In 7th grade we studied prairie plants. We studied them by learning what dominance, importance value, and diversity. We did this by using 1m by 1m squares called quadrats. By learning these techniques, we were rewarded with a trip to Fermi lab. If you would like to learn about this, read on.

Background Information: First lets start with dominance. Dominance is the most noticeable to see. Because dominance shows us which plant takes up the most space or is thriving the best. The more dominant plants effect the other plants by, not giving that much growing room, and taking more sunlight. They effect animals in a more positive way by giving more food source, and living space. As you can see dominance is very important when it comes to comparing data

Next lets talk about importance value. Importance value is made up of three values. They are made up of relative dominance, relative frequency, and relative density. You add these three things up and get importance value. Importance value is so important because it shows how important the plant is to the environment. This is usually used to compare the prairie plots .over time, to see if the plant increases or decreases in importance.

Finally there is diversity. The definition of diversity says "many different living things living together." You can also look at the variety of plants, and species. In a prairie it is important to have a large variety of plants, cause then the prairie is healthier. So diversity is used to tell which plot is healthier. A wider variety of plants means a wider variety of animals. As anyone can see dominance, importance value and diversity are all very important when it comes to comparing prairie plots and data.

Comparison: The diversity in my quadrat is a lot different then the diversity in plot 17. For instants in my quadrat there is a total of 8 plants when in plot 17 there are many more. Since there is more plants in a larder plot like 17, there is a wider range of different plants. This is because of course there is more land in the whole prairie plot 17 then there is in my little 1m by 1m square. Since my little square is so small its diversity will be smaller. When a wider range like plot 17 total is added up and compare to something smaller like my quadrat the results will be different. Like the most dominant plant in my quadrat is Indian Grass when in the whole plot it is Big blue stem. Once again will comparing you must remember the size difference. As you can see if the a plant is the most dominant then it must be the most important when it comes to importance value. Obviously as one can see size is a very important factor in this complicated equation of prairie plots and quadrats.

Prediction: I think in ten years the prairie will still be abundant of the same plant that it is to this day in 200612007. There has been a pattern for the last fourteen years of switching of between Indian Grass and Big blue stem for the leading dominator. I am able to make this assumption, because in 1992 the first year Madison Junior High started collecting data. Indian Grass was number one for dominance and Big blue stem two.

The next year it switched around. And it has been switching on and off for 1 st and 2nd for the last 14 years. And I don't think it will stop.

Reflection: Throughout this lesson we had learned many thing. And to me I really didn't care to learn al those things I told you about. To tell you the truth this was the hardest longest grueling section I ever did. Making this web page I look back on this right now see how much hard work I did despite the grueling situation. And I feel really good I did this hard work. I don't know if! would ever do it again. But in the end I was glad I did all this work for Fermi lab. Because without all these beautiful plant to cover are beautiful world~ We would not live. So this may sound corny but the 7th graders that attend this field trip every year are almost saving the world.