Use the rubric attached bellow and follow the instructions.
Submission instructions:
Turn in this assignment as a single Word document file (no pictures) by clicking on "Submit Assignment" located at the top right hand side of this page. You will need to create graphs using Excel then insert them into your Word document. Refer to the grading rubric for this assignment to see how you will be scored.
Assignment instructions:
INSTRUCTIONS
Based on the data perform the following tasks:
1. Using Excel, make a graph (XY scatter, not a line graph) to show changes with time (x variable) in litter Mass Remaining (y variable). Using the Mass remaining plot, determine the decay constants (k) for each species type/site combination by using the 'best fit line' tool from Excel (select data series, right click and choose add trendline, exponential) to add an exponential fit curve through the Mass Remaining data. Be sure to have enough (at least 4) decimals in your fit equation to allow you to see differences between the constants for each line. You must state your k values. Put all four component/site combinations on each graph. Be sure to label your axes (with units), and label (legend) which symbol corresponds to each component/site combination (there should be 4 lines).
2. Similar to question 1, using Excel, make 2 graphs (XY scatter, not line graphs) to show changes with time (x variable) in TC (% dw), and the Total Mass (g) of C (must calculate as Litter Mass x TC%). There is no need to fit lines or show equations. Make one chart for each parameter (i.e., 2 graphs), and put all four component/site combinations on each graph. On the C% graph be sure to include 0 on the scale of the y-axis. Remember to label your axes (with appropriate units), and label (legend) which symbol corresponds to each component/site combination (there should be 4 data series).
** Based on the above analysis, answer the following questions:**
3. During decomposition, what is happening to the amount of C in the litter? Do the concentration (TC%) data show this? Why or Why not?
4. Which litter component is of a better 'quality' as we discussed in the course? What data support your conclusion, and what do you think could be responsible for the 'quality' differences....e.g., what plant part could each represent?
5. Which site is more conducive to decomposition? Compare the sites.....e.g., What variables/conditions (as discussed in lecture) could explain the differences between the sites?
| Days of decomposition | Site 1- Species A | Site 2- Species A | Site 1- Species B | Site 2- Species B |
| ----------Dry weight mass remaining (g) ---------- | ||||
| 0 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 16 | 97.1 | 98.1 | 90.7 | 95.3 |
| 33 | 89.9 | 97.4 | 83.4 | 92.7 |
| 75 | 77.8 | 93 | 72.5 | 87.3 |
| 204 | 59.8 | 86.7 | 48.6 | 75.3 |
| 335 | 45.5 | 80.9 | 33.4 | 61.2 |
| 454 | 38 | 77.6 | 23.6 | 50.6 |
| ------------Total C Content (% dw)------------ | ||||
| 0 | 39.60 | 39.99 | 43.20 | 43.20 |
| 16 | 40.10 | 40.05 | 43.00 | 42.90 |
| 33 | 40.50 | 39.90 | 43.40 | 43.20 |
| 75 | 40.10 | 40.00 | 42.80 | 42.90 |
| 204 | 39.80 | 39.60 | 43.10 | 42.60 |
| 335 | 40.05 | 40.02 | 43.20 | 43.15 |
| 454 | 40.00 | 39.60 | 43.20 | 42.70 |