Student Research Reports

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The simple addition of a plant or animal may be fatal to an environment, leading to a declining population of vital species in an ecosystem. Ohio is home to a plethora of species that have endangered populations but also is full of invasive species including the spotted lanternfly, this sap-sucking insect has spread across parts of the United States and into Ohio. When the cooler months begin, countless eggs are laid which will then expand their population. They will fall into the soil and will eventually decompose into organic matter. The soil throughout Toledo is relatively neutral due to the presence of limestone in the subsoil. The hypothesis developed was if there is a higher population of spotted lanternflies, then the pH of the soil should be between 7.0 and 7.5. The goal is to test multiple sites where there is a high population of spotted lanternflies in hopes to see a slight change in the pH of the soil. The hypothesis is tested by using a pH testing kit and taking multiple samples from each site, then finding the average to prevent outliers in the data. The results showed the pH of an infested area was 7.2, but the controlled samples were exactly 7, this means that the spotted lanternflies have the possibility to alter the pH of soil. The results concluded in favor of the developed hypothesis, the subtle change in pH lead to the hypothesis being accepted.