User:Sarah Connolly/Notebook/Biology 210 at AU

Lab 1, Performed January 16, 2014

Initial Transect Activity Observations

Lab Objective: The objective of this lab was to examine a transect on the grounds of American University, to gather a baseline for further observation later in the semester. During this excursion, a collection of material at the site will be collected to grow a hay infusion to serve as a source for later laboratory experimentation.

Hypothesis/Prediction: Based upon our assignment to the 'pine trees' area, I predict that the moist leaves in the transect will provide a medium to grow a variety of bacteria growth in the future.

Methods & Procedure: For this experiment, we simply observed our assigned location on campus. Once we had arrived from our trek down Massachusetts Avenue, Kaitie and I took notes and photographs of the immediate area. We identified a variety of trees in the niche, as well as a variety of low-growing vegetation. We selected an area in the center of our sector about two feet in front of the largest tree to gather our sample, in which we included ivy leaves, pine needles, soil and rotting leaves from about two inches underneath the top level.

Raw Data:

Location:'Tree area near the seminary

Topography: On a steep hill, with thick ground vegetation. Located in proximity to a brick building in the seminary. This is high potential of human impact at the site because of its proximity to Massachusetts Avenue and a public picnic area. In warmer weather, this area would be frequently visited by members of the seminary and community at large.

Abiotic components: Breeze slightly blocked by hill. Building outside of the marked area impacts the wind and water available to the root systems of the trees. There was some discarded wrapped strewn within the leaves.

Biotic components: Thick ivy on the ground, soil, pebbles, rotting leaves from surrounding trees. One pine tree, one sycamore tree and one holly tree. All were quite old due to the thickness of their stumps, though the holly was thinnest. There was a small stump, recently cut, behind the large sycamore tree that demonstrated the impact that human interaction has had on this area (beyond growing it). Full canopies on the holly and pine trees, while the birch was missing several branches and had no leaves. There were squirrels and birds in the branches, and evidence of deer based upon droppings that Laina pointed out.

Our sample was collected from a location upon my diagram of the site.

Photos and that layout will be added at a later date.

Conclusions: Our transect will be interesting to observe as the weather transitions to the spring because of its proximity to many other living organisms. Our hay infusion has the potential to yield some very interesting results based upon the variety of vegetation present in the transect. SC