are grown because you can harvest their edible seeds. Also they
make for excellent cut flowers and many are attractive to bees and birds.
The scientific name for the tomato is Solanum lycopersicum and the common
name for them is tomato. The species originated in western South America and was
brought to Europe by the Spanish. The Spanish encountered the tomato from the Aztec
during the Spanish colonization of the Americas and brought it to Europe. After that the
tomato was introduced to the rest of Europe during the 16th century.the tomato is grown
all over the world in temperate climates and is mainly used as food in dishes, sauces,
salads, and drinks.
The scientific name for the cucumber is Cucumis sativus and the common name
is the cucumber. The cucumber is a creeping vine that roots in the ground and grows up
on supporting frames, wrapping around supports with thin, spiraling tendrils. The
cucumber is originally from South Asia, but now grows on most continents. They are
mostly are grown for consumption.
Statistics

Mixed Above ground Single above ground

biomass biomass

pre sunflo cucumb Tomato pre Sunflo Cucum Tomato

seed wers er es seed wers ber es

0 0.4 0 0.8 0.6 0.07

1 0.2 0.03 0.4 0.7 0.07

0 0.5 0.04 0.3 0.6 0.07

1.3 0.7 0.04 0.03 0.4 0.01

Avg. 0.575 0.45 0.0275 Avg. 0.3825 0.575 0.055

Indv. indv.
Mass mass

sunflo Sunflo Cucum Cucum Tomato Tomato

wers wers ber ber es es
mixed mixed Mono Mixed Mono

0 0.8 0.4 0.6 0 0.07

1 0.4 0.2 0.7 0.03 0.07

0 0.3 0.5 0.6 0.04 0.07

1.3 0.03 0.7 0.4 0.04 0.01

Mixed 0.575 Mixed 0.45 Mixed 0.0275

 Mono 0.3825 Mono 0.575 Mono 0.055

SUMMARY
Sunflower

Groups Count Sum Average Variance

Column 1 4 2.3 0.575 0.4558333

3

Column 2 4 1.53 0.3825 0.1018916

7

ANOVA

Source of SS df MS F P-value F crit

Variation

Between 0.07411 1 0.0741125 0.2657671 0.6246226 5.9873776

Groups 25 8 9 1

Within 1.67317 6 0.2788625

Groups 5

Total 1.74728 7
75

SUMMARY
Cucumber

Groups Count Sum Average Variance

Column 1 4 1.8 0.45 0.0433333

3

Column 2 4 2.3 0.575 0.0158333

3

ANOVA
Source of SS df MS F P-value F crit
Variation

Between 0.03125 1 0.03125 1.0563380 0.3436903 5.9873776

Groups 3 1

Within 0.1775 6 0.0295833

Groups 3

Total 0.20875 7

SUMMARY
Tomato

Groups Count Sum Average Variance

Column 1 4 0.11 0.0275 0.0003583

3

Column 2 4 0.22 0.055 0.0009

ANOVA

Source of SS df MS F P-value F crit

Variation

Between 0.00151 1 0.0015125 2.4039735 0.1720063 5.9873776

Groups 25 1 2 1

Within 0.00377 6 0.0006291

Groups 5 7

Total 0.00528 7
75

Results
The results of the experiment showed that the sunflower did not grow as well
when it was planted alone as when it was planted with the other seeds. This could be
due to the tomato seeds and the cucumber seeds not needing the same nutrients that
the sunflower needs. The tomatoes and cucumbers did slightly better when they were
planted individually. The experiment supports my hypothesis by showing that the
sunflower did grow less when it was planted by itself.
Discussion
In the experiment the sunflower did not grow as well when it was planted alone
as when it was planted with the other seeds. There is a couple things that can be the
cause to this. The first is it could be due to the tomato seeds and the cucumber seeds
not needing the same nutrients that the sunflower needs. Also the seeds for the
sunflower could need other plants around to grow well. The tomatoes and cucumbers
did slightly better when they were planted individually. This could be because they grow
well together when planted together.