Ecology Manuscript BG
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Kennesaw State University *
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1107L
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Geography
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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Uploaded by bridgette0919
Comparative Analysis of Hardwood and Pine Tree Circumference Across KSU’s
Arboretum: Unraveling Variations in Growth Patterns and Environmental Adaptations
Abstract
The characteristics and measurements of forests can be analyzed and can show adaptations of
diverse natural patterns. Kennesaw State University’s Arboretum was our location in which we
collected the circumferences of hardwood and pine trees amongst 2 different regions. We believe
that an older forest has a wider range of tree sizes and a greater circumference than a younger
forest, which is significantly influenced by the age of the forest. We found that region 1 has
larger circumferences compared to those of region 2. Our findings demonstrated and supported
that an older forest has a greater range of tree sizes and a greater circumference than a younger
forest, which is significantly influenced by the age of the forest.
Introduction
Ecological succession is the inevitable temporal changes in ecological communities following a
disturbance (Duke,2021). Since our forest is older, it is inferred that it will have diverse range of
tree sizes, which indicate towards smaller understory trees and as well as towering old growth
trees (KSU, 2021).
We hypothesize that an older forest has a wider range of tree sizes and a greater circumference
than a younger forest, which is significantly influenced by the age of the forest.
Compared to
younger forests, where trees are expected to be of similar, smaller sizes due to the recent
establishment and competitive nature of the forest, this variation in tree sizes will be noticeably
greater. The circumference of trees in older forests will be significantly greater than those of the
younger forests.
Methods
The KSU Arboretum is the location of which we took measurements from. The class split into
groups with each member having a designated role. Each group was then assigned a specific
region, we were assigned region 1. Region 1 and region 2 were separated through a narrow
pathway. We were given a tape measure, a data sheet, and 4 ropes. Those 4 ropes were then used
to make a large 100 square meter quadrant in any given spot in region 1. In those quadrants, it
was instructed to measure every hardwood and pine tree in the corresponding quadrant that had a
minimal amount of 25cm as a circumference and a 10 ft diameter.
After collecting all our data, we combined all our data with those of region 1, giving us a large
data set for region 1. Region 2 also did the same thing, which gave us all of the classes data
amongst region 1 and 2. Then, Microsoft Excel was used with the corresponding formulas to
determine the mean and standard deviation of the hardwood and pine trees. We used the t-test to
determine the p value of all the values. Lastly, we used fishers test to calculate the frequency of
the regions.
Results
Figure 1: Top 10 Trees and their Circumferences
I.
This table shows the circumference of the top ten trees in region 1 and region 2.
Figure 2: Frequency of Hardwood and Pine Trees
Hardwood
Pine
Region 1
36
20
Region 2
31
28
II.
This contingency table shows the frequency of hardwood and pine trees from
region 1 and region 2.
Figure 3: Means and Standard Deviations
Region 1
Region 2
Mean
327.5
227.5
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Standard Deviation
162.9
82.8
III.
This contingency table shows the mean and standard deviation of both region 1
and region 2.
Figure 4: T-test Results
T-test
P-Value
T-Stat
Df
0.100
0.100
1.732
13.359
IV.
This contingency table shows the t-test, p-value, degrees of freedom of all of the
top ten circumference data collected.
Discussion
Environmental factors frequently shape the formation of trees. This is particularly important in
the study of different circumferences in older and younger forests. Forests include older and
younger trees in older and younger forests.
As shown in Figure 2, our classroom didn’t experience hardships when it came to finding more
hardwood trees than pine trees. Assuming that no future disturbances happened in the future, our
forest would continue to grow in circumference over the years and we could possibly see that the
hardwood trees would continue to gradually outgrow pine trees.
Our p- value of 0.100 indicated that there was not a statistically significant difference between
the circumferences of the trees. Since our p-value is less than 0.05, our hypothesis was supported
in the sense that the age of the trees significantly affects the circumferences of the trees.
Slopes differed amongst the regions, indicating as region 2 had a steeper slope, it was more
difficult to access the trees, which skews the results of the measurement. An arboretum situated
on flat ground will allow a more accurate measurement of tree sizes, thereby providing a better
indication of the age of the forest.
In conclusion, we investigated the circumferences of hardwood and pine trees amongst regions 1
and 2. Our results supported that an older forest has a wider range of tree sizes and a greater
circumference than a younger forest, which is significantly influenced by the age of the forest.
Literature Cited
Duke Forest at Duke University. 2021. “Environment: Forest Succession”
http://dukeforest.duke.edu/forest-environment/forest-succession/
GraphPad Software. 2021.“QuickCalcs: Analyze a 2x2 contingency table”
http://www.graphpad.com/quickcalcs/contingency1.cfm
KSU Biology. 2021. Ecology: Variation within Ecological Communities.
Kennesaw State University, GA
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