Biology Coursework – An Investigation To Compare The Height To Base Ratio Of Limpets On The Exposed And Sheltered Side Of Rocks.
Hannah Dodd
13PS
Aim of The Experiment
The aim of my study is to carry out an investigation to discover and compare the height to base ratio of Limpets on both the exposed and sheltered side of rocks on a rocky, exposed beach at Ford Castle, Holy Island.
Hypothesis
The height to base ratio of the Limpets on the exposed side of the rock will be less than that of the height to base ratio of the limpets on the sheltered side of the rock.
Background Knowledge
Based upon what is stated in my hypothesis, this difference in the height to base ratio could be due to a number of abiotic factors, the obvious main factor being the constant action of the waves against the rock when the tide is in. This constant sudden impact will result in the height of the Limpets on the side of the rock exposed directly to the tide being decreased due to water erosion. By the term erosion I am referring to the process of the tide washing over the rock to which the limpets are attached. The repetition of this action will ultimately result in the limpet shell being worn away, decreasing the height to base ratio. Another factor that could result in Limpets with a smaller height to base ratio being prominent on the exposed side of a rock is due to environmental causes resulting in variation and also natural selection. Once all the Limpets that have been constantly exposed to water erosion ‘dependant upon the height of the water line’ have decreased height to base ratio, reproduction will inevitably occur. During reproduction meiosis occurs. Meiosis is the double division of the same cell, resulting in the replication of DNA. Meiosis occurs twice during reproduction, with the second meiosis division resulting in 4 haploid (a nucleus within a cell containing a single set of chromosomes, one from each homologous pair present during reproduction)...