Biology Coursework Research and Rationale

I took a field trip to Juniper Hall field centre, Surrey, in order to begin my coursework. During the walks to different places in the area I noticed there is difference in the size of plants on pathways compared to off the pathway. The plant that caught my eye the most was ribwort plantain as it was able to survive on the pathway and off it. I was intrigued by the fact that the size of the plantains leaves didnt seem to change that much as I walked further away from the path. This prompted me to carry out an investigation into the effect of trampling on the length of ribwort plantain leaves. Trampling can have a large affect on the distribution, size and the abundance of different plants including ribwort plantain. The effects of trampling depends on the type of recreational activities, the number and size of visitor groups, the physical characteristics of sites, climate and soil type. The direct impacts of human trampling include damage to plant tissue causing less vegetation cover, plant height, living biomass, productive capacity and species composition (1). An example of the physical damage is the fact that the plant growing tips can be removed and crushed as result of trampling. Damage would also reduce flowering, which would make vegetative reproduction an advantage. Trampling would reduce the height of some plants making it harder for them to obtain light. It would also cause the removal of parts of the turf and create patches of bare ground (2). Plants growing in trampled areas have to be able to tolerate soil compaction and the effects it has on soil conditions. Ideal soil is porous and allows air to flow between particles. In compaction soil the spaces between these particles is reduced, which forces plants to work harder to survive. Seeds in moderately compacted soil doing struggle to germinate due to the increased contact in the soil, this allows them to germinate more quickly. However, if the compaction is too much a thick crust forms not allowing young seedling to push through the layer and causing them the die as a result. Increased compaction also causes an increase in water run-off. This makes plants in the soil suffer, as there is not enough water to effectively move nutrients around their systems. These nutrient problems may first appear as leaf discolouration. Compacted soils have fewer and smaller pores between the particles that make them up. As a result of this environmental air cannot reach the roots as readily causing an interruption to root respiration. Soil organisms that are beneficial to plants that require oxygen will die, leaving plants unable to fully use the nutrients in the soil. One of the main effects of soil compaction is the fact that it can limit root growth. This is because the health of a plant is determines by the strength of its root system. Roots in compacted soils may have to develop horizontally instead of growing straight down. This can cause the plant to dehydrate much more easily, as well as be unable to withstand high winds. Poorly rooted plans fail to thrive and are seen to be a lot smaller than their well-rooted counterparts (3). The more compact the soil is the less water for plants to photosynthesis and air for respiration.

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, including Ribwort Plantain, capture the energy of the Sun using chlorophyll and use it to convert water and inorganic carbon dioxide into simple sugars. Oxygen is released as a waste product. This process occurs in the chloroplasts of the ribwort plantain, and there are two main steps involved. The first is the light-dependent stage, which takes place in the thylakoid membranes. Photons of light cause electrons to be emitted from the chlorophyll molecules. These electrons pass through a series of electrons transfer reactions that synthesises ATP (in the process called photophosphorylation) and reduced NADP. The electrons emitted by the chlorophyll molecules are replaced by the photolysis of water. During the second phase, light-independent stage, the ATP and reduced NADP are used to power a series of reactions known as the Calvin cycle in which the two GP molecules are converted into the carbohydrate, glucose. The glucose made is then used with oxygen during the process of aerobic respiration. This process synthesises more energy in the form of ATP for a number of metabolic reactions in ribwort plantain including leaf growth (4). Ribwort plantain can readily vary its growth form in response to environmental conditions. In shorter grass, it grows in the rosette form with short leaves held flat to the ground, while in longer grass its leaves are longer and more angled off the ground. Its seeds can also germinate amongst other plants. These factors help it to grow in less trampled areas with taller vegetation, where there is more competition to reach the light (2).

1. Trampling effect on plant species morphology by Mioara Dumitrascu 2. http://www.field-studiescouncil.org/urbaneco/urbaneco/grassland/trampling.htm 3. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/soil-compaction-affects-growth-plants40867.html 4. Edexcel A2 Biology Students Book by Ann Fullick