User:Katherine E Hyder/Notebook/Biology 210 at AU
Protists and Algae Transect #1 1/21/2016
Hay Infusion Culture Observations
The water in the culture appears to be clear with a murky, green tint throughout the sample. On the jar just above the water line, a green/brown algae growth has formed. The water seems to have a murky gray/brown film floating on the top of the sample. The film appears to be comprised of some sort of colonial organism. Most of the sticks and sediment from the culture settled down at the bottom of the jar where a clear, colonial organism forming alongside of them. A few blades of grass and pieces of sediment are suspended midway in the water and are supporting the growth of some sort of brown, hair-like organisms. No distinct smell was noted to be coming from the infusion culture.
Organism Relationships with Plant Matter Speculations
Perhaps the organisms that live closer to the plants rely on the plants for energy and/or oxygen to survive. Because plants are producers they can provide energy to heterotrophs which must consume their source of energy. Other autotrophs, however, may want to live further away from the plant matter to reduce competition.
Protists and Algae Present in Hay Infusion Culture
Fulfilling the Needs of Life:
In order to survive, every organism needs to be comprised of at least one cell and able to procure energy, store information, replicate and evolve. (Freeman, 2014). The Paramecium multimicron in this ecosystem meets each of these criteria. As a heterotroph, it obtains energy by consuming other organisms such as bacteria and algae. It is comprised of a single cell and contains the genetic information necessary for reproduction. It reproduces via binary fission resulting in two identical organisms. During cell division mistakes can be made during the DNA replication process and often result in mutations of the genetic code. Although some of these mutations are “silent,†others can lead to substantial phenotypic differences between parent and offspring. Because paramecium are subject to such mutations, they are able to sustain genetic variability, better equipping them to survive. Yet, they are also able to interact with their environment and often adapt to the conditions present. Those who are able to adapt survive longer and their offspring have better chances to survive and reproduce themselves. These adaptations eventually lead to evolution through natural selection. (http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/paramecium.htm).
Hay Infusion Future Growth Predictions
If the infusion were to continue to grow over the next several months, then it is likely that many of these organisms would adapt, change and find different niches. If competition for resources became too intense many of the different organisms may die out. Because water evaporates over time, and many of these organisms depend upon water to survive, it is likely that only a few of the original organism species would remain present throughout the entire incubation.
Serial Dilution Procedure
KH
Transect 1 Description 1/11/2016
Aerial Map and Google Earth View
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9370164,-77.087324,375a,20y,90h/data=!3m1!1e3
Biotic and Abiotic Components
Biotic |
Abiotic |
Clover-like plants |
Twigs, leaves and sticks on the ground |
Grasses |
Acorns (non-sprouted) |
Small bush-like trees |
Soils |
Large trees |
Bark |
Large growth on tree—potentially some sort of fungus |
Lamp |
Squirrel (as evidenced by a half-eaten acorn) |
Sprinklers |
Plant/tree roots |
Rocks |
Acorns (sprouted) |
Sidewalk |
Competitive and Symbiotic Relationships
Competitive |
Symbiotic |
Squirrel eating the acorns prevents some of them from growing |
Squirrel eating the acorns/gathering them helps spread them further away from the parent tree and more likely to grow and mature |
Plants and trees must compete for space, nutrients from the soil and water |
Fungi/bacteria in soil decompose dead, non-living matter turning it into nutrient-rich soil to nourish the plants |
General Description
Transect Number 1 is a 20ft by 20ft section of American University's campus located near the sidewalk on the Ward Circle Building side between the Hurst Hall's Northern Side and the Ward Circle Building's Southern Side. This transect contains ten trees: 2 larger oak trees and 8 smaller, bush-like trees. It has several large grassy patches on the eastern side which borders the sidewalk and many smaller patches of grass dispersed throughout the area. There are also small patches of clover-like plants spread throughout the transect. The soil is dark and contains many acorns, twigs, sticks and leaves. Some of the acorns are sprouted and some are not. One of the acorns appears to be half-eaten, suggesting that perhaps a squirrel or some other sort of seed-eating animal frequents the area. There are rocks dispersed throughout the area as well as one lamppost and several sprinklers. -KH