Core 201-04

The Nature of Islands

Seychelles Islands Group

Tricia Hanson

Sarah Larrinaga

Becky Larson

Danielle McVay

Roy Tromble

We are doing an experiment to test how the age of an island affects the number of species that will survive on that island. We will use flowerpots as an analogy for ocean islands, trying to grow the same assortments of species that simulate different developments of soil. We hope to show how the age of an ocean island, based on its soil development can affect how many of what kind of plants will survive there. We predict that the number of species that survive in our flowerpots will be larger the older the soil is.

We will have five pots of the same size, under the same care, growing in the same window, with the same seeds planted in each. The only variable will be the condition of the soil. Some pots will be sandier which we will use to simulate a "younger island"; while pots richer in potting soil will simulate "older islands". Our data will hopefully show that although a few hardy plants may survive the sandy soil of the "younger island", plants in the "older islands" will flourish because of the richer soil.

Our experiment will use five pots containing various mixtures of sand and soil:

1. 100% sand
2. 90% sand 10%soil
3. 70% sand 30% soil
4. 50% sand and 50% soil
5. 100% soil

All five pots will be planted with the same quantity of seeds, placed in the same south-facing window and watered equally. We will document care and measure what species survived, and in what amount under the differing circumstances. By restricting experiment variables to soil/sand proportion, we will simulate island aging. By measuring the rate that species thrive under these conditions we will determine whether more species survive with a higher proportion of soil, and by analogy, on an older island.

The "islands" will be put in a south-facing window with shade in the afternoon. They will be watered every 3-4 days, depending on dryness. A weekly journal will be kept of their progress. The journal will include the condition or age of soil, a recording of watering, any unusual weather occurrences, appearance of plant life, growth of plant life, including leaf size and plant height, and the quantity or diversity of plant species on each "island". The "islands" will be in the care of Danielle on a daily basis. However, once a week the entire Seychelles Islands Group will meet to discuss the "islands", to get a first hand look at their progress and to go over the journal.