FERMI QUADRAT PRAIRIE STUDY 2006

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GPS LOCATION: N:41º50'28.4"     W:88º16'24.4"

STUDENT RESEARCHER:   Matt M.

Aerial view of fermi prairie quadrats

Fermi lab map
       

Our Fermi lab quadrat


















 

DATA:

Table of our Fermi Quadrat

plant name relative Dominica impotents value
Big Bluestem 39.6 88.2
Indian Grass 7.4 144
Yarrow 14.8 111.4
tall sweet clover 14.8 135.4
Crab Grass 17.3 153.9
compass plant 24.2 120.8

Table of all quadrats of plot 17   

RAW DATA
Native Plants Total Plants Found Total Percentage Found # of Quadrats Found In Density Frequency Dominance Relative Density Relative Frequency Relative Dominance Importance Value
Big Bluestem 200 423 11 16.67 0.92 35.25 40.57 27.5 48.62 116.69
Compass Plant 12 30 1 1 0.08 2.5 2.43 2.5 3.45 8.38
Indian Grass 126 222 8 10.5 0.67 18.5 25.56 20 25.52 71.08
Switch Grass 34 38 2 2.83 0.17 3.17 6.9 5 4.37 16.27
Prairie Dock 7 44 3 0.58 0.25 3.67 1.42 7.5 5.06 13.98
Rosinweed 6 5 3 0.5 0.25 0.42 1.22 7.5 0.57 9.29
Yellow Coneflower 5 4 2 0.42 0.17 0.33 1.01 5 0.46 6.47
Wild Bergamot 91 80 4 7.58 0.33 6.67 18.46 10 9.2 37.65
New England Aster 1 15 1 0.08 0.08 1.25 0.2 2.5 1.72 4.43
Tall Boneset 8 7 3 0.67 0.25 0.58 1.62 7.5 0.81 9.93
Foxglove Beard Tongue 1 1 1 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.2 2.5 0.12 2.82
Indian Hemp 2 1 1 0.17 0.08 0.08 0.41 2.5 0.12 3.02
 
Non-Native (Weed) Plants Total Plants Found Total Percentage Found # of Quadrats Found In Density Frequency Dominance Relative Density Relative Frequency Relative Dominance Importance Value
Daisy Fleabane 1 1 1 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.02 3.03 0.16 3.21
Wild Carrot 86 18 3 7.17 0.25 1.5 2.02 9.09 2.85 13.96
Sweet Clovers (tall) 168 140 5 14 0.42 11.67 3.95 15.15 22.15 41.26
Yarrow 18 27 4 1.5 0.33 2.25 0.42 12.12 4.27 16.82
Tall goldenrod 25 16 4 2.08 0.33 1.33 0.59 12.12 2.53 15.24
Clovers (ground) 2 10 1 0.17 0.08 0.83 0.05 3.03 1.58 4.66
Hairy Vetch 3 17 2 0.25 0.17 1.42 0.07 6.06 2.69 8.82
Drummonds Aster 6 4 1 0.5 0.08 0.33 0.14 3.03 0.63 3.8
Unlisted-Oval leaf 111 154 4 9.25 0.33 12.83 2.61 12.12 24.37 39.1
Unlisted-Grasslike 3831 245 8 319.25 0.67 20.42 90.12 24.24 38.77 153.13
 
SORTED DATA BELOW
 
Native Plants by Dominance Dominance   Native Plants by I.V Importance Value            
Big Bluestem 35.25 Big Bluestem 116.69
Indian Grass 18.5 Indian Grass 71.08
Wild Bergamot 6.67 Wild Bergamot 37.65
Prairie Dock 3.67 Switch Grass 16.27
Switch Grass 3.17 Prairie Dock 13.98
Compass Plant 2.5 Tall Boneset 9.93
New England Aster 1.25 Rosinweed 9.29
Tall Boneset 0.58 Compass Plant 8.38
Rosinweed 0.42 Yellow Coneflower 6.47
Yellow Coneflower 0.33 New England Aster 4.43
Foxglove Beard Tongue 0.08 Indian Hemp 3.02
Indian Hemp 0.08 Foxglove Beard Tongue 2.82
 
 
Non-Native (Weed) Plants by Dominance Dominance   Non-Native (Weed) Plants by I.V. Importance Value            
Unlisted-Grasslike 20.42 Unlisted-Grasslike 153.13
Unlisted-Oval leaf 12.83 Sweet Clovers (tall) 41.26
Sweet Clovers (tall) 11.67 Unlisted-Oval leaf 39.1
Yarrow 2.25 Yarrow 16.82
Wild Carrot 1.5 Tall goldenrod 15.24
Hairy Vetch 1.42 Wild Carrot 13.96
Tall goldenrod 1.33 Hairy Vetch 8.82
Clovers (ground) 0.83 Clovers (ground) 4.66
Drummonds Aster 0.33 Drummonds Aster 3.8
Daisy Fleabane 0.08 Daisy Fleabane 3.21
 
 
 
 
ALL SPECIES Dominance Importance Value ALL SPECIES Dominance   ALL SPECIES Importance Value    
Big Bluestem 35.25 116.69 Big Bluestem 35.25 Unlisted-Grasslike 153.13
Compass Plant 2.5 8.38 Unlisted-Grasslike 20.42 Big Bluestem 116.69
Indian Grass 18.5 71.08 Indian Grass 18.5 Indian Grass 71.08
Switch Grass 3.17 16.27 Unlisted-Oval leaf 12.83 Sweet Clovers (tall) 41.26
Prairie Dock 3.67 13.98 Sweet Clovers (tall) 11.67 Unlisted-Oval leaf 39.1
Rosinweed 0.42 9.29 Wild Bergamot 6.67 Wild Bergamot 37.65
Yellow Coneflower 0.33 6.47 Prairie Dock 3.67 Yarrow 16.82
Wild Bergamot 6.67 37.65 Switch Grass 3.17 Switch Grass 16.27
New England Aster 1.25 4.43 Compass Plant 2.5 Tall goldenrod 15.24
Tall Boneset 0.58 9.93 Yarrow 2.25 Prairie Dock 13.98
Foxglove Beard Tongue 0.08 2.82 Wild Carrot 1.5 Wild Carrot 13.96
Indian Hemp 0.08 3.02 Hairy Vetch 1.42 Tall Boneset 9.93
Daisy Fleabane 0.08 3.21 Tall goldenrod 1.33 Rosinweed 9.29
Wild Carrot 1.5 13.96 New England Aster 1.25 Hairy Vetch 8.82
Sweet Clovers (tall) 11.67 41.26 Clovers (ground) 0.83 Compass Plant 8.38
Yarrow 2.25 16.82 Tall Boneset 0.58 Yellow Coneflower 6.47
Tall goldenrod 1.33 15.24 Rosinweed 0.42 Clovers (ground) 4.66
Clovers (ground) 0.83 4.66 Yellow Coneflower 0.33 New England Aster 4.43
Hairy Vetch 1.42 8.82 Drummonds Aster 0.33 Drummonds Aster 3.8
Drummonds Aster 0.33 3.8 Foxglove Beard Tongue 0.08 Daisy Fleabane 3.21
Unlisted-Oval leaf 12.83 39.1 Indian Hemp 0.08 Indian Hemp 3.02
Unlisted-Grasslike 20.42 153.13 Daisy Fleabane 0.08 Foxglove Beard Tongue 2.82

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRAPHS OF DOMINANCE AND IMPORTANCE VALUE:

 

Graphs of domininance and importance values for all quadrats 2006

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS:

Part 1. Background Information-When doing a quadrat (a one by one square meter in the prairie) study we compare our own quadrat to all of 2006, all of 2005, all of 2004 and of all 1992. To make it easier to compare these things we found the dominance, importance value, and diversity of all the plants. The dominance is how much of an area a certain plant covers, or the plant that is most noticeable. If you go to a garden and see a lot more roses than tulips then roses are the dominant plant. A dominant plant can have a positive effect on the ecosystem or a negative effect. One positive affect it has is it gives nutrients to other plants while it may cause smaller plants to get less sunlight because the bigger plants shade them. The importance value is made up of three categories. The importance value tells one how important a plant is to the environment. All the nutrients it gives to the other plants and how the roots affect the chemicals affect the PH of the soil. The diversity is also important because it tells us the different plant species and types are in a certain area. By comparing the diversity of past years to present time one would be able to see what types of plants have been planted and how the prairie has progressed.

 

Par 2. Comparison- since 1992 our plot has come a long way. It was once farmland and now it is lush with prairie plants. From 2004 to 2006 Big Bluestem (24.19) has been the most dominant plant with Indian grass (7.3) and wild bergamont (37.3) not far behind. The big bluestem has increased its dominance by 4.26. Indian grass by 2.92 and wild bergamont by 5.02. Once again big bluestem has had the most importance value since 2004, but it has dropped 16.24. Wild bergamont has increased a little over 2 while Indian grass has increased by about 8. it seems more plants are becoming more equal with big bluestems importants value.

 

Part 3.Prediction- I predict that in ten years that our plot 17 will have the same plants but they will become more frequent. Considering there wont be a large drought  or global warming will affect the plants in any way I think big bluestem and Indian grass will still be the most important plants because they have been the top plant on and off since 1992. I also predict that there will be many more prairie animals because all of there homes are being destroyed by houses being built.

 

Part 4.Reflection- throughout this study I have learned many things. I have learned the different names of some prairie plants, how to analyze a quadrat, and how to compare data from past years. Coming into this project I didn’t know anything about prairie grasses besides that they are grass. Now I can pick out big bluestem Indian grass and many other grasses. Learning how to compare data is another quality I have learned. I know it will help me the rest of my life in school and at my job. This prairie study has taught me many good things. 

 

 

 

 

COPYRIGHT:

© Copyright 2006, L&T Natural Images and Madison Jr. High, all rights reserved. Contact information: email at lccwik@comcast.net or tcoutts@naperville203.org

ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
This project was created by the 7th grade students of team 7 UPS from Madison Jr. High, Naperville Consolidated Unit School District #203 in Naperville, Illinois with the help of their teacher Mrs. Trudi Coutts along with Technology Lab Director Mrs. Margaret Gilmore. Support for the project came from Principal Ms. Erin Anderson and the other dedicated and cooperative faculty and staff of Madison Jr. High.

 

REFERENCES:
Fermilab Education Department particularly the SIMply Prairie Project. Authors: Bill Fraccaro, Johnson School, Wheaton, IL; Larry Cwik and Pat Franzen, Madison Junior High School, Naperville, IL; and Bernie Jokiel, Gary D, Jewel Middle School, North Aurora, IL.
Created for the NTEP II Fermilab LInC program sponsored by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Education Office and Friends of Fermilab, and funded by United States Department of Energy, Illinois State Board of Education, North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium which is operated by North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), and the National Science Foundation.