Relationship Between Root-Zone Soil Moisture and Proportion of E. solidaginis Galls Attacked by Parasitic Insects in South Carolina Level III Ecoregions

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

11th Grade

Presentation Topic

Botany

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Abstract

Increasing temperatures generally correlate with greater rates of soil moisture evaporation, making soil moisture an indirect metric of human impact (Jiang et al., 2015). The relationship formed between S. altissima, E. solidaginis, and parasitoids has long been observed to illustrate the effects of environmental stimuli on the ecosystem. The purpose of this project was to determine whether a relationship exists between soil moisture (%) and the percentage of E. solidaginis galls attacked by parasitoid insects. It was hypothesized that E. solidaginis galls on S. altissima plants growing in areas of higher soil moisture would experience greater rates of predation by parasitoids, on account of the fact that greater moisture levels make the host plant more optimal for supporting the gall-fly larvae. It was expected that a greater proportion of galls would be attacked by parasitoids in areas in which E. solidaginis flourished. Based on the five tertiary ecoregions in the state, five sites were selected in South Carolina. At each site, ten 8 cm core soil samples were collected, and the galls observed in the site were collected. The soil samples were used to gravimetrically calculate soil moisture (%), and the galls were dissected to identify the contents and quantify the effects of parasitoids. No clear patterns emerged from the data. Thus, it was concluded that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that soil moisture (%) and the percentage of galls affected by parasitoids are related variables. Despite these inconclusive results, rapid urbanization necessitates a continuous search to gain insight into how humanity impacts the world around it.

Location

ECL 103

Start Date

3-25-2023 9:30 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 9:30 AM

Relationship Between Root-Zone Soil Moisture and Proportion of E. solidaginis Galls Attacked by Parasitic Insects in South Carolina Level III Ecoregions

ECL 103

Increasing temperatures generally correlate with greater rates of soil moisture evaporation, making soil moisture an indirect metric of human impact (Jiang et al., 2015). The relationship formed between S. altissima, E. solidaginis, and parasitoids has long been observed to illustrate the effects of environmental stimuli on the ecosystem. The purpose of this project was to determine whether a relationship exists between soil moisture (%) and the percentage of E. solidaginis galls attacked by parasitoid insects. It was hypothesized that E. solidaginis galls on S. altissima plants growing in areas of higher soil moisture would experience greater rates of predation by parasitoids, on account of the fact that greater moisture levels make the host plant more optimal for supporting the gall-fly larvae. It was expected that a greater proportion of galls would be attacked by parasitoids in areas in which E. solidaginis flourished. Based on the five tertiary ecoregions in the state, five sites were selected in South Carolina. At each site, ten 8 cm core soil samples were collected, and the galls observed in the site were collected. The soil samples were used to gravimetrically calculate soil moisture (%), and the galls were dissected to identify the contents and quantify the effects of parasitoids. No clear patterns emerged from the data. Thus, it was concluded that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that soil moisture (%) and the percentage of galls affected by parasitoids are related variables. Despite these inconclusive results, rapid urbanization necessitates a continuous search to gain insight into how humanity impacts the world around it.