The Effect of the Pogonomyrmex Ant Species on Chemical Properties In Harvest Organic Soil

School Name

Heathwood Hall Episcopal School

Grade Level

11th Grade

Presentation Topic

Zoology

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the Pogonomyrmex ant species on chemical properties of Harvest Organic soil. There were four different levels of chemical elements being tested in the soil: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and pH. Hypothesis one states “if the Pogonomyrmex ant species live in Harvest Organic soil for a designated amount of time, then the ants will change the nutrient level (N, P, K, pH) in the soil.” Hypothesis two states “if the Pogonomyrmex ant species live in Harvest Organic soil for a designated amount of time, then the ants will change the pH level in the soil.” The null hypothesis states that there will be no change in the chemical properties of the soil after the Pogonomyrmex ant species have lived there. The Pogonomyrmex ants lived in a controlled environment for two weeks with Harvest Organic soil as the soil being tested. There were 20 ants per aquarium; there was 1000 mL of soil to ensure that each trial would contain an equal amount. The Harvest Organic soil will be tested around every three/four days. This experiment was run eight separate times. An inferential and descriptive statistical test was completed to test the mean and percent change of the data. All inferential analysis suggested that there was a statistically significant change in the different chemical levels of soil. Phosphorus had the highest percent change and potassium had the lowest. The mean for each trial was taken, then the overall mean for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and pH was gathered so that each variable had one mean. Therefore, the results supported the hypotheses. In conclusion the Pogonomyrmex ant species positively changed the differing chemical properties of the Harvest Organic soil.

Location

Written submission only. Author not attending

Start Date

3-30-2019 11:59 PM

Presentation Format

Written Only

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 30th, 11:59 PM

The Effect of the Pogonomyrmex Ant Species on Chemical Properties In Harvest Organic Soil

Written submission only. Author not attending

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the Pogonomyrmex ant species on chemical properties of Harvest Organic soil. There were four different levels of chemical elements being tested in the soil: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and pH. Hypothesis one states “if the Pogonomyrmex ant species live in Harvest Organic soil for a designated amount of time, then the ants will change the nutrient level (N, P, K, pH) in the soil.” Hypothesis two states “if the Pogonomyrmex ant species live in Harvest Organic soil for a designated amount of time, then the ants will change the pH level in the soil.” The null hypothesis states that there will be no change in the chemical properties of the soil after the Pogonomyrmex ant species have lived there. The Pogonomyrmex ants lived in a controlled environment for two weeks with Harvest Organic soil as the soil being tested. There were 20 ants per aquarium; there was 1000 mL of soil to ensure that each trial would contain an equal amount. The Harvest Organic soil will be tested around every three/four days. This experiment was run eight separate times. An inferential and descriptive statistical test was completed to test the mean and percent change of the data. All inferential analysis suggested that there was a statistically significant change in the different chemical levels of soil. Phosphorus had the highest percent change and potassium had the lowest. The mean for each trial was taken, then the overall mean for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and pH was gathered so that each variable had one mean. Therefore, the results supported the hypotheses. In conclusion the Pogonomyrmex ant species positively changed the differing chemical properties of the Harvest Organic soil.