I have to design a controlled experiment to determine a factor that influences insect and/or plant species diversity in plant patches.
I have about two or three weeks to do this experiment.
In addition, I am working in a group of three. The experiment will most likely be conducted in our own neighborhoods or on school grounds.
What are some ideas? I want it to keep it somewhat low-key but meaningful/original.
I have to design a controlled experiment to determine a factor that influences insect and/or plant species diversity in plant patches.
I have about two or three weeks to do this experiment.
In addition, I am working in a group of three. The experiment will most likely be conducted in our own neighborhoods or on school grounds.
What are some ideas? I want it to keep it somewhat low-key but meaningful/original.
The experiment isn't going to be perfect though
Thank you for your help!!
One way that you can think of a factor to test is to start by going out into the area you will measure. See if you notice any patterns just by taking a look around. The scientific way to measure trends in diversity is to use transects, which are set areas (usually straight lines) along which you measure something; in your case, you would measure plant or insect diversity. Since you have a limited time, I would suggest arranging transects along an existing gradient. For example, you could measure a transect that goes away from a water source to examine the effects of the proximity (closeness) of a stream or lake. Alternatively, you could measure from the edges of a patch to the center, to look at the effects of disturbance (human influence). Factors such as temperature or seasones would require a longer time frame.
I hope this helps you get started! Post again if you have more questions.
I responded to your previous post. To help the experts on this forum provide the best assistance to you, it is important for you to keep posts on the same topic in the same thread. Please add any new posts to your previous thread.
Also, keep in mind that the experts here do not check the forum every day. Be patient, and you may get some great advice from other experts in the next few days!
This sounds like an great idea for a science project. Are there any endangered plant species in your location? Are there any plants that are host plants for local butterflies? Are there any streams that are overgrown with non-native plant species? Are there any new construction projects planned that would affect local plants and insects? A topic of very local interest or concern would probably make the best subject for your project. Here is a project from the Science Buddies website, along with a video that hopefully will give you some inspiration.
I have to design my own research project. I'm doing my project on organic produce. At this point, I should beign to develop my testable question for my experiment. So far, this is what I came up with: What effect does growing apples organically or conventionally have on the time it takes for them to dry up, by preserving them in salt. Do you think this is a good question to test? Also, is there any information online, books or articles that can help me with my experiment?
I think that a project comparing organic and non-organic produce is a really good idea. However, apples are not normally preserved in salt, so your project idea would not have an obvious practical application. Apples are usually eaten fresh or air dried. I recommend doing more background reading on your topic until you can identify a problem or question that can be answered by a controlled experiment.
To help you get started, here are some cooking and food science fair project ideas. Read through these and try to find something that can be applied to your topic.
I am planning to do an experiment on organic food. My current idea for a testable question is whether the term "organic" influences a person's behavior toward the food. I'm not sure how my procedure would go. Do you have any advice? Also, are there any online articles/ reports that can help me with my research for this project?
I am planning to do an experiment on organic food. My current idea for a testable question is whether the term "organic" influences a person's behavior toward the food. I'm not sure how my procedure would go. Do you have any advice? Also, are there any online articles/ reports that can help me with my research for this project?
Your project idea is a good one; however, it will be challenging to design an experiment on this topic. A science fair project should answer a question with an experiment with results that can be measured. If you want to "measure" people's attitude towards organic food, you could design a written survey that could be answered by a number of participants.
Here is information from the Science Buddies website on designing a questionnaire.
To get background information and ideas for the questions you would ask, you can do an internet search for "benefits of organic food," and "organic food articles." and "organic food studies." Try to select sources of information that appear to be based on scientific literature rather than commercial sites.
I just posted a reply to this question in your original topic. If you have a question on an ongoing project, you should continue posting in the same thread so the experts who are following your topic will be notified. If you are changing subjects, you can post in a new topic, but it is confusing to us when you post the same question in two different places.
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