Population of Blue Billygoat Weed

(Ageratum Houstonianum)

Name: Tamara Grams

Teacher: Mr Clifford
Due date: 08/08/14

Research Question
How is the population of Blue Billygoat Weed affected by different
natural lighting?
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Blue Billygoat weed (Ageratum Houstonianum)
Blue Billygoat Weed is a very invasive week and grows aggressively in
disturbed sites, paddocks, pastures and neglected areas. The plant
can rapidly spread through a paddock that has been over-grazed by
livestock. The weed is an environmental weed; this means it can disrupt
native flora communities and ecosystems. The plant is also unpalatable
to stock and this can cause a major issue.
Plants are easily spread due to seeds being spread by wind, water,
slashing and human movements. The plants can also grow when roots
are touching the ground, which makes the plant harder to dispose of.
Description: Growing to approximately 50cm the plant produces small
light lavender flowers in clusters at the end of stems. Leaves and stems
grow fine hairs with finely serrated, ovate shaped leaves (point or blunt
tips).

Figure 1: Image of Blue Billygoat Weed (Hoagland, 2006)

Distribution: Occurs in New South Wales, Queensland and Northern
territory. It is most commonly found in Northern Queensland and
Northern Territory.

Figure 2: Map showing the chosen location to conduct experiment of

Site 1 (Prout, 2009)
The data will be recorded in the area of Samford Village, as this is an
area with many paddocks containing livestock in the Northern Area of
Queensland. This will make presence of Blue Billygoat much greater
and show the full effects of sunlight on the weed to identify where the
species grows best.
Site 1 is an open grass paddock in direct sunlight with little to no trees
present.

Figure 3: Map showing the chosen location to conduct experiment of

Site 2 (Prout, 2009)
Site 2 is also an open grass paddock but is shaded by many trees.
There is also a less amount direct sunlight at site 2 as the paddock is
behind a mountain which means the paddock gets less sunlight much
earlier.

Aim
To Determine which areas in Australia are most effected by the
infestation of Blue Billygoat Weed
Hypothesis
It is hypothesized that the area with the most growth of Blue Billygoat
Weed will be in the low light area.
Independent variable: The location in which the data is measured
Dependent variable: The population density of Blue Billygoat Weed
Controlled variables
Environmental factors

Location

Equipment

Species being measured

Personal variation

Although weather conditions

cannot be controlled entirely. The
results should be measured over
the period of one day to avoid
any significant weather changes
and provide more accurate
results. It is also advised that
weather conditions be checked
prior to make sure there is heavy
conditions which could affect the
plants.
GPS coordinates will be given to
provide the exact starting location
of measurement.
The data will be measured with
the same equipment following the
same procedure. It will also be
recorded in the provided raw
data table.
Only plants which are fully inside
the quadrat should be recorded.
Blue Billygoat Weed can grow
close to one another and
therefore it should be counted by
lower stems without disturbing the
plant. Only living plants should be
recorded.
The plant calculating will be done
by only one researcher to avoid
miscalculations and personal
variation.

METHOD
Equipment
(5x) 25m Transect Lines with 5 meter markings
(1x) 50m Transect Line with 10 meter markings
(25x) 1mx1m plastic quadrats
(1x) Pencil/pen
(1x) GPS
Procedure
It is important that the same researcher should count the species
in each quadrat as it is likely to vary from person to person
A minimum of 2 researchers is advised
All data must be measured and recorded on the same day
Site 1:
1. Go to GPS coordinates (-27.37245, 152.90394)
2. From the given location roll out (1x) 50m transect line (to full
extent) adjacent to Gibbons Road in a straight line
3. Starting from given GPS coordinates lay down (1x) 25m transect
line (to full extent) adjacent to the line which was first layed
down
4. Continue step 3 at 10m intervals until a total of 5 transect lines
have been placed down
5. Along all 5 lines place (5x) quadrats every 5m in a chain effect
Chain effect consists of placing down quadrats on
alternating sides of transect line
6. In each quadrat identify the Blue Billygoat Weed and record
using a pencil in the raw data table the abundance of species
Only count plants which are entirely inside the quadrat
Only living plants should be recorded
Plants should be counted by lower stems and without
disturbing the growth of plants
7. Continue sampling species in quadrats along the transect line
until all species presence has been calculated and recorded
Site 2:
8. Go to GPS coordinates (-27.37245, 152.90394)
9. From the given location roll out (1x) 50m transect line (to full
extent) adjacent to Bygotts Road in a straight line
10. Repeat steps 3 -7

Raw data table

Site 1 Amount of species present in full sunlight
Quadrat
Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 3
number
1
2
3
4
5

Transect 4

Site 2 Amount of species present under shadow

Quadrat
Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 3 Transect 4
number
1
2
3
4
5

Transect
5

Transect
5

Bibliography
Anderson, K. (2011, October 17). Ageratum houstonianum (Blue
Billygoat Weed). Retrieved August 5, 2014, from bioNET-EAFRINET:
http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/eafrinet/weeds/key/weeds/Media
/Html/Ageratum_houstonianum_(Blue_Billygoat_Weed).htm
Committee, N. C. (2014, May 2). Blue Billygoat Weed Ageratum
houstonianum. Retrieved August 5, 2014, from ncwac:
http://www.northcoastweeds.org.au/blue-billygoat-weed/
Hoagland, E. (2006, october 21). fact sheet. Retrieved july 23, 2014,
from Moreton Bay Regional Council:
https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/uploadedFiles/moretonbay/envir
onment/vegetation/blue-billygoat-weed.pdf
Prout, J. (2009, February 30). determine GPS coordinates. Retrieved
August 7, 2014, from GPS coordinates:
http://www.gpscoordinates.eu/index.php