Sampling Design and Replicates:To gain a comprehensive understanding of herbivory, I devised my sampling strategy. I collected data from two plant species, Salal and Daphne, in both high ground and low ground areas. Each combination of plant species and location was treated as a separate group, resulting in four distinct groups for analysis. Within each group, I collected data from 15 individual plants, giving me a total of 60 replicates (15 Salal high ground, 15 Salal low ground, 15 Daphne high ground, and 15 Daphne low ground). I proceeded to count the number of leaf damages on individual plants in both the high ground and low ground areas.
Challenges and Problem-solving:I found experimental design to be the most challenging aspect of this project. Initially, I believed that utilizing quadrats to assess the number of leaf damages per species would be beneficial. However, I soon realized a significant issue with this approach: if I were to replicate the experiment, my replicates would be interdependent rather than independent. This dependence would compromise the validity of my results, as using quadrats could inadvertently influence the herbivory measurement of one plant based on the measurement of another plant
Another challenge I faced was the presence of natural variations in leaf appearance and condition that were unrelated to herbivory. To address this issue, I diligently examined each leaf and made careful distinctions between damage caused by herbivores and other factors such as disease or senescence. By paying close attention to detail, I was able to ensure that the data accurately reflected the levels of herbivory.
Emerging Patterns and Hypothesis Reflection:As I diligently counted the leaf damage per individual, intriguing patterns began to emerge. I observed varying degrees of leaf damage within and between the plant species and locations. These observations have prompted me to reflect on my initial hypothesis, which predicted differences in herbivory levels between invasive and non-invasive plants, as well as between high ground and low ground areas.
The patterns I observed suggest complex dynamics in herbivory. For instance, I noticed that certain non-invasive plants exhibited higher levels of leaf damage compared to Daphne (invasive). This unexpected finding challenges my initial assumptions and raises questions about the factors influencing herbivory patterns, such as plant defenses or herbivore preferences. Additionally, I observed variations in herbivory levels between high ground and low ground areas for both Salal and Daphne plants. These findings indicate potential influences of microhabitat characteristics, such as nutrient availability or microclimate, on herbivory dynamics. This has led me to consider additional factors that may interact with plant invasiveness to shape herbivory patterns in different habitats.