DONT FORGET TO ADD DATA FROM POT #2 (INTRA-) TO INTER- FILES FOR

EACH SPECIES

For interspecific competition, we planted 15 target plants with an increasing # of competitor

plants in pots 5 8.
For intraspecific competition, Pots 1 4 had an increasing # of target plants, only.
o Pot 2 had 15 target plants and 0 competitors, therefore, we can use Pot 2 as an extra
data source for the interspecific competition analysis (same # of target species were

planted).
In other words, copy all 3 rows of data from the basil INTRA file for Pot 2, and paste them into
the basil INTER file. Do the same for the 2 rows of data for Pot 2 for zinnias.

You will conduct a total of 8 linear regression analyses. You will then be able to make a
statistical inference about the effect of inter- and intraspecies competition on plant fitness.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

Effect
Effect
Effect
Effect
Effect
Effect
Effect
Effect

of
of
of
of
of
of
of
of

basil density on basil height

basil density on basil weight
basil density on zinnia height
basil density on zinnia weight
zinnia density on zinnia height
zinnia density on zinnia weight
zinnia density on basil height
zinnia density on basil weight

Paper requirements:

May be written by 1, 2, or 3 authors they do not have to be from your same group/table in
class

Formal scientific paper must be formatted like a recent published

article from the journal, Ecology

EVERYTHING must be accurately formatted: font sizes, columns, citation style, figure

legends, table legends, section headings

Look carefully at how results are reported in an article from Ecology. Mimic the style
and formatting, exactly. It would help if you could find a paper that used a linear

regression to see exactly what is expected.

Make it look POLISHED and PROFESSIONAL, as if you printed a PDF straight from the

journal.
Must use at least 2 primary research articles as sources, unless you are writing as a group of
3, then you should have at least 3 articles.
o This is the minimum # of sources you will need please use more, as needed.
A biology textbook or other published print reference on plants, ecology, etc.,
is an appropriate source for background information BUT IT DOES NOT

COUNT AS ONE OF YOUR REQUIRED PRIMARY ARTICLES.

DO NOT use/cite/plagiarize the lab manual
You want to use these sources to give context to what we did in this study.
What similar experiments have others done?
What did they find?
How is your experiment similar or different?
What important ecological questions can be answered by experiments done in
the past, and by the experiment you have conducted?
Be careful and logical about where you talk about some of the above items.
What is the purpose of the introduction?
Explain why competition within and between species is important
Put it in an ecological/evolutionary context BIG PICTURE
Then bring it to plants, to specific species, other studies.
Transitions between sentences and paragraphs are important make it flow

logically
Keep the methods simple and to the point
Dont give details about lab procedures.
Explain the experimental design, treatments, what questions are
addressed with each one, etc.
Keep the results clear and concise.
DO NOT discuss your results in the results section
DO NOT restate results in your discussion DISCUSS your results
your results are WHAT you found
your discussion is WHY you found them
Discuss how your results add to the body of scientific evidence about the role
of competition in plant fitness.
Talk about previous research
o Does your study support or refute it? EXPLAIN
relate to your introduction

Dont make blanket statements be specific and BACK THEM UP with a source, or your
own evidence.

Do not make the same mistakes you made in the 1 st paper. You were given extensive
comments on the 1st one for a reason. Prove to me you read & understood the
comments you were given by avoiding careless rookie mistakes and writing a solid
paper! Ask me questions early and please use the writing center!