SUCCESSION AT NORTH BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL
Anum Khan
AP Biology/ Biondo
September 27, 2015
INTRODUCTION
Succession is the process of change in the species structure due to the vanishing of some species and births of others. As one species may disappear from a certain community, its succeeding species will share many of the same characteristics needed to survive in the ecosystem [1]. In this experiment, random one meter squares were chosen from deciduous forest land located outside of North Brunswick Township High School.
Deciduous forests refer to forests with activity during all 4 seasons: leaves changing color in autumn, falling off in winter, and growing back in spring [2]. In order to support succession, students observed and recorded…show more content… Equipment
All equipment including meter sticks, pencils, pens, and paper were obtained from room 879 Lab, North Brunswick Township High School.
Measuring Succession
Start the experiment by using the meter stick, and marking off one meter squared of deciduous land for each time frame (zero to one, two to four, four to six, and six to eight). Describe what organisms and species including the colors, textures, heights, etc. Count and record the amount of different species observed in each area. The amount of biomass should be observed and compared to the other areas on a scale from one to five, with five being the most biomass. In each of the 4 areas, measure an average plant height that can best represent that area, and record it on the chart.
RESULTS
The results of the experiment show that as the age period become greater, the descriptions became more complex as seen in Figure 1A. Figure 1B shows the increasing relationship between the relative biomass, number of species, and relative plant height as the site age increases.
Figure 1A: Succession in the Field of NBTHS
Site Age
(years) Description of dominant vegetation Rel.…show more content… In the site area with zero to one year, minimal amounts of biomass, and species were found as compared to the site area with six to eight years where the biomass and number of species almost doubled those of the zero to one year. Following through Figure 1B, data can confirm that as the site age grows, the amount of materials found in that area rise as well. The results of these experiments conclude that the more time an area has to grow, the more species it will