Section: 008
Pattern: Calcium levels in the soil controls soil pH and species richness within a community Hypothesis 1: Calcium levels in the soil controls soil pH.
Prediction: An increase in the calcium levels in the soil will make the soil less acidic.
Reasoning: Calcium exists mainly in the soil as exchangeable cations (ca^2+) associated with basic anions, which reacts with soil acidity (H) to neutralize it. Analytical approach: Regression Independent variable: Calcium levels Dependent variable: Soil pH Hypothesis 2: Calcium levels in the soil affect species richness.
Prediction: An increase in the calcium levels in the soil will decrease the species richness.
Reasoning: As the calcium levels increase, some plants begin to take advantage of increased calcium levels and outcompete other plants, driving them to extinction. Thereby, decreasing species richness.
Analytical approach: Regression
Independent variable: Calcium levels
Dependent variable: Species Richness
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We hypothesized that calcium levels in the soil affect soil pH; as calcium levels rise, soil pH becomes less acidic. Calcium exists mainly in the soil as exchangeable cations (Ca2+) associated with basic anions. As the calcium levels increase the associated basic anions neutralize the acidic components of the soil (Gament et al. 2017). We hypothesized that calcium levels in the soil affect species richness; as calcium levels rise in the soil species richness will decrease. As the calcium levels increase, some plants begin to take advantage of increased calcium levels and outcompete other plants, driving them to extinction. Thereby, decreasing species