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My field project study involves assessing the abundance of Broadleaf Stonecrop using percent cover in 1m2 quadrats along a few environmental gradients including elevation from sea level and micro habitat transition from shoreline to forest. My hypothesis is that Broadleaf Stonecrop abundance is determined by the moisture of the substrate which is indicated by a categorical level of drainability. Therefore I have predicted that the Stonecrop is most abundant in areas with high degree of drainability.
Thus far during my data collection I have noticed several ecological influences that may be affecting the abundance and distribution of my study subject. These would include exposure to sunlight, the underlying substrate, degree of slope within the growing area, substrate moisture content, as well as competition with other vegetation.
Since the Broadleaf Stonecrop is a succulent, they seem to thrive with very little substrate moisture hence my above prediction. They also thrive in areas where very few other vegetative species would be able to grow primarily steep, ocean exposed rocky outcrops along the shoreline. They also seem to require a high degree of sunlight and their abundance decreases dramatically in higher vegetated areas that would shade out the Stonecrop. Interestingly, it has been observed that the Stonecrop also only grows along the ocean facing cliffs in the study area, not the lagoon facing side.
Therefore both abiotic and biotic factors are having a direct and indirect influence on where the Stonecrop is most abundant. This study also touches upon competition for space and resources among various vegetation, adaptability in seemingly harsher environments, and higher tolerance for dryer conditions.
Three keywords that could be used to describe this study are climatic stressors, substrate moisture, and slope gradient.
