The 2016 guide 20.
A species of buttercup (A) is thought to be able to accumulate nickel in its tissues. A
comparable spp. (B) is not an accumulator.
Species A therefore may be useful for removing nickel pollution from the soil.
Each species of buttercup were seeded into two separate plots, one of which had previously been
treated with 3g of nickel sulphate per square meter. Watering and other variables were controlled in
all the plots
A month after germination, the populations were counted using quadrats of 1m2 and the following
results were obtained:
Species
Untreated plot
Treated plot
A
486 plants in 6 quadrats
608 plants in 8 quadrats
B
584 plants in 8 quadrats
115 plants in 5 quadrats
a
Calculate comparable results and a suitable unit for the plant population in the two plots (3
