Garlic+Mustard+Seed+by+Susan+and+Deana

Deana Eraiba and Susan Choi Water Shed =**__Title: Garlic Mustard & the Environment__ **=

**__Introduction: __**
The purpose of the Dwight-Englewood eleventh grade science project is to allow students the opportunity research and collect data on a specific aspect of Flat Rock Brook. For instance, some have chosen to study the pH of water. Through the watershed project the school’s goal is to contribute useful information towards the betterment of Flat Rock Brook. Mrs. Males’ section one science class was assigned the topic of invasive species. This particular lab will focus on the invasive plant known as Garlic Mustard. This is a weed that runs rampant through Flat Rock, and has destroyed much of the plant life. Garlic Mustard has a significant impact on the pH of the soil. The group’s objective is to discover how Garlic Mustard changes the soil’s pH and moisture. This will be possible by measuring the pH and moisture, using a “4-way analyzer, in areas densely populated, sparsely populated, and areas not populated by Garlic Mustard. The importance of the pH of the soil is that is affects plants’ growth, nutrient availability, microbial activity, and elemental toxicity. The objectives of this lab will allow the group to coordinate the data collected and the information found through research, and personalize it to Flat Rock’s infestation. By personalizing the background information in accordance to Flat Rock Brooks Garlic Mustard problem, a conclusion will be provided on how to solve the infestation. It will also help Flat Rock fully understand the true devastation that Garlic Mustard wreaks on the environment. Also, by researching the native plant life of Flat Rock Brook, one can discover the pH needed to maintain these plant lives. Lastly, the lab’s conclusion will provide an environmentally safe method to removing this invasive species. The hypothesis for this lab was that areas densely populated and sparsely populated with Garlic Mustard will not have acidic soil, and the area not occupied with Garlic Mustard will have a neutral pH. While for moisture, the areas with Garlic Mustard will have a very high level of moisture (such as a 3), and areas without Garlic Mustard will also have high levels of moisture. The group has formed this hypothesis based due to the countless resources that have stated that Garlic Mustard can not survive in acidic soil and “monopolizes” the environment’s light and moisture. The independent variable for this experiment will be the presence of Garlic Mustard in the selected area, and the dependent variable will be the moisture and pH of the surrounding soil.   __**Background Information:**__ 

Description/Characteristics:
==== The Garlic Mustard is an invasive species that is otherwise known as   hedge garlic, sauce-alone, jack-by-the-hedge, poor man's mustard or jack-in-the-bush. The scientific name is //Alliaria petiolata. During the 1860s, the Garlic Mustard first arrived to America from Europe through means of food and Medicinal use. In Europe, about 69 species of insects, 7 species of fungi and even humans use Garlic Mustard as food. Humans use baby Garlic Mustard leaves in salads. It has a taste of garlic and mustard. // ====

==== 30-100 cm tall with heart-shaped leaves 10-15 cm long, this plant is also known as a biennial herb. The Garlic Mustard is a biennial herb because it has a life span of two years. In the first year, the Garlic Mustard produces a rosette of green leaves. They usually remain close to the ground. Interestingly, these rosette of green leaves are green throughout the winter. During the spring, flowers start to sprout from the stems and by summer, clumps of white flowers are produced. After the flowers die, the seed pods in the stem dry out. They then pop out spontaneously. 165-800 seeds are scattered far out into the open. This is usually how the Garlic Mustard spreads. Then the life cycle starts all over again through either self-fertilization if the seeds are genetically identical to the parent or cross-pollination through various insects. ====

**As an Invasive Species: **
==== Once the plant is introduced to a new location, it does not die out rather it adapts to its environment and spreads further into other plant communities. It is usually carried to other location through humans, animals, and through the spontaneous popping of their seeds. Deers usually foster the spread of Garlic Mustard because it rarely eats the plant and it also spreads the Garlic Mustard seed by carrying them on their hooves. They are mostly found in meadows, flood plain environments and near trees such as the Norwegian maple trees. The Garlic Mustard harms trees indirectly because it kills off fungi that replenish these forest trees. ==== ====To fully eradicate Garlic Mustard, one must be ready to dedicate a lot of time. The seeds of this weed can survive for five years! If one wants to manually pull the weed, he or she must make sure to pull out the whole root because the weed can grow from the root fragments. Also, Garlic Mustard grows better in areas with disturbed soil, so manually pulling it is not ideal (unless it is for a very small area). One can also use an herbicide.====

The group tested the soil's pH and moisture of the area with Garlic Mustard plant. They found out that the Garlic Mustard grows more in places where the pH is neutral. However, in areas where the pH is acidic, the invasive specie does not sprout. In areas where the soil has a lower level of moisture, the Garlic Mustard grows more and in areas were the soil is more damp, the Garlic Mustard does not grow much in those areas. Based on these results, the group's hypothesis was wrong. The group concludes that the Garlic Mustard absorbs moisture and makes the pH more neutral. <span style="color: rgb(16, 15, 15)">
 * __<span style="color: rgb(141, 225, 242)"><span style="color: rgb(126, 232, 246)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(49, 181, 237)"> Abstract:     __**

**__<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%; color: rgb(49, 181, 237)">Materials: __**


 * 4-Way analyzer
 * Paper
 * Pen or Pencil
 * Camera
 * A yard stick
 * A range or guide that is able to assist in a successful identification of Garlic Mustard (the group used Ranger Mark)

**__<span style="font-size: 150%; color: rgb(49, 181, 237); font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace">Method: __**
Before collecting data one should get into contact with the park ranger. This is especially true because he or she will act as an invaluable resource. He or she will indicate where Garlic Mustard is mostly found, and will help one identify the weed. Furthermore, they will provide one with information about the invasive plant in relation to Flat Rock. If conducting this experiment in Flat Rock, Ranger Mark will first go to the boardwalk area (highlighted in blue on the map below). He will show the Garlic Mustard and point one in the direction where it is most prevalent. The red trail was used in this experiment (highlighted in orange on the map below).

First, one must make sure that he or she has the proper equipment necessary for the experiment before embarking on the hike. After he or she is assured that they have everything, they must carefully look out for areas populated with Garlic Mustard. One must be wary that the weed can sometimes be confused with other non-invasive plants (for a brief physical description of the weed click on the “background information” link). The goal of the hike is to locate areas that are densely populated, sparsely populated, and places that are unoccupied. For this lab, the group found four of each place, however one is able to use more or less for experimental data. The definition used when finding a densely populated area is, an area that measures one foot by one foot with over twenty Garlic Mustard plants. For sparsely populated, it was an area that measure one foot by one foot that has under fifteen Garlic Mustard plants. Then for unoccupied areas it was obviously any area unaffected by the weed. When selecting the areas used for experimentation, try not to choose areas close to each other (have them be **//at least//** twelve feet or more apart). After one has located an area that complies with the criteria described in the last paragraph, he or she should label a note card that indicates what type of site it is. For instance, a note card for the first densely populated area might read, “Densely Populated, Site number one.” Holding the card near the location, take a picture. This picture will be very useful when one is writing the lab. It will allow one to write a detailed description of the site. Before one takes any measurements, one should jot down notes that describe the area. For example, for the densely populated area one might write if it was located in a sunny area, near a tree, on the edge of the trail, and so on. For the measurements, take out the “4-way analyzer,” and stick it into the soil. The placement of the analyzer is essential to the validity of the measurements found.The analyzer must be placed near the weed (in unoccupied areas one can just place it anywhere in the soil), and deep enough that the soil touches the plastic base of the analyzer. However, be very gentle with this instrument as it is very fragile. First, make sure that the knob at the right hand side of the analyzer is turned to the pH label, if it is not please click it in to position. If you are not careful to make sure that what the knob is pointing at, and what you are measuring are the same then the data collected will be worthless. After recording the pH measurement, switch the knob to the moisture label. After recording every measurement down, remove the analyzer from the soil. However, before inserting the analyzer into soil again, one must wipe the three metal sticks with a wet towel. Make sure that the soil residue is completely wiped away; if one does not do this the measurements of the next area will be negatively affected by the residue. Once finished with the collection of the data, one should insert it into a “Microsoft Exel” spread sheet, and create tables that will clearly illustrate the findings.

__<span style="font-size: 150%; color: rgb(49, 181, 237); font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace">Results: __
**Results for the Densely Populated Areas:**


 * || **pH** || **Moisture** ||
 * Densely Populated Area One || 6.2 || 1.5 ||
 * Densely Populated Area Two || 7.2 || .5 ||
 * Densely Populated Area Three || 7.4 || .6 ||
 * Densely Populated Area Four || 7.2 || 1.7 ||


 * Results for the Sparsely Populated Areas:**
 * || **pH** || **Moisture** ||
 * Sparsely Populated Area One || 6 || 2.9 ||
 * Sparsely Populated Area Two || 6.1 || 2.2 ||
 * Sparsely Populated Area Three || 7.5 || 2 ||
 * Sparsely Populated Area Four || 6.2 || 2.3 ||

**Results for Areas unoccupied/vacant by Garlic Mustard**
 * || **pH** || **Moisture** ||
 * Unoccupied Area One || 5.9 || 2 ||
 * Unoccupied Area Two || 6 || 3 ||
 * Unoccupied Area Three || 5.9 || 2.5 ||
 * Unoccupied Area Four || 5.9 || 2.8 ||

**Averages of all Results**
 * **Average pH Average Moisture** ||
 * Densely Populated || 7 || 1.075 ||
 * Sparsely Populated || 2.75 || 2.35 ||
 * Unoccupied Area || 5.925 || 2.575 ||



**<span style="color: rgb(49, 181, 237); font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace">__Analysis:__ **
The densely populated areas’ pH tend to be around the neutral number of 7, however area one is slightly acidic (6.2). The results for the densely populated area match the hypothesis. While the results for moisture are surprisingly low considering what was stated in the hypothesis. The sparsely populated areas’ pH is slightly more acidic than the densely populated area, except for area three. This goes against the hypothesis, but for the results of the moisture are closer to the hypothesis. The moisture was much higher in the sparse area than the dense area. The pH of the unoccupied area was much more acidic than the other two areas. Our hypothesis stated that the unoccupied areas would be neutral; however this is proven wrong by the results. The moisture was high, as expected. When looking at the table with all the averages, a clear pattern emerges. In vacant areas the pH is acidic, but as one moves along to areas that are populated with Garlic Mustard, the pH steadily rises until it is around 7. While in the graph of the moisture, the trend is the opposite. Densely populated areas are the ones with the least moisture, and it increases as one moves to the areas with less or no Garlic mustard. Based on the results one might assume that Garlic Mustard changes the pH of the soil by making it more neutral, and that it depletes the soil of moisture.

<span style="font-size: 150%; color: rgb(49, 181, 237); font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace">
The results of the experiment support our hypothesis, but with a lot of exceptions. The pH of the densely populated areas does follow our prediction that there would be no acidic soil near the Garlic Mustard, however area one was slightly acidic at 6.2. Another result that refuted the hypothesis was the sparsely populated area; the results were mostly acidic. As for the moisture results, nothing was like the prediction (except for the areas with no Garlic Mustard). Areas with Garlic Mustard had low moisture, as opposed to the predicted high level of moisture; while the areas with no Garlic Mustard also had a high moisture level. The group came to the conclusion that the hypothesis was false, and needed to be reformed. After looking over the data again, the group decided on forming a new explanation. Based on the results one might assume that the soil starts out acidic and high in moisture. Garlic Mustard changes the pH of the soil by making it more neutral, and that it depletes the soil of moisture.

<span style="font-size: 150%; color: rgb(49, 181, 237); font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace">**__Sources of Error:__**
One major source of error is the time in which one might decide to collect data. For instance, if one collects data after a rainfall, then the soil reading will be more acidic than usual and have a higher moisture reading. Also, when collecting data one should know if the Garlic Mustard has been present in that area for a long period of time or has just started growing. This is true because if it is a newly grown Garlic Mustard, it might not have had enough time to impact the soil. Another source of error might be forgetting to wipe the probes correctly. If any residue is left from the previous site, it will change the reading of the site one is collecting data for.

<span style="font-size: 150%; color: rgb(49, 181, 237); font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace">**__Conclusion:__**
From this lab we were able to discover that acidic soil discourages the growth of Garlic Mustard. After many days of research, we could not find a website that addressed the changes in the pH of soil due to the presence of Garlic Mustard. Based on the results of our own experiment, we must conclude that Garlic Mustard changes the pH of the soil to being more neutral. Also, Garlic Mustard uses all the moisture found in the soil, leaving none for the other plants.

Lab Breakdown: Intro, Materials, Dicussion, Source of Error, Analysis, Conclusion Abstract, Background info, methods, results, Analysis, Conclusion

Resources Used for Deana and Susan's Project