Problem Results Introduction Hypothesis Conclusion Materials Tables Different Growth Rates of (Prosopis glandulosa ), Honey Mesquite, along a topographic gradient of the Chihuahuan Desert from four different locations in the El Paso Region Results Introduction For the porosity of the soils we found at all four locations showed us that Location #1 (E.P.C.C. Mission del Paso’s fluvial) the mass changed from 50 grams to 48 grams. Location #2 (The arroyo) retained the least amount of water , the mass changed from 50 grams to 47 grams. Location #3 (Sandy hill side) retained the greatest amount of water proving to have the greatest porosity and Location #4 (Red Sands) was in the middle with only one gram of water lost. In Location #1 we found that the mesquite grew in a tree form and had less branches. In Location #2 we found a mixture of trees and shrubs and they had a greater amount of branches. In Location #3 we found that mesquite grew in shrub form and had the greatest amount of branches. The shrubs in this area grew amongst other plants, most commonly seen was the Tarbush (Flourensia cernua). Lastly in Location #4 we found that the mesquite grew in a mixture of tree and bush form but it did have the highest average width and almost had the same number for average height. Locations #1, #2, and #3 the mesquite grew in isolation from the other plants. Honey Mesquites(Prosopis glandulosa) are one of the greatest distributed trees in Texas. They require low amounts of water and plenty of sunlight. They are very adaptable and are also heat and drought tolerant. Honey Mesquites help with fixing nitrogen in the soil. They also play host to many animals such as small mammals, fruit-birds and Nectar-insects and it is an excellent bee tree. Once a mesquite is successfully established it’s virtually impossible to remove. Due to its adaptive nature, mesquites have been able to survive and thrive in different environments and therefore have different adaptive traits. Some mesquites are shrub-like while others look more like trees. Mesquite roots also adapt to the amount of rainfall by having one main taproot and smaller, more superficial roots to help with water collection from recent rain fall. Problem Hypothesis Does the availability of water/porosity of the soil affect the characteristics of the Honey Mesquite(Prosopis glandulosa)? If the soil is more porous and absorbs the most water, then the Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa)will have shallow roots and grow in the shape of a shrub and if the soil is less porous then the mesquite will grow with longer tap roots and in tree form. Conclusion Materials Tables Graphs The hypothesis was supported with the data. In Location #1 we found tree like mesquite and low porosity in the soil, which means the mesquite have tap roots in that location that help with the absorption of water from the aquafers below In both Location #2 and #4 we found a mixture of shrubs and tree mesquite. The soil had low porosity and the mesquites had a mixture of tap roots and shallow roots. This helps the mesquite survive when there is little precipitation or when there is plenty of rain they can use the shallow roots to collect water. In Location #3 the mesquite grew in shrub form and had the highest porosity. These mesquites had shallow roots that allow for them to collect rain water. If this project would to be repeated we would like to collect data from different locations to further support our data and investigate if human interaction affect the way that the mesquite grow. Measuring Tape Yard or Meter Stick Clipboard Mesquite Tree (Prosopis glandulosa) Ziploc Bags Electric Balance 3 Graduated Cylinders 3 Beakers Microwave Soil Plot Beginning (g) End (g) Difference (g) Type os soil 1 50 48 2 Sand 47 3 Clay 51 -1 Silt 4 49 Graph created using Excel Data Table created using Excel Data Table created using Excel Location #1 Tree Width (cm) Height (cm) # of Trunks 1 267 226 2 396 358 3 935 488 5 4 224 188 203 295 6 127 157 7 69 104 8 46 61 9 120 140 10 94 99 Average 248 212 Procedures Data Table created using Excel Applications Location #2 Tree Width (cm) Height (cm) # of Trunks 1 1214 457 10 2 744 270 6 3 960 224 7 4 300 203 5 409 216 221 135 1595 556 13 8 163 168 9 442 114 18 150 137 Average 620 248 For The Mesquite: Find different locations where mesquites grow. Collect soil from each location. Record the height, width, and number of trunks for 10 mesquite trees (per location). For The Soil: On an electric scale weigh 50 grams of soil from location #1 a place it in a beaker. Fill a graduated cylinder with 10mL of water. Pour the 10mL of water in the beaker containing the soil and microwave for 2 minutes. Weigh the beaker with the beaker to compare the original mass with the new one. Record your findings. Repeat steps 1-4 for the other locations. The importance of this project is that it can be used for the preservation of land. It is also important because of the role Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) provides for the environment. This experiment also can help with the conservation of the aquafers. Knowing where mesquite grow with tap roots can help identify where aquafers are located. They are also important in protecting biodiversity. And lastly it helps with identifying the effects of climate control. Mesquite plants are important indicators of how an ecosystem is doing. Data Table created using Excel Location #3 Tree Width (cm) Height (cm) #of Trunks 1 975 239 30 2 373 158 12 3 287 165 7 4 671 170 5 749 218 60 6 389 152 20 599 185 8 94 84 9 813 203 40 10 259 145 Average 521 172 25 Bibliography Foraging Texas: Honey Mesquite. (2008, August 27). Retrieved January 22, 2016, from http://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/10/honey-mesquite.html Martínez, A., & López-Portillo, J. (2009). Allometry of Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana along a topographic gradient in the Chihuahuan desert. Journal of Vegetation Science, 14(1), 111-120. doi:10.1111/j.1654-1103.2003.tb02133.x   NPIN: Native Plant Database. (2016). Retrieved January 22, 2016, from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PRGL2 Plants Profile for Prosopis glandulosa (Honey Mesquite). (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2016, from http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=prgl2 Texas Native Plants Database. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2016, from http://aggie horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/PROSOPISGLANDULOSAVARGLAND.HTM Data Table created using Excel Location #4 Tree Width (cm) Height (cm) # of Trunks 1 513 290 2 1006 297 4 3 917 249 770 259 5 1374 234 30 6 229 175 7 320 203 8 503 9 633 10 452 231 Average 672 246 Variables Dependent: Width, height and number of branches Controlled: Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) Independent: The locations and soil samples Data Table created using Excel