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FERMI QUADRAT PRAIRIE STUDY 2006

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DATA:

Table of our Fermi Quadrat

                                        ^Our Fermi Quadrat^

Table of all quadrats of plot 17

GRAPHS OF DOMINANCE AND IMPORTANCE VALUE:

Graphs of dominance and importance values for all quadrats of 2006

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS:

            In October, we went to Fermi Lab. After that, we used the data we collected to find the dominance, density, relative dominance, relative frequency, and importance values. For the quadrat we studied, as well as the whole prairie. We found that dominance is the total percent that a certain species covers of a quardat, or of the prairie itself. We learned about frequency too, that means the total number of quadrats that a certain species can be found in. We learned density means the total number of plants of a certain species out of the total area studied. Another property of the prairie we learned about was that relative dominance means 100x the dominance of a species over the sum of the frequency of the species studied. We also learned that relative density means 100x the density of a species over the sum of the densities of all species. Finally, we learned about Importance, it means the relative dominance + relative frequency + relative density.

            When we compare the number of plants we have (the diversity), we find out that our diversity and all of plot 17’s is somewhat different. Our plot had Big Bluestem, Indian Grass, Compass Plant, Rosinweed, Wild Bergamot, Hairy Vetch, Tall Goldenrod, Yarrow, and Crab Grass. Plot 17 had Big Bluestem, Wild bergamot, Prairie Dock, Compass Plant, Switch Grass, Saw-Tooth Sunflower, Rosinweed, Black-eyed Susan, and Stiff Goldenrod. In our plot, Big Bluestem was the most dominant and important. In all of plot 17, Big Bluestem was most dominant, and most important. Unlisted was most dominant and most important, in our plot and in all of plot 17.

            In our plot, plot 17, we wil need to predice what will happen to the plot in the next ten (10) years. I will go about this by comparing the 1992 plot with the plot that we observed in 2006. I predict that the Importance Value for Big Bluestem will increase. I think this because it increased 40 “importance points”. I thing Wild Bergamot will increase because it increased 24 “importance points”. Indian Grass should decrease because it dropped a whopping 70 “importance points”. As for dominance, I thing Big Bluestem will increase, because in the last two years, it jumped 5 “dominance points”. I ting Indian Grass will decrease because it went down 3 “dominance points” in the last two years.  I think unlisted grass like will SKYROCKET, because it went up an amazing 160 “dominance points”. I think that unlisted grass-like will go up, because in the last two years, it went up 10 “importance points”.

            From all this, our class had to have learned something. I, personally, learned about the definitions of some of the prairie terms, and why they are used. I learned that there are multiple different tall prairie plants, instead of what I previously thought, which was that there was only one or two. I also learned that Fermi Lab has a prairie, and that prairie is healthy. I learned a lot from this unit that I hadn’t known before.

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.