In my ongoing field observations in Jamaica’s lush landscapes, I will focus on studying the distribution of coffee, a significant biological attribute in this region. The Blue Mountains are famous for their coffee plantations, and I’m interested in how coffee plant distribution changes across different environmental gradients. I’ll focus on three different elevations (and possibly more);
- 500 meters, mountain base
- 1000 meters, midway up the mountain slope
- 1500 meters, near the mountain’s peak
Hypothesis
- In the Blue Mountains, the distribution of coffee plants is influenced by a combination of temperature and soil moisture, with an optimal range for growth existing within specific environmental conditions.
Prediction
- The abundance of coffee plants decreases as elevation increases, correlating with a decrease in temperature and a change in soil moisture retention capacity.
Response Variable: Abundance of coffee plants (Continuous)
Explanatory Variable: Elevation (Continuous), Soil Moisture (Continuous)
Hello!
I’m sipping coffee as I read and comment on your post. Living in Canada, I know nothing about one of my favorite crops!
Your design seems solid to me thus far! Interesting that elevation and soil moisture are so far showing the most influence.
I was curious if aspect, length of sun exposure, soil type, and possible companion plants might play a role. You may have already considered and over-ruled these points.
All this makes me curious about coffee’s natural ecosystem, and I wonder if the coffee species commonly grown today are genetically similar enough to thrive in the same conditions.
Good luck with your project!
Sounds like a great field study. Will you also measure temperature which is mentioned in your prediction? For your small assignment #2 you will have to think about how to are you measure soil moisture retention?