StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Seed predation in exotic and native legumes - Lab Report Example

Cite this document
Summary
In a self sustaining natural habitat you will find many types of species which through evolution and adaptation to the prevailing ecological conditions live in mutual interdependence with other components of the environment. These native species are able to reproduce and ensure…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER93% of users find it useful
Seed predation in exotic and native legumes
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Seed predation in exotic and native legumes"

Seed Predation in Exotic and Native Legumes In a self sustaining natural habitat you will find many types of specieswhich through evolution and adaptation to the prevailing ecological conditions live in mutual interdependence with other components of the environment. These native species are able to reproduce and ensure that they do not become extinct by improvising various modes of survival in the habitat in question. However nowadays with the introduction of exotic species in previously harmonious habitats, invasion is one of the new threats that have been experienced.

Many exotic species have better ways of ensuring their survival in certain ecosystems which include faster growth rate and short life span. This way the exotic species reproduce fast and form dense populations thereby eliminating the native species that had initially thrived in the ecosystem freely. These are referred to as invasive exotic species. Exotic species are also referred to as non-indigenous species in many books. According to Keane and Crawley 2012, the most straightforward and appealing explanation for the rapid establishment and proliferation of non-indigenous species is that they are produced from the effects of their common foes and pathogens.

The enemy release hypothesis explains that the abundance or impact of some non-indigenous species is related to the scarcity of natural enemies in the introduced range compared with the native range. Keywords: non-indigenous species, ecosystems, species, hypothesis testing, environment, EcologyIntroductionThis experiment is aimed at evaluating the effect of invasive exotic species in the ecosystem. Pods of A. lebbeck and L. latisiquum will be used to show the damage by our predator which in our case is the Bruchid beetles.

The frequency of the holes made in the pods of the two different species will help us to generate our hypothesis with the two variables being used to generate the hypothesis being the origin of the species and the damage caused. The Chi-square test which will be done at the end of the practical session will be used to determine whether or not the damage caused on the seed pods was independent of the origin of the species. Our chi-square results will provide evidence of the dependence of damage on the origin of the species that we used.

According to Siemann and Rogers 2003, the existence of exotic species could be enhanced by better adaptation methods and faster growth rate in the prevailing conditions. Further with time the native species could have generated many enemies and so its survival is further limited, Blossey & Nötzold 1995. If the exotic species has developed a resistance to the Bruchid beetles then it means that its survival in this specific ecosystem will be highly boosted, Siemann and Rogers 2003. The exotic species has a better chance of survival in this case since it was initially separated from its previous enemies.

In our experiment we will be able to establish whether Bruchid beetles really affect its survival by using the number of the damaged pods in comparison to the number of damaged pods of the native species, Simmonds et. al 1989. On the other hand if the holes left by these beetles will be present on the native (Lysiloma latisiliquum) species, with a higher frequency than in the exotic (Albizia lebbeck), then we will establish the origin of the tree as our dependent variable. Crawley and Keane 2002, claim that invaders perform better when introduced in a new habitat.

In our case we shall rule this to be true or false by looking at the number of damaged pods by the Bruchid beetles. This is due to the absence of its perennial enemies in this new community, Tove von et. al. 2014. These two factors are used to introduce the enemy release hypothesis (ERH). However ERH should not be accepted without critical analysis because there are many other factors that are not considered in this test. Climatic variables, selection of invasive genotypes and human disturbance are among the variables that are not addressed in the current hypothesis.

Cited WorkBlossey, B. and R. Nötzold. (1995). Evolution of increased competitive ability ininvasive nonindigenous plants: a hypothesis. Journal of Ecology 83:887-889. Keane, R. M., & Crawley, M. J. (2002). Exotic plant invasions and the enemy release hypothesis. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 17(4), 164-170.Siemann, E., & Rogers, W. E. (2003). Increased competitive ability of an invasive tree may be limited by an invasive beetle. Ecological Applications,13(6), 1503-1507.Simmonds, M. S. J, Blaney, W. M., & Birch, A. N. E. (1989)Legume Seeds: the Defences of Wild and Cultivated Species of Phaseolus Against Attack by Bruchid Beetles.

Annals of Botany 63 (1): 177-184.Tove von Euler, Jon Agren, Johan Ehrlen. (2014) Environmental context influences both the intensity of seed predation and plant demographic sensitivity to attack. Ecology 95:2, 495-504

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Seed predation in exotic and native legumes Lab Report”, n.d.)
Seed predation in exotic and native legumes Lab Report. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/environmental-studies/1634185-seed-predation-in-exotic-and-native-legumes
(Seed Predation in Exotic and Native Legumes Lab Report)
Seed Predation in Exotic and Native Legumes Lab Report. https://studentshare.org/environmental-studies/1634185-seed-predation-in-exotic-and-native-legumes.
“Seed Predation in Exotic and Native Legumes Lab Report”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/environmental-studies/1634185-seed-predation-in-exotic-and-native-legumes.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Seed predation in exotic and native legumes

Non native(introduced),exotic species and their impacts to the ebvironment

Non-native (introduced), EXOTIC species and their impacts to the environment: The case of Giant hogweed “Introduced species” is a term to describe species living outside their original habitat and distributional range.... hellip; These species are also called “alien,” “exotic,” “injurious,” “invasive,” and “non-native” (Bradley et al, 2010).... Non-native species either can be introduced unintentionally and accidentally or can be transported by humans intentionally and purposely....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Biotic Components - Structural and Functional Dynamics

Structural components are the living and the long living things in an ecosystem, or can be called biotic and a-biotic components in an ecosystem.... The a-biotic components in a pond ecosystem include, water, light and soil.... hellip; Biotic Components.... Structural components are the living and the long living things in an ecosystem, or can be called biotic and a-biotic components in an ecosystem....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Exotic Animals, Hunting and Transportation

… “EXPLORATORY ESSAY ON exotic ANIMALS” [Name] [Course Title] [University] [Instructor Name] [Date] It is true that animals are amazing companions to have as pets and be friends with because they are loyal and loving but sometimes they are only bound to be that way because, hypothetically speaking, they may be sired to their captors/owners.... However, there are few people and there is an emerging trend of preferring exotic animals as pets.... exotic animals are pets that generally cannot be characterized as pets and are domesticated either for fun, to preserve their species or as a status symbol....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Exotic animals as pets

I am researching this issue because, as a veterinary practitioner, I am likely to encounter many cases of clients bringing in exotic animals as pets to be treated and cared for.... People are easily buying exotic animals, either legally or illegally, and rearing them as pets.... The issue of rearing exotic animals as pets is one that is marred with endless debates, with… Both parties have their reasons for either supporting or being against the rearing of exotic animals as pets....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Exotic and unique Australia

The island has numerous nature sanctuaries to guard the fragments of its native animals and natural vegetation, with the Flinders Chase National Park being the biggest and the best-acknowledged park (Smith 9).... Conclusively, Kangaroo Island is unique and exotic to the land and knowledge tied to dreaming in the legend of Ngurunderi....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Erotic Suggestiveness and Sexuality Explicit in Ads

This paper attempt to identify socially acceptable exotic suggestiveness and sexually explicit and clearly develop differences between the two terms.... Since the development of the medium, nudity in ads has been controversial and most nude scenes and images in adverts had not been justified as being part of the ads....
4 Pages (1000 words) Assignment

Loyalty in the Exotic Car Market

Likewise, the Although individuals might be quick to point out that brand loyalty affects decisions regarding Burger King or McDonald's, Coca-Cola or Pepsi, or Toyota and Ford, it also impacts upon the way in which an individual views and ultimately integrates with an exotic car purchase; should they ever have the available resources to do so (Clinard & Berkey, 2013).... Through such an examination it is the hope of this particular student that such a level of discussion can be useful with respect to apply the concepts of consumer and brand loyalty to the exotic car market; providing for the levels of success for firms that seek to promote brand loyalty as a means of increasing profitability and returning customer base....
8 Pages (2000 words) Assignment

Care and Feeding of Exotic Pets

In the essay “Care and Feeding of exotic Pets” the author discusses a pet that is not typically thought of as a pet and/or is not supposed to be kept in such a way.... Many individuals seek out exotic pets as a way to differentiate and set themselves apart from others.... As such, this analysis will concern itself with analyzing the argument against exotic pets based on the following areas: the practice is disrespectful to animals that are not predisposed to being pets, the practice encourages harm to the natural habitat and environment from whence the exotic pet is taken, the practice encourages the illegal trade and black market sale of such animals, the practice puts many already endangered species at risk of extinction, the practice creates a perception in the mind that ownership of such creatures is both normal and moral, and lastly, the practice encourages the transfer of animals for non educational purposes to live out the remainder of their lives in captivity....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us