Abstract proposal

This experiment, which will be conducted on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus, will aim to identify the differences in grass diversity relative to multiple variables. These variables include the pH of the soil, the amount of sunlight the area receives, the amount of foot traffic on the patch of grass, how close to a roadway the patch is, the elevation of the grass relative to its surroundings, the frequency that the grass is mowed, how long ago the grass was planted, and how close the grass is to a body of water. It is important to note that weeds will also be identified when determining species richness of an area. The results of these tests will allow us to see the way an urban environment like a college campus affects the diversity of the grass and weeds that grow on it.