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For my research project I am exploring the relationship between soil moisture and bracket fungi (Polyporales) growth in a section of Boreal Forest in the southern Northwest Territories. My study site is comprised of mixed wood trees, a creek that drains into the Great Slave Lake and a boggy area south of the creek; I have taken soil samples and bracket fungi counts from these three distinct areas. Bracket fungi can be saprophytic or parasitic, meaning they absorb soluble organic nutrients from the host species, which in my case are intact trees, snags or stumps (Allaby, 2019). Through my hypothesis I am exploring the theoretical perspective that increased soil moisture is positively correlated with polypore quantity on trees in this region. Extrapolating on this, the research also explores the possibility that moister environments lead to higher rates of decay, as evidenced by greater fungi quanity. My hypothesis therefore touches on the biotic processes of parasitism, decay, decomposition and fungi reproduction as well as the abiotic factors of soil moisture and position of affected trees within the study area. Based on the theoretical idea that fungi proliferate in moist environments which promote a more rapid rate of decay, my prediction is that there will be an increased count of polypores in wetter areas.
Keywords: fungi growth, polypore/bracket fungi, soil moisture
Allaby, M. (2019). A Dictionary of Plant Sciences (4 ed.). Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/acref/9780198833338.001.0001
This is a good start, you will need to expand on these ideas in your introduction and remember to think about the broader context and/or possible importance of your study for the introduction.