Experimental Design
Abstract: A Michigan Technical University study found that white-tailed deer in northern Michigan may be peeing themselves out of a habitat. Studies have shown that White Tailed Deer urine is adding nitrogen to the soil beneath them which causes some plants to grow better than others or even possibly change the kind of plats that grow like the the Northern Hemlock which keep the deer safe from predators. If the the plants that they normally eat as a steady part of their diet and the ones that protect them from other species fails to grow, they are forced to migrate to another habitat. This shows that they are effectively
Background Research:
Hemlock or Poisonous Hemlock is a herbaceous plant that grows between 1.5–2.5 meters (5–8 ft) tall, with a smooth green stem, usually spotted or streaked with red or purple on the lower half of the stem. The leaves are finely divided and lacy, overall triangular in shape, up to 50 centimeters (20 in) long and 40 centimeters (16 in) broad. The flowers are small, white, clustered in umbels up to 10–15 centimeters (4–6 in) across. When crushed, the leaves and root emit a rank, unpleasant odor often compared to that of parsnips. Hemlock tend to be a very good plant for deer to hide in since it is relatively tall. Young deer can crouch in the plants practically hidden from all predators while their parents look for food.
Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth. It is an important component of many structural, genetic and metabolic compounds in plant cells. It is also one of the basic components of chlorophyll, the compound by which plants use sunlight energy to produce sugars during the process of photosynthesis. Increasing the levels of nitrogen during the vegetative stage can strengthen and support your roots, enabling plants to take in more water and nutrients. This allows a plant to grow more rapidly and produce large amounts of succulent, green foliage, which in turn can generate bigger yields, tastier vegetables, and a crop that is more resistant to pests, diseases, and other adverse conditions. Using too much nitrogen, however, can be just as harmful to plants as too little. When there are high levels of nitrogen present, plants may not produce flowers or fruit. As with nitrogen deficiency, the leaves may turn yellow and drop. Too much nitrogen can result in plant burning, which causes them to shrivel and die. If plants show any signs of nitrogen burn, immediately flush them with clean water.
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is essential to good health. Approximately 50% of total body magnesium is found in bone. The other half is found predominantly inside cells of body tissues and organs. Only 1% of magnesium is found in blood, but the body works very hard to keep blood levels of magnesium constant.Magnesium has an important role in photosynthesis because it forms the central atom of chlorophyll. Therefore, without sufficient amounts of magnesium, plants begin to degrade the chlorophyll in the old leaves. Calcium is an essential plant nutrient. It is required for various structural roles in the cell wall and membranes. It acts as a messenger coordinating responses to numerous developmental cues and environmental challenges.
Hypothesis: If calcium and magnesium were to be injected into the urine affected soil, the nitrogen levels would decrease causing the Hemlock that the deer hid in so that they would not have to leave their preferred habitat, because the calcium and magnesium lower nitrogen.
Materials
1. A field of Hemlock
2. 20 White Tailed Deer
3. Nitrogen (in large quantity)
4. Magnesium and Calcium
Procedures:
1. Find a field of Hemlock.
2. Insert an Excess amount of Nitrogen into the soil in many different areas of the land.
3. Wait for deer to leave the land once the Hemlock has died.
4. Insert Magnesium and Calcium into the soil and record whether or not Hemlock begins to grow again
5. Record whether the deer come back to the land or if they don't.
Background Research:
Hemlock or Poisonous Hemlock is a herbaceous plant that grows between 1.5–2.5 meters (5–8 ft) tall, with a smooth green stem, usually spotted or streaked with red or purple on the lower half of the stem. The leaves are finely divided and lacy, overall triangular in shape, up to 50 centimeters (20 in) long and 40 centimeters (16 in) broad. The flowers are small, white, clustered in umbels up to 10–15 centimeters (4–6 in) across. When crushed, the leaves and root emit a rank, unpleasant odor often compared to that of parsnips. Hemlock tend to be a very good plant for deer to hide in since it is relatively tall. Young deer can crouch in the plants practically hidden from all predators while their parents look for food.
Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth. It is an important component of many structural, genetic and metabolic compounds in plant cells. It is also one of the basic components of chlorophyll, the compound by which plants use sunlight energy to produce sugars during the process of photosynthesis. Increasing the levels of nitrogen during the vegetative stage can strengthen and support your roots, enabling plants to take in more water and nutrients. This allows a plant to grow more rapidly and produce large amounts of succulent, green foliage, which in turn can generate bigger yields, tastier vegetables, and a crop that is more resistant to pests, diseases, and other adverse conditions. Using too much nitrogen, however, can be just as harmful to plants as too little. When there are high levels of nitrogen present, plants may not produce flowers or fruit. As with nitrogen deficiency, the leaves may turn yellow and drop. Too much nitrogen can result in plant burning, which causes them to shrivel and die. If plants show any signs of nitrogen burn, immediately flush them with clean water.
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is essential to good health. Approximately 50% of total body magnesium is found in bone. The other half is found predominantly inside cells of body tissues and organs. Only 1% of magnesium is found in blood, but the body works very hard to keep blood levels of magnesium constant.Magnesium has an important role in photosynthesis because it forms the central atom of chlorophyll. Therefore, without sufficient amounts of magnesium, plants begin to degrade the chlorophyll in the old leaves. Calcium is an essential plant nutrient. It is required for various structural roles in the cell wall and membranes. It acts as a messenger coordinating responses to numerous developmental cues and environmental challenges.
Hypothesis: If calcium and magnesium were to be injected into the urine affected soil, the nitrogen levels would decrease causing the Hemlock that the deer hid in so that they would not have to leave their preferred habitat, because the calcium and magnesium lower nitrogen.
Materials
1. A field of Hemlock
2. 20 White Tailed Deer
3. Nitrogen (in large quantity)
4. Magnesium and Calcium
Procedures:
1. Find a field of Hemlock.
2. Insert an Excess amount of Nitrogen into the soil in many different areas of the land.
3. Wait for deer to leave the land once the Hemlock has died.
4. Insert Magnesium and Calcium into the soil and record whether or not Hemlock begins to grow again
5. Record whether the deer come back to the land or if they don't.