FERMI QUADRAT PRAIRIE STUDY 2006
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 Data Table

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 Comparative Analysis

Plot 17

GPS LOCATION: N: 41°50' 27.9    W:88°16' 24.6

STUDENT RESEARCHER: Nick M

Plot 17 Arial view

 

 


(INSERT YOUR LINKS IN THE LINKS TABLE BELOW. DELETE THIS WHEN DONE.)
All quadrats
















 

DATA:

Quadrat map

Table of our Fermi Quadrat

 

 

Plant Name Total # Plants Found Total Percentage Dominance Importance Value
Unown Grasses 1288 30 30 5211.4
Big Bluestem 27 14 14 144.6
Indian Grass 7 16 16 67.4
Rosinweed 2 2 2 58.3
Mountain Mint 9 4 4 55.4
New England Aster 9 4 4 55.4

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:

(PLACE YOUR GRAPH OF THE DATA HERE)

 

Graphs of Dominance and Importance Value of all quadrats

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

                                                                       Comparative Analysis

 The Fermi Lab Prairie was reconstructed as a native prairie and began to be studied in 1992. Plot 17 is a testing plot for Madison only and has been monitored since 2004.

           

Part 1

I will be comparing the dominance and importance value from 2004, 2005,2006. The Prairie at Fermi was at one time 100% farmland. Dominance is the total percent cover of a species of a total. So the more of the plants dominance, the better, but except for weeds they are unhealthy for your prairie. The importance value, tells us how dominant, and how frequent and how dense a plant is in the ecosystem. The same concept as dominance because the more frequent you run into the plant, the better. You don’t want weeds in your prairie. Diversity is the total number of species for all the quadrats/total number of quadrats. The more diversity is also, better for your prairie. This makes a better habitat for birds, mammals, and insects.

Part 2

The Diversity is the main value that we monitor. My records show a lot of diversity in plot 17these are the top five on the list. Big Bluestem, Wild Bergamot, Indian Grass, Compass Plant, and Prairie Dock. In my records I will be comparing from the dominance and importance value of 2004, 2005, and 2006. I will be comparing the top 2 of dominance and importance value of 2004, 2005, and 2006. 2006 the top dominating plant, which is Big Bluestem with 24.19. The second place spot goes to Wild Bergamot with 10.4. 2005 the top dominating plant goes to Big Bluestem with 4.38. The second place spot goes to Wild Bergamot with 4.23. 2004 the top dominating plant is Big Bluestem with 19.97. The second place goes to the wild bergamot with 5.38. What we can see from 2005 that there was a natural cause of that decrease in Big Bluestem.

Now for the Importance Value, 2006 the top number of that plant is Big Bluestem with 119.07. In second place is wild bergamot with 47.92. 2005 the best-numbered plant is Big Bluestem with 70.41. In second place is Indian grass with 37.3. 2004 the best-numbered plant is Big Bluestem with 132.31. The second place position goes to Wild Bergamot with 45.38. This also is proof something happened to the plant population like the Big Bluestem and Wild Bergamot, which could have been caused by lack of precipitation the temperatures.

 

Part 3

 

I have predicted what will happen to the dominance of Wild Bergamot and Big Bluestem in ten years. Big bluestem will have a dominance of 41.83 and Wild Bergamot will have a dominance of 27.88. I took the data from 1992 and took the data from 2006, since there are 14 years in-between them I divided the data from 2006 by 14, because once I get my answer I will multiply that by 10 and add it to the 2006 data.

 

 

 

 

Part 4

 

I have learned what a healthy prairie needs, like a lot of diversity, Dominance, and Importance value are healthy indicators for a healthy prairie. I have also learned how you can help people around the world by giving them information about prairies so more people in other places besides Illinois where you can grow nice healthy prairies and help restore the Midwest. I would like to thank Fermi lab on behalf of Madison for this experience!

 

 

 

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.