BIO104 General Ecology (Laboratory)

ABUEVA, DAFHNEY I ADRIS, ASHLEY I AGAO-AGAO, ALLAN JR. I BARON, ALEXIS I DANTE, KATHLEEN MAE

EXERCISE 5. POPULATION GROWTH AND COMPETITION IN Raphanus sativa AND

Brassica chinesis

Average Plant Weight vs. Density Per Pot

0.16
0.14 0.13
0.12
0.12
Average Weight (g)

0.1 0.09

0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0.02
0
Brassica chinesis Raphanus sativa
species composition
Low-density High-density

Figure 5.1 Average weight of Raphanus sativa (Radish) and Brassica chinesis (Pechay) vs the density of
plants per pot.

Average Plant Weight vs. Nutrient Level

0.14
0.13
0.12
0.12
0.1
0.1
Average Weight (g)

0.08

0.06

0.04
0.02
0.02

0
Brassica chinesis Raphanus sativa
Species
Low composition
Nutrient High Nutrient

Figure 5.2 Average weight of Raphanus sativa (Radish) and Brassica chinesis (Pechay) vs. the nutrient
level subjected to the plants.
 Total Plant Biomass vs. Density Per Pot
3.5
3.07
3
2.67
2.5
Total Biomass (g)

2.05
2

1.5

0.5
0.17
0
Brassica chinesis Raphanus sativa
LowSpecies
DensityComposition
High Density

Figure 5.3 Total Biomass of Raphanus sativa (Radish) and Brassica chinesis (Pechay) vs. the density of
plants per pot.

Total Plant Biomass vs. Nutrient Level

4.5

4 3.85

3.5

3
Total Biomass (g)

2.5
2.04
2 1.89

1.5

0.5
0.16
0
Brassica chinesis Raphanus sativa
LowSpecies
Nutrientcomposition
High Nutrient

Figure 5.4 Total Biomass of Raphanus sativa (Radish) and Brassica chinesis (Pechay) vs. the nutrient level
subjected to the plants.
 Average Stem Length vs. Density Per Pot
55

54 53.74
53.5
53.19
Average Stem length (mm)

53

52

51
50.08
50

49

48
Brassica chinesis Raphanus sativa
Low Density
Species High Density
composition

Figure 5.5 Average stem length of Raphanus sativa (Radish) and Brassica chinesis (Pechay) vs. the
density of plants per pot.

Average Stem Length vs. Nutrient Level

55

54 53.71 53.51 53.43

53
average stem length (mm)

52

51
49.88
50

49

48

47
Brassica chinesis Raphanus sativa
Lowspecies
Nutrient High Nutrient
composition

Figure 5.6 Average stem length of Raphanus sativa (Radish) and Brassica chinesis (Pechay) vs. the
nutrient level subjected to the plants.
Intraspecific Competition Discussion

The results show that Raphanus sativa, in high density per pot, have greater average
weight, total biomass, and stem length. It implies that even at lower density, the quality of their
growth has minimal to no changes or advantage compared with higher density. However, at
higher density, their chance of survival is lower compared to low-density environment. These
results reveal that intraspecific competition within Raphanus sativa is evident but the impact to
their growth and physical characteristics is relatively low. On the other hand, non-fertilized
Raphanus sativa have greater biomass and stem length compared to fertilized one. It implies
that fertilizer has no advantage to the quality of their growth. However, the data given is not
consistent with other characteristics because there is an error in one of the replicates. In 2-R-4-
L, the number of plants in a pot is 11 but the maximum density is limited to 4 plants only. This
error in data reduce the accuracy of the results in average weight, plant biomass, and nutrient
level.
In Brassica chinesis, they have higher average weight and total plant biomass in high-
density environment however, the stem length is longer in low-density environment. This
implies that Brassica chinesis can grow longer in low-density environment. When it comes to
survival, species in low-density have greater chance of surviving compared to species in high-
density environment. This reveals that intraspecific competition in form of exploitation occurs
in Brassica chinesis. Furthermore, the results show that they have higher average weight, total
plant biomass, and stem length without the fertilizers. This result reveals that the fertilizer has
no positive impact or advantage to their growth and survival.
 A verage We ight of Raphanus s ati va and
B ras s ica chine s is
0.25
0.22
0.2
average weight (g)

0.15

0.1

0.05 0.03

0
Brassica chinesis Raphanus sativa
species composition

Figure 5.7 Average weight of Raphanus sativa and Brassica chinesis determined by dividing the total
weight (biomass) with the actual number of plants.

Average Weight Per Species vs. Density

0.35
0.3
0.3

0.25
avergae weight (g)

0.2 0.19

0.15

0.1

0.05 0.03 0.03

0
Low Density High Density
Radish perPechay
Density pot

Figure 5.8 Average weight of plant per pot in each species of Raphanus sativa (Radish) and Brassica
chinesis (Pechay) vs. the density of the plants.
 Average Weight Per Species vs. Nutrient Level
0.25
0.23

0.2 0.19
Average weight (g)

0.15

0.1

0.05 0.04
0.02

0
Low Nutrient High Nutrient
Radish Pechay
Nutrient level

Figure 5.9 Average weight of plant per pot in each species of Raphanus sativa (Radish) and Brassica
chinesis (Pechay) vs. the nutrient level subjected to the plants.

Interspecific Competition Discussion

Between Raphanus sativa and Brassica chinesis, it is evident that Raphanus sativa has
greater average weight in both low- and high-density environment and low- and high-nutrient
level. This result suggests that Raphanus sativa can survive and grow better than Brassica
chinesis. In summary, Raphanus sativa have greater average weight with 0.215 grams.