1. The Effects of Intraspecific Competition among Varying Groups of Marigolds Tiffany Landis Undergraduate Student (Microbiology Concentration) Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN 38505

2. Project Summary Problem: Does Intraspecific competition affect the marigolds vitality? Problem: Does Intraspecific competition affect the marigolds vitality? Objective/ Hypothesis: To determine if Intraspecific competition affects plant growth. Objective/ Hypothesis: To determine if Intraspecific competition affects plant growth. Intraspecific competition foes affect density and growth of Marigolds. Intraspecific competition foes affect density and growth of Marigolds. How I plan to accomplish my goal: Planting varying densities of Marigolds to determine if Intraspecfic competition affects their growth. How I plan to accomplish my goal: Planting varying densities of Marigolds to determine if Intraspecfic competition affects their growth. Expected benefits and Results: This should be beneficial to farmers and gardeners who will then know that you cannot plant a bunch of plants together or they will compete each other and eventually one will out compete the other and cause plants to be either stunted in growth or just die. Expected benefits and Results: This should be beneficial to farmers and gardeners who will then know that you cannot plant a bunch of plants together or they will compete each other and eventually one will out compete the other and cause plants to be either stunted in growth or just die.

3. Introduction Problem: Does Intraspecific competition affect the Marigolds vitality? Problem: Does Intraspecific competition affect the Marigolds vitality? “Competition, either among members of the same or different species may have broad effects on plant community structure. The more crowded a population the more competition there is for resources.” (Tansley, 1917) “Competition, either among members of the same or different species may have broad effects on plant community structure. The more crowded a population the more competition there is for resources.” (Tansley, 1917) “Spatial arrangement of plants in a community can be an important determinant of species coexistence and biodiversity” (Stoll et al, 2001). “Spatial arrangement of plants in a community can be an important determinant of species coexistence and biodiversity” (Stoll et al, 2001). “The data supported the hypothesis that the spatial distribution of plants profoundly affects competition in such a way that weaker competitors increase their fitness while stronger competitors are suppressed when grown in the neighborhood of co specifics” (Stoll et al, 2001). “The data supported the hypothesis that the spatial distribution of plants profoundly affects competition in such a way that weaker competitors increase their fitness while stronger competitors are suppressed when grown in the neighborhood of co specifics” (Stoll et al, 2001).

4. Objective/ Hypothesis Statement Objective: To determine if Intraspecific competition affects plant growth. Objective: To determine if Intraspecific competition affects plant growth. Hypothesis: Intraspecific competition does affect density and growth of Marigolds. Hypothesis: Intraspecific competition does affect density and growth of Marigolds. Null Hypothesis: Intraspecific competition has no affect on density and growth of Marigolds. Null Hypothesis: Intraspecific competition has no affect on density and growth of Marigolds.

5. Methods and Materials I obtained six pots and labeled them according to the number of seeds in each pot. I obtained six pots and labeled them according to the number of seeds in each pot. The plants were kept in a sunroom and watered regularly. Each of the six pots was filled with soil until it came to about one centimeter from the top of the pot. The plants were kept in a sunroom and watered regularly. Each of the six pots was filled with soil until it came to about one centimeter from the top of the pot. I obtained Marigold seeds and planted the following densities of seeds in each pot: 3, 5, 10, 18, 34, or 68 seeds. After germination, the plant populations were thinned to 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 plants per pot. When then placed more soil on top of the seeds and watered them. I obtained Marigold seeds and planted the following densities of seeds in each pot: 3, 5, 10, 18, 34, or 68 seeds. After germination, the plant populations were thinned to 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 plants per pot. When then placed more soil on top of the seeds and watered them. Each week I measured the number of leaves on each plant in each pot, heights of the plant stems, and number of flowers on each plant. I then gathered detailed information from each pot number of plants, weights of plant stems, number of leaves and length of stems. I obtained stem weights of the plants by clipping out the plants at soil level, clipping off the leaves and placing them on a scale. Each week I measured the number of leaves on each plant in each pot, heights of the plant stems, and number of flowers on each plant. I then gathered detailed information from each pot number of plants, weights of plant stems, number of leaves and length of stems. I obtained stem weights of the plants by clipping out the plants at soil level, clipping off the leaves and placing them on a scale.

6. Methods and Materials Cont…

7. Expected Results and Benefits I expect that Intraspecific competition will I expect that Intraspecific competition will affect the growth of plants and that they will compete with each other for the same shared resource. This should be beneficial to farmers and gardeners who will then know that you cannot plant a bunch of plants together or they will compete each other and eventually one will out compete the other and cause plants to be either stunted in growth or just die.

8. Project Timeline

9. Budget 6 flower pots at Target $24.00 6 flower pots at Target $24.00 Packet of Marigold Seeds Wal- mart’s Garden Center $2.00 Packet of Marigold Seeds Wal- mart’s Garden Center $2.00 Balance on eBay $31.00 Balance on eBay $31.00 Potting Soil $2.50 Wal-Mart’s Garden Center Potting Soil $2.50 Wal-Mart’s Garden Center

10. Budget Continued