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Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
10-1-2025
Abstract
DePauw’s nature park was an active limestone quarry for 60 years and has been going through primary succession since 1977. This harsh and disturbed environment can make it difficult for plants to survive. In this study, I aimed to investigate the Erigeron strigosus (Prairie Fleabane), a native plant commonly found in open, disturbed areas. I wanted to examine how the amount of light affected leaf traits in Erigeron strigosus because I had observed and hypothesized that in sunny areas, the leaf orientation changed, and the size of the leaves was smaller, and in shady areas, the leaves would be in a neutral position, and the leaf size was larger. To conduct this experiment, I measured leaf size, photosynthetically active radiation, leaf angle, and stomatal density of 40 plants in full sun and 40 plants in partial shade in 16 different locations. While some results were not statistically significant, I did find a significant pattern in height and number of flowerheads, where sunny plants were shorter, but had more flowerheads than partially shaded plants. I also found that the leaf orientation and stem phototropism did change between the two light environments. This has led me to question whether leaf movement and orientation are indicators of stress or if they actually have a positive impact on plants that are in full sun and are an adaptation that increases the plant’s fitness. Answering these questions would be the next step if I were to continue my research, and also provide insights into how this plant survives in the harsh quarry environment.
Department
Department of Biology, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN; Manning Environmental Field Station, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN
Project Mentor
Dana Dudle
Recommended Citation
Tuohy, Guoqing Evelyn, "Light Stress and Leaf Characteristics in Prairie Fleabane in a Limestone Quarry" (2025). Annual Student Research Poster Session. 228.
https://scholarship.depauw.edu/srfposters/228
Funding and Acknowledgements
Funding for this project was provided by DePauw’s University’s Science Research Fellows program. Special thanks to Dana Dudle as my project mentor and leader, Beth Wilkerson and the GIS Center for help mapping sites, and DePauw’s Biology Department and Manning Environmental Field Station for equipment and supplies.