As we reach the end!..

Congratulations to everyone who went to Estrella Mountain today - you are all amazing, and it was fun to see your work!

I thought it was appropriate to post the abstract and conclusion for our allelopathy project.

Abstract 

The seed is the flowering plant’s most basic unit of reproduction, which in response to the environmental cues it receives has evolved to assure the plants greatest chance of survival. The allelopathic properties present in some plants contribute to the dynamic balance of plant species in all plant biomes.  In this project we focused on the lower Sonoran Desert and only a limited number of common plants in order to observe this phenomenon in nature. Using a leaf wash from two common plants – Encelia farinose (brittle bush) and Prospis glandulosa (mesquite) – we attempted to determine if they produced any allelochemicals which would prevent germination of other members of plant life in the lower Sonoran. Our results, though mostly insignificant, found that brittlebush extract hindered germination in Carnegia gigantea and Phaecelia campanularia while improving germination of Encella farnosa. Mesquite extract hindered Phaecelia campanularia and Encelia farinosa.

Conclusion

The research question presented at the start of this project was stated as such: How does the process of allelopathy impact the plant community of the lower Sonoran desert? In order to answer this question, we decided to examine if and how the presence of Encelia farinose (brittle bush) and Prospis glandulosa (mesquite) impacted the ability of other community plant species to germinate. Twelve plant species native to the lower Sonoran were chosen to be examined, and the hypothesis formulated was that both Encelia farinose (brittle bush) and Prospis glandulosa (mesquite) would influence the ability of plant species in their area to germinate. From the data we have gathered, it would seem that our hypothesis was not entirely correct. Specifically, our findings indicate only that in the presence of Encelia farinose (brittle bush), the germination of Carnegia gigantea and Phaecelia campanularia was inhibited, while the germination of Encella farnosa was improved. The data we gathered was, then, largely absent of valuable information, and largely inconclusive. Although this finding, like any null or partially null conclusion, is valid and possessing of scientific merit, it is surprising. It is also possible that our findings are the result of a fluke, perhaps resulting from human error or random chance. In order to support our findings and make more definitive claims about the nature of allelopathic interactions in the lower Sonoran desert, it would be necessary to complete another research project, perhaps with a modified methodology.