The aim of my project is to see how different weeds such as dandelions, common mallow (I think, but definitive identification is still needed) and others grow in differing levels of shade. The theoretical basis of this observation study is on how much photosynthesis is occurring in each of my three areas, as photosynthesis is what produces the glucose required for plants to grow and stay healthy by ultimately forming necessary compounds such as proteins and cellulose. However, while the presence of sunlight is required for photosynthesis to occur, it is not one of the inputs – those are carbon dioxide and water. I have purposely avoided watering these sections of the back yard, so the only water available to the plants will be what latent moisture was already in the soil prior to me commencing the study and natural precipitation. This was done to see how much sunlight alone affects plant growth, keeping the number of other variables down, although the presence of fallen pine needles in certain sections of the study area may also be influencing growth. If I were to choose three keywords/terms to describe this project, they would be: Photosynthesis, naturalistic observation, and discrete shade levels.
Sounds good!