Graphing The Data: Ecosystem Function Of Fungi
Earlier in this chapter, we saw that when researchers manipulated the number of mycorrhizal fungal species, there were a number of effects on the ecosystem, including an increase in the total phosphorus that accumulated in plants. (See Figure 17.22.) Using the data in the table, calculate the means and standard errors for the amount of phosphorus that the researchers found remaining in the soil. Using these calculated data, plot the relationship between the number of fungal species and the amount of soil phosphorus.
| NUMBER OF FUNGAL SPECIES | PHOSPHORUS REMAINING IN THE SOIL (mg P/kg SOIL) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 16 |
| 0 | 15 |
| 0 | 17 |
| 2 | 11 |
| 2 | 10 |
| 2 | 12 |
| 4 | 9 |
| 4 | 10 |
| 4 | 8 |
| 8 | 4 |
| 8 | 6 |
| 8 | 5 |
| 14 | 4 |
| 14 | 3 |
| 14 | 5 |
