Chris's Cult

Program Description 

Welcome to Chris' Cult! This is our website for our research from the 2023 Environmental Science Summer Research Experience. In this study, we looked at the relationship between pH, aluminum, and bacterial growth in Site 1. We retrieved 12 soil samples each day for three days and measured the pH levels, aluminum levels, and bacteria levels. We studied the relationship between these three factors. On this page, you can look at our results and the work we did.

Abstract

In this study, the relationship between pH, bacteria, and aluminum was observed in the soil. In the 2023 ESSRE Biota Survey, Site 1 was observed to have high aluminum content and pH levels. When the data was analyzed more closely, the aluminum levels and pH were highly variable. Based on the 2023 ESSRE Biota Survey data, it was speculated that higher aluminum concentrations lead to increased pH saturation in the soil. This was supported by research and it was also determined that higher aluminum levels lead to lower bacterial growth, explaining the original Site 1’s low bacterial numbers (Zhang 2017). To test this, 3 plots were created. 2 of the 3 plots were placed in Site 1 and the final plot was placed in Site 2 as a control plot. Four samples were taken from each of the plots daily for a total of three days. Each soil sample went through bacterial, pH, and aluminum testing. It was determined that none of the bacteria had a significant statistical difference from each other, regardless of the fact that each of the pH values had a significant statistical difference. While the hypothesis was not supported, lower aluminum levels were found in this study and higher levels of bacteria were found in comparison to the 2023 ESSRE Biota Survey. Showing that these levels are consistent with information that was previously recorded. To research this topic further, a more in-depth analysis of other minerals in the soil would be needed to explain the relationship between pH, aluminum, and bacteria.