BIOL1003 Assignment 4 2021 PDF

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BIOL1003 Assignment 4: Posing Ecological Questions 5 questions about ecological interactions based on observations: 1. How does the location of Cyathea australis on a slope influence the height of Cyathea australis? 2. Does proximity to the ‘Native bee hotel’ influence pollination rates of all flowering plants in a 50m radius? 3. How does the moisture content of a living tree from the Eucalyptus genus area influence Ganoderma austral growth? 4. How does the sound Malurus cyaneus make change in reaction to external threats? 5. How is distribution of scribbles from Ogmograptis scribula on Eucalyptus rossii influenced by moisture concentration of the area? Refine and restate one of your questions as a testable directional hypothesis. (2 mark) Research question: How is distribution of Ogmograptis scribula on Eucalyptus rossii influenced by water abundance? H1: As water content of an area increases, there will be a corresponding increase in Ogmograptis scribula on Eucalyptus rossii. Write a one-page mini-proposal for a research project that would test your hypothesis. (1 mark for staying within the following guidelines: A4 page, single-spaced in size 12 font, minimum 2cm margins. This excludes your 5 questions and your list of references.)

Research objective

BIOL1003 Assignment 4: Posing Ecological Questions The study will look at the parasitic interaction between Eucalyptus rossii and Ogmograptis scribula, determining the distribution and abundance of O. scibula on trees in different areas of water availability. Previous research in this area is limited, particularly in respect to what influences the distribution and abundance of O. scribula on trees from the Eucalyptus genus (Cooke & Edwards, 2007; Horak, et al., 2012). As specialists, O. scribula, similarly to other Eucalypt herbivores, are vulnerable to shifting abiotic factors which influence the host plant [ CITATION Mur13 \l 3081 ]. E. rossii and O. scribula are commonly found in areas of dry sclerophyll forest [ CITATION Doh18 \l 3081 ]. The observational experiment will be conducted on Black Mountain Nature reserve and the Australian National Botanic Gardens, using plots with different water abundance. The distribution and abundance of the species will be determined by the number of O. scibula larval scribbles on E. rossii, a method used in a study by Cooke and Edwards (2007). Data type The number, size and location of scribbles on the E. rossii would be measured in the plots. Size would be recorded in cm. Location would be recorded in degrees. Number of scribbles would be recorded as an absolute value. Method To collect our data, we will first class randomly selected plots into areas of differing water concentration. Plots will be selected from Black Mountain Nature Reserve (BMNR) and the Australian National Botanic Garden (ANBG). These areas will be used as the water concentrations are different across the two; BMNR will be used as it is a relatively undisturbed prime example of dry sclerophyll forest [ CITATION Poo66 \l 3081 ] and results can thus be expanded to a wider context; the ANGB is an irrigated area containing E. rossii in otherwise similar environmental conditions to BMNR. The number, size and location of scribbles on the tree would be measured in the plots. If found, size would be recorded in cm, using a piece of string to trace each scribble found, location would be recorded in degrees using a Suunto clinometer, and number of scribbles would be recorded as an absolute value. Function of results If we see an increase in number of scribbles in locations with higher water content corresponding to an increase in number of the scribble on trees, we would accept the hypothesis that a high water abundance leads to an increase of O. scribula on E. rossii. Ecological basis Comprehensive studies on the changes of O. scribula on BMNR, has been limited to a report on the behaviour, and findings on the interactions and influence of environmental conditions is limited [CITATION Coo01 \l 3081 ]. The family O. scribula belongs to is understudied in an Australian context [CITATION Coo01 \l 3081 ]. Understanding how the distribution and abundance of the species changes in response to water availability will improve the understanding of the interactions between both E. rossii and O. scribula and variance of water availability. An increase in understanding of the distribution and abundance of species is essential for their conservation management particularly in context of changing environmental conditions like water availability [ CITATION Lop21 \l 3081 ].

BIOL1003 Assignment 4: Posing Ecological Questions Bibliography Cooke, J. & Edwards, T., 2007. The behaviour of scribbly gum moth larvae Ogmograptis sp. Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Bucculatricidae) in the Australian Capital Territory. Australian Journal of Entomology, 46(4), pp. 269-275. Doherty, M. D., 2018. Vegetation types and vegetation dynamics on Black Mountain. Canberra(ACT): Fenner School of Environment and Society. Horak, M. et al., 2012. Systematics and biology of the iconic Australian scribbly gum moths Ogmograptis Meyrick (Lepidoptera : Bucculatricidae) and their unique insect–plant interaction. Invertebrate Systematics , Volume 26, pp. 357-398. Lopez, R. et al., 2021. Coordination of stem and leaf traits define different strategies to regulate water loss and tolerance ranges to aridity. New Phytologist, 230(2), pp. 497-509. Murray, T. J. et al., 2013. Interactive effects of pre-industrial, current and future [CO2] and temperature on an insect herbivore of Eucalyptus. Oecologia, 171(4), pp. 1025-35. Pook, E. & Moore, W., 1966. The influence of aspect on the composition and structure of dry sclerophyll forest on Black Mountain, Canberra. ACT. Australian Journal of Botany, Volume 14, pp. 223-242....