During my initial data collection in Module 3, I had collected the bulbs of Northern Rice Root’s (Fritillaria camschatcensis) in location #1 of my study site. Location #1 is 0–5 meters away from the water’s edge and has the highest soil moisture level. I had placed string lines from 0–5 meters horizontally along the water’s edge, marking the distance from the water, and transects T1-T5 vertically away from the water at every 3 meters. In total, I had found 3 Northern Rice Root plants in location #1 and had measured the overall weight of the bulb or bulbs (some had multiple bulbs, some had one) in grams, weight of the main (largest) bulb in grams, and the circumference of the main bulb in millimeters. To measure the weight of the bulbs, I had carefully removed all the dirt I could from the bulb and placed each sample in its own plastic bag. I had then zeroed the digital scale to the weight of a plastic bag, then measuring the overall weight of the sample. To measure the main bulb weight, I reset the scale and placed the largest bulb directly on the scale. I had measured the circumference with a flexible nylon measuring tape along the greatest width of the bulb.
Although I did not experience difficulties in my sampling technique, I did encounter some trouble when measuring the circumference of my samples. Due to the delicate nature of the bulbs, when handled, the small rice like grains would fall off the main bulb and make the circumference slightly smaller. I do not think there is any way to mitigate this, as I had handled the bulbs as carefully as I possibly could. I measured each bulb overtop of a piece of paper, so I could place the small grains that fell off back into the plastic bag labelled for each sample. I will continue to collect data using the same technique as it will be consistent for all of my samples, each one lost some grains as I measured them.
As I had dug up the 3 samples in location #1, I was surprised to see that they were smaller than I was expecting. I have dug up Northern Rice Root bulbs in the past and remember them being larger than the samples I had found in location #1. As I continue my study in locations #2 and #3, I will be able to compare their circumference and weight, but as of right now I believe my prediction will be incorrect. This might be due to the constant access that the plants in location #1 have to moisture, causing them to not have to store as much water as plants in drier areas would have to, similar to species of cactus (Cactaceae).
Hypothesis: The size of a Northern Rice Root’s (Fritillaria camschatcensis) main bulb is determined by the level of soil moisture.
Predictions: Northern Rice Root (Fritillaria camschatcensis) bulbs grow larger when they reside in areas with high soil moisture. The underlying pattern might be that Northern Rice Root bulbs can soak up more moisture when they are closer to a water source, allowing for a larger main bulb. This might explain why the Northern Rice Root plants in location #1 have more yellowed leaves, as most of their energy is going into root production and not leaf growth.
I think I understand your transect set up betting now. In your small assignment, be sure to be clear what your sample unit along the transect is. Is it an individual plant? How do you decide where to measure in each location?