Question

There is a large tree, growing in the middle of the lawn. You notice that there are lots of daisies in the lawn, but none under the tree. Suggest two hypotheses, to explain why there are no daisies under the tree. Choose one of your hypotheses, and make a prediction from it, which can be tested by an experiment. Describe an experiment, which could be done, to find out if the prediction is correct.

Answer 1

Daisy is a flowering plant which need ample amount of sunlight to grow.

as per the data shown in te question

the daisy plants are present in the lawn but not under the tree growing in the middle of the lawn.

there may be two possibilities (hypothesis)

1. the amount of nutrients is less under the tree as the large plant absorbed all the nutrients

2. Three captures all the sun light so small plants cannot grow out there.

to rule out the both the possibilities

set an experiment

1. pot the daisy plant in two separate pot and keep one pot in sunlight and keep the other oe in dark or in shady place inside the home.

2. Take the soil of two places one from the place where daisy plants are growing and one from below the large tree. put both the soil samples in the pot and plant 1 daisy plant in each and keep both of then in sunlight.

After few days you will notice that the daisy plant kept in dark is not growing properly but the both the plants planted in soiled pots are growing well.

this proves that the sunshine is required for proper growth of daisy plant while there in no concern related to nutrient used up by the large plant.