Curie Group
The quadrat is on a shaded north-facing bank with some low and medium vegetation, including a nearby karo dropping leaves, ivy, unknown ‘spider’ plant (not native) and violet. The soil is dry, crumbly and is combined with leaf litter. What we found:
- 1 nearly dead cicada
- 1 spider
- 1 moth
- 1 snail
- 1 ladybug
- Several ants
Enhancement Plan
1. Control area =1 half
2. Plant carex grass = one quarterHypothesis: this will attract insects and bugs to the area for lizards to eat.
3. Use Worm Compost to cover area = one quarter
Hypothesis: more worms will be there to make the soil more nutritious.
Expert feedback from Rebecca Goffin of the Royal Society of New Zealand
You have some very good ideas and have thought of a control well done! It might be best to keep one half of your quadrat as a control and change the other half either by planting it with carex grass or adding worm compost.
A fair test requires you to make one change. Think about which of the two changes will make the most impact.
I like the fact you are thinking of about food chains by understanding insects are a food source for lizards!
Einstein Group
Our quadrat is on a north facing slope completely covered in kikuyu grass. The soil is friable and dry. We also found clover and paspalum, one shield beetle, 1 worm and ants.
Enhancement Plan:
What we are going to do:
We will divide the quadrat into three areas (one half and two quarters)
1. The control area (one half)
2. Weed out kikuyu grass (one quarter)
Hypothesis: other better grasses will grow
3. Cover in compost mix / bark chip
Hypothesis: grass dies because of lack of sunshine and bugs and insects will live in the area.
Expert feedback from Expert feedback from Rebecca Goffin of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Good work for thinking about removing the kikuyu grass. You are acting like real conservationists!
It will be very interesting to see what life (both plant and animal) might start to live in your quadrat when the grass is removed.
I would suggest you keep one half of the quadrat as a control (with the kikuyu grass) and the other half with compost bark/chip mix.
I look forward to your results!