|
Abiotic
Factor |
Minimal Value |
Date & Time Value Was
Recorded |
Maximal Value |
Date & Time Value Was
Recorded |
|
Ambient Air Temperature
(°C) |
16 |
5/11/05 12:35-12:53
PM |
25 |
5/10/05 12:45-1:15 PM |
|
Soil
Temperature |
7 |
5/11/05 12:35-12:53
PM |
16 |
5/10/05 12:45-1:15 PM |
|
Light
Exposure+ |
4 |
5/11/05 12:35-12:53
PM |
9 |
5/10/05 12:45-1:15 PM |
|
Xeric/ Mesic
Estimation* |
4 |
5/10/05 12:45-1:15 PM |
9 |
5/11/05 12:35-12:53
PM |
|
Humus Content^ |
9 |
5/10/05 12:45-1:15 PM |
9 |
5/10/05 12:45-1:15 PM |
|
Wind Speed |
Down 6-10 MPH |
5/11/05 12:35-12:53
PM |
Up 8-15 MPH |
5/10/05 12:45-1:15 PM |
+ =
0=full shade, 10= full exposure
* =
0=dust->10=standing water
^ =
add 5mL of hydrogen peroxide to 2g of soil and time decomposition of
peroxide
In order to make a profile of the abiotic composition of our ecosystem, we had to record the ambient air temperature (°C), soil temperature, light exposure, xeric/ mesic estimation, humus content, and wind speed. The one factor that seemed to have the most effect on organisms in our ecosystem is light exposure because of differences in certain plant heights. The black mustard (Brassica nigra) in the shade were far shorter than the black mustard’s that weren’t, with an average plant height difference of 32.4 cm. Abiotic factors such as wind speed and humus content had very little or no change between the two dates when we recorded abiotic data, and likely had little effect on the organisms in our ecosystem. While the data we recorded gives us a fairly accurate look at the organisms in our ecosystem, certain changes will take place in the summer months. For instance, we would have seen increases in ambient air temperature and soil temperature had we recorded this abiotic data in the summer, or if we had recorded humus content in the fall, we may have recorded higher counts because of all the decomposition that would have taken place in both the spring and the summer.