lab 7 - eutrophication data collection

Question 1

what is the effect of increased fertiliser concentration on plant height (health)

Answer 1

height increases with fertiliser increase
peaks at 0.6g
height decreases after 0.6g to levels below 0g fertiliser

Question 2

what is the effect of excessive fertiliser on plant health

Answer 2

harm health and productivity
too much water and/or fertiliser = hypotonic cells that burst and cause decrease in turgor pressure (wilting)

Question 3

what is the effect of increased fertiliser concentration on plant biomass

Answer 3

below 0 in microcosm 1, 3, 6
above zero in microcosm 4, and 5
increases and then decreases again

Question 4

what is the effect on increased fertiliser concentration on phosphorous concentration

Answer 4

increases as fertiliser increases
no likely difference between all conditions except control (SEM overlap)

phosphorous still present in water of no fertiliser condition (from aquatic plants or soil)

Question 5

what is the effect of increasing fertiliser concentration on nitrogen levels in pond water

Answer 5

ammonia increases and then plateaus in microcosm 4,5,6
not enough fertiliser present in microcosm 1,2,3 to seep down into water

Question 6

what is the effect of fertiliser concentration on phytoplankton population (cholorphyll a)

Answer 6

increases with increase in fertiliser concentration initially
plateaus around 0.6g as fertiliser concentration continues to increase
slightly decreases but SEM overlaps

Question 7

what is the effect of increasing fertiliser concentration on zooplankton population

Answer 7

increases with an increase in fertiliser concentration
reaches a peak around 0.9g
only likely difference between control and microcosm 3 and 5
increase and plateau