User:Kara David/Notebook/Biology 210 at AU

3/05/15 PCR 16s Sequence

The purpose of this was

2/19/15 Vertebrates

The purpose of this was to observe the different types of vertebrates found in our transect and note the diversity of vertebrates found.

The material required was our textbook. The method used was observation of our transect and use of the textbook and internet to research the different vertebrates and ecological concepts noted in the lab manual.

Data and Observations

The different vertebrates observed in our transect were squirrels, chipmunks, rats, sparrows and robins. A food web was constructed based off of each of these vertebrates and based off the other biotic components found in our transect that these vertebrates would eat which can be seen below. Although they would not be used for food and therefore are not included in the food web, abiotic components in our transect can also benefit the vertebrates by acting as shelter like the lampposts, benches and trashcans which can be used to scavenge for food (mostly by the rats). However, there are also abiotic components found in our transect that can be harmful to the vertebrates like rat traps. Each vertebrate was classified by phylum, class, order, family and genus which can be found in Table 1: Vertebrate Classification below. The British Ecological Society defines community as all the species in a certain ecosystem (our transect) that interact with each other. These organisms represent community by feeding off the same biotic components found in the transect. The Sustainable Scale Project define carrying capacity as the maximum population of a species that can survive in a certain ecosystem (our transect). These organisms represent carrying capacity by there only being a certain amount of each species in our transect. Science Daily defines trophic levels essentially as what level in the food chain each organism is, what it eats and what eats it. The different vertebrates in our transect are mostly all at high trophic levels when in our transect because there are not many predators for large vertebrates found there.

Transect Three Vertebrate Food Web

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Table 1: Vertebrate Classification

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It can be concluded that the different vertebrates found in our transect are very diverse but also similar at the same time. Multiple vertebrates observed were mammalia and rodentia. The birds were both aves and passeriformes. They started to differ once it came down to which family and genus' they were classified into. However, two of the rodentia were classified as sciuridae. The different vertebrates were also similar in diets which can be seen in the food web above.

British Ecological Society. (2014, January 1). Retrieved February 19, 2015, from http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/about-ecology/key-concepts-in-ecology/

Carrying Capacity. (2003, January 1). Retrieved February 19, 2015, from http://www.sustainablescale.org/ConceptualFramework/UnderstandingScale/MeasuringScale/CarryingCapacity.aspx

Trophic level. (2015, February 18). Retrieved February 19, 2015, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/t/trophic_level.htm

2/19/15 Invertebrates

The purpose of this lab was to examine different types of invertebrates so we can understand the complexity or diversity of invertebrates and learn how the vertebrate organ systems evolved from the simplistic invertebrates.

The materials used for this lab were different invertebrate samples and microscopes. The methods used for this lab consisted mostly of observation. First, we had to observe a Planaria which is a type of a coelomate, then we observed nematodes which is a type of pseudocoelomate. Next, we observed an Annelida which is a type of coelomate. After this we observed different types of Arthropods from the five major classes: arachnida, diplopoda, chilopoda, insect and crustacea. Once we observed those, we broke down the Berlese Funnel and poured the top 10-15 mLs of liquid and organisms into one petri dish. The remaining liquid was poured into a second dish and then both were examined using a dissecting microscope. We then had to identify the class of Arthropoda found in our sample using an Insecta key and diagram of common soil invertebrates.

Data and Observations

The acoelomate, Planaria moved by contracting its body in and then stretching it out. It was flat and long. The pseudocoelomate, nematode was clear or colorless and small. It moved its body by wiggling and sliding forward. The coelomate, Annelida moved by squirming its body calmly using its entire body. It had no bones which caused its entire body to move at once. The invertebrates found in our sample were a springtail x, proturan x primitive, springtail x primitive, pseudoscorpion and soil mite. They ranged in size from 1 mm to 6 mm. The largest was the pseudoscorpion which measured at 6 mm and the smallest was the soil mite which measured at 1 mm. The organism that was most common was the springtail x primitive, it was found four times in the sample. Descriptions of the different invertebrates can be found in Table 1: Berlese Funnel Invertebrates and pictures (not ours) of what these organisms look like can be seen below. Drawings of what the organisms look like can also be found below in Figure 3: Common Soil Invertebrates.

Figure 3: Common Soil Invertebrates

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Table 1: Berlese Funnel Invertebrates

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Organism 1: Springtail X

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Organism 2: Proturan X Primitive Insect

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Organism 3: Springtail X Primitive Insect

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Organism 4: Pseudoscorpion X LL

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Organism 5: Soil Mite X

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It can be concluded that invertebrates are very diverse and that our transect includes a large variety of invertebrates.

2/12/15 Plantae and Fungi

The purpose of this lab was to examine the different types of plant life and fungi that can be found living in Transect Three so we can better understand the diversity of life found within our transect.

The materials used for this lab were plastic bags, a Berlese funnel, light fixture, tin foil, screen, flask and preservative inside the flask. The methods used for this lab were first collecting leaf litter, sticks and dirt and placing them in the first plastic bag to be used as a sample in lab. Then, samples from five different plants around our transect were collected and put into the second plastic bag to be used as a sample in lab. While collecting the samples pictures and notes for descriptive purposes were taken. Next was the setup of the Berlese Funnel which is when 25 mL of 50:50 ethanol/water solution was poured into the 50mL conical tube. The screening material was fit into the bottom of the funnel and taped so the leaf litter would not fall into the preservative. Then, the leaf litter was placed into the funnel. The funnel was then set up on a ring stand. Next, parafilm had to be placed around the funnel and conical tube so the ethanol would not evaporate which was also taped down. The funnel and conical tube were then placed approximately 1-2 inches underneath a 40 watt lamp and covered with foil and left to sit for the week.

Data and Observations

The leaf litter found in Transect Three was all primarily dead. Most of the leaves were medium or small sized leaves. It was all found on the ground surrounding the trees and bushes. Most of the leaf litter found was similar to each other in color, shape and size. There were only one or two bushes that had leaves still on them and those were bright green in color and there was little to no remaining leaves on the trees. Descriptions, locations, vascularization, specialization and mechanisms of the different plant samples can be found in Table 1: Transect Three Plant Life. The Fungi Sporangia are black, globe like structures with spores inside. They reproduce by releasing the spores when the sporangia open. There was no mold found in our transect or on our petri dishes from last week so we examined prepared slides with fungi on them. The first type of fungus we examined was Black Bread mold which can be classified as Zygomycota. The second type of fungus we examined was a cremini mushroom of Agaricus bisporus which can be classified as Basidiomucota.

Black Bread Mold (Zygomycota)

Cremini Mushroom/Agaricus bisporus (Basidiomucota)

It can be concluded that Transect Three is not the most diverse transect. Considering all the life was somewhat similar. There was not a big diversity of life. It is possible that there will be a bigger diversity in later seasons considering most of the plants seem to be deciduous or it is possible that since most of the life in our transect was planted that there will never be a huge diversity in the life.

2/5/15 Microbiology and Identification of Bacteria with DNA Sequences

The purpose of this lab was to examine the different types of bacteria that were found in the sample taken from transect three using a microscope, wet mounts and gram stains.

The materials used for this lab were a microscope, different samples from the transect, dyes and decolorizers, iodine, safranin and intense heat (fire). The methods used for this lab were examining the different bacterium under the microscope, gram stain which is when the samples were dyed with different color dyes and decolorized to determine which bacteria were gram positive and which were gram negative, which is determined by a difference in cell wall.

Data and Observations

It can be concluded that the yellow and black/purple bacteria were affected by the tetracycline because there was only a little of the yellow bacteria found on the tet plates and there was none of the black/purple bacteria found.

1/29/15 Identifying Algae and Protists

The purpose of this lab was to learn how to identify different types of algae and protists and to learn how to use a dichotomous key to identify the different types, observe the Hay Infusion Cultures from last week and prepare serial dilutions for lab next week.

The materials used for this lab were a microscope, dichotomous key and different samples of different algae and protists. The methods used for this lab were viewing the organisms under the microscope and identifying them using a dichotomous key and taking two different samples from the Hay Infusion Cultures from the top of the jar and the bottom of the jar and making wet mounts which were then labeled. Then, the samples were both examined to see if there were any living organisms.

Data and Observations The algae identified was colpidium. It was oval in shape and measured to be 57 micrometers. The organisms identified in the transect sample were a Peranema which measured to be 20 micrometers and is a motile protozoa, an Amoeba proteus which measured to be 1200 micrometers and a Paramecium bursaria which measured to me 50 micrometers which were all found at the bottom of the sample. Only one organism could be found at the top of the transect sample and it was identified as a Spirostomum which is a type of protist and measured to be 2 mm.

It can be concluded that it was easier for life to grow at the bottom of the jar.

KD

1/21/15 Introduction to Biological Life at AU

The purpose of this lab was to learn more about the different biotic and abiotic components in different transects around the American University campus.

The materials used for this lab were a microscope, a jar used for storing the different abiotic and biotic components found at whichever transect each group was assigned to and water to mix with the components. The methods used for this lab were simply use of a microscope and collecting samples from the specific transect. After the sample was collected 10 grams of it was put into a jar along with 500 mL water and 0.1 gm of dried milk. The jar was then labeled and the contents had to be mixed together. After the sample, water and dried milk were mixed the jar was left to sit without the top on.

Data and Observations The abiotic components found in transect three were rat traps, snow, cement, lampposts and trashcans. The biotic components found in transect three were leaves, trees, plants, bushes, and different insects and animals like squirrels and birds.

It can be concluded that more life will grow from the sample taken at the transect and that over time the life at the actual transect will change due to climate changes. Once the weather gets warmer there will most likely be more biotic components seen at the transect.

KD

1/18/15 First Entry

This is my first entry on Open WetWare.

KD