Competition Between Species Lab
Audrey Umwali
Ecology Lab Report 10
Section 7649
Competition Data
November 28, 2012
INTRODUCTION Competition, whether it is for food, water, shelter or a mate occurs between any living organisms in a mutual habitat. They are likely to be in close proximity and this interaction could either be harmful or helpful to each organism. When the interaction is beneficial, it is considered to be mutualism, either being obligate or facultative. However, interactions between different species may take different forms, such as commensalism, parasitism, amensalism etc. Competition often results in reduced growth and/or lower seed production of one or both individuals or species when compared to the yield of either when grown alone. There …show more content…
Interspecific competition between different species may not be observed, if the resource requirements of the species are different. Interspecific competing species may also co-exist because no one species is competitive enough to drive out the other species. When one type of specie is a much better competitor compared to the other species, it is possible for competitive exclusion to occur, eliminating the other species from the community. Individuals of the same species may avoid competition by partitioning the resources (guild). Small species that mature rapidly are suitable for intraspecific and interspecific competition experiments. This laboratory exercise focuses both types on interactions using wheat and mustard seeds. Our goal was to observe intraspecific competition in mustard and in wheat by varying the density of plants and observing plant growth. We will also examine interspecific competition between mustard (Brassica) and wheat (Triticum) plants by planting a variety of mixtures of the two species together in the same pot. Variation in plant density can have a profound effect on yield …show more content…
Per Plant Biomass for Wheat | Avg. of Treatment Stand. Per Plant Biomass for Wheat | | | | Plants Harvested | (g) | | (%) | (%) | 57 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.089 | 0.089 | 50.85714286 | 93.85714286 | 58 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.122 | 0.122 | 69.71428571 | | 59 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.151 | 0.151 | 86.28571429 | | 60 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.295 | 0.295 | 168.5714286 | | 61 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0.46 | 0.23 | 131.4285714 | 120.2142857 | 62 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0.273 | 0.1365 | 78 | | 63 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0.244 | 0.244 | 139.4285714 | | 64 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0.462 | 0.231 | 132 | | 65 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0.78 | 0.195 | 111.4285714 | 85.31746032
Ecology Lab Report 10
Section 7649
Competition Data
November 28, 2012
INTRODUCTION Competition, whether it is for food, water, shelter or a mate occurs between any living organisms in a mutual habitat. They are likely to be in close proximity and this interaction could either be harmful or helpful to each organism. When the interaction is beneficial, it is considered to be mutualism, either being obligate or facultative. However, interactions between different species may take different forms, such as commensalism, parasitism, amensalism etc. Competition often results in reduced growth and/or lower seed production of one or both individuals or species when compared to the yield of either when grown alone. There …show more content…
Interspecific competition between different species may not be observed, if the resource requirements of the species are different. Interspecific competing species may also co-exist because no one species is competitive enough to drive out the other species. When one type of specie is a much better competitor compared to the other species, it is possible for competitive exclusion to occur, eliminating the other species from the community. Individuals of the same species may avoid competition by partitioning the resources (guild). Small species that mature rapidly are suitable for intraspecific and interspecific competition experiments. This laboratory exercise focuses both types on interactions using wheat and mustard seeds. Our goal was to observe intraspecific competition in mustard and in wheat by varying the density of plants and observing plant growth. We will also examine interspecific competition between mustard (Brassica) and wheat (Triticum) plants by planting a variety of mixtures of the two species together in the same pot. Variation in plant density can have a profound effect on yield …show more content…
Per Plant Biomass for Wheat | Avg. of Treatment Stand. Per Plant Biomass for Wheat | | | | Plants Harvested | (g) | | (%) | (%) | 57 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.089 | 0.089 | 50.85714286 | 93.85714286 | 58 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.122 | 0.122 | 69.71428571 | | 59 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.151 | 0.151 | 86.28571429 | | 60 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.295 | 0.295 | 168.5714286 | | 61 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0.46 | 0.23 | 131.4285714 | 120.2142857 | 62 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0.273 | 0.1365 | 78 | | 63 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0.244 | 0.244 | 139.4285714 | | 64 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0.462 | 0.231 | 132 | | 65 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0.78 | 0.195 | 111.4285714 | 85.31746032