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The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis By Observing Plant Diversity Patterns Along A Trail

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The purpose of our experiment was to test the intermediate disturbance hypothesis by observing plant diversity patterns along a trail. According to the theory, we should observe minimal plant diversity right next to the trail and not much far from the trail. However, there should be a greater amount of diversity some intermediate distance from the trail. We went to the James K. McPherson preserve to observe the types of plants and number of them along the trail. Our sampling method was to observe a patch of vegetation measuring 10cm by 50cm, looking for different plant species and number of individuals. We excluded all trees and shrubs and only measured tree and shrub seedlings and other understory species. Our results showed that further away from the trail, there were more diverse plants and more of them. Our experiment supports the idea that intermediate levels of disturbance promote diversity.
Introduction
Within ecological communities, species diversity is often associated with the amount of disturbance within that environment (Yeboah and Chen, 2016). These disturbance factors are becoming more prominent as human involvement within these environments increase (Pickering and Growcock, 2009). In fact, Cole and Monz (2002) assert that the recreational trampling of vegetation within these natural environments create a negative impact that should be monitored and ultimately maintained. This disturbance within the environment could not only lead to a lowering of species

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