User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
Field data collection activities: I got my Dad to record the values while I measured them. We located each of my replicates, measured width of branches at base to look for any limited growth patterns between the crowded and spaced replicates. We sampled buds with a 0.25m2 quadrat.
How many replicates: 30 in total, 10 per site
Problems implementing sample design: the quadrat: although I still believe was the best way to collect bud abundance, may have a moderate percent error. It was hard to count all the buds present in the quadrat because it is only 2 dimensional and there were some buds further behind those on the surface that still fell within the quadrat. I realize that the quadrat is more precise when placed flat on the ground, but this method was the only thing I could think of that would be somewhat accurate.
Ancillary patterns that caused hypothesis reflection: realized that all replicates are within the same soil conditions, very close proximity, so that wouldn’t be a major contributing factor to differences in growth, however, those in areas of high density might experience more competition for those soil resources.
