User:Charlotte Raley
January 28, 2015 -CR
Identifying Protists From the Marsh at AU
Purpose:
The purpose of this lab was to identify what organisms were living in the sample that we took last week from the marsh area at AU.
Procedure/Materials:
First, we brought the jar back to our table without disrupting the solution. We then took a sample form the top of the solution and made a wet mount. Then we took a sample from the bottom of the solution and made a wet mount. We used the dichotomous key to determine what organisms (protists and algae) were living in our solution.
Data:
Species Size Color Movement Chilomonas sp. 31 micrometers Green Rotating fast in a circle Chlamydomonas 8 micrometers Green Fast Pelomyxa sp. 5 micrometers Green Very slow
Species Size Color Movement Colpidium sp. 50 micrometers Clear/gray Not moving Peranema sp. 2.5 micrometers Clear/gray Slow Chlamydomonas 6.25 micrometers Green Fast
C:\Users\Charlotte\AppData\Local\Packages\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\LiveComm\05c41f87a1ddfdde\120712-0049\Att\20003c14\20150128_162521.jpg
C:\Users\Charlotte\AppData\Local\Packages\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\LiveComm\05c41f87a1ddfdde\120712-0049\Att\20003c15\20150128_162907.jpg
Short Write Up:
When we opened our sample, we noticed a bad smell coming from the jar. There was not any visible life on the top of the liquid. It was a light green/brown color throughout with pieces of grass laying on the bottom of the jar. We saw little red dots on the top but were unsure if they were living or just part of the vegetation. From the top wet mount, we found Chilomonas sp., Chlamydomonas, and Pelomyxa. From the bottom wet mount we found Coldpidium sp., Chlamydomonas, and Paranema sp. All three organisms from the top sample are green and therefore, photosynthesizing.
Conclusion:
If the Hay Infusion was left to grow on its' own for another two months, I think we would find that only the creatures that could survive on their own would still be alive. The organisms that relied on plant life and sunlight/photosynthesis would die. According to natural selection, only the organisms that could survive long enough to reproduce would still be there. Organisms close to plant matter will feed on the plant matter to survive. The organisms that don't live near the plant matter are probably more likely to be self-sufficient. I think that the Paranema sp. probably meets all the needs for life living in the jar because it doesn't photosynthesize, so it seems to be able to survive on its' own. The other organisms that we saw are likely to die pretty soon because they won't have anything to feed on.
January 26, 2015 -CR
Marsh Life at AU
Purpose:
In this week's lab, we were put into groups and assigned a specific 20x20 ft transect around American University. Each group dug up a sample from their transect. We did a Hay infusion culture and using the sample, we observed the biotic and abiotic components. In later labs, we will use this sample to characterize the organisms found in these separate ecosystems around campus.
Procedure/Materials:
After being assigned to our transect (marsh area) we went outside and dug up a small amount of dirt/vegetation that was representative of the whole transect. The sample was placed into a 50 mL tube. We then weighed out 10-12 grams of the sample on a scale and placed it into a jar. Then, we measured out .1 gm of dried milk and 500 mLs of Deerpark bottled water and put it in the jar, then gently mixed the liquid for about 10 seconds. Then, we removed the lid of the jar, labelled the jar, and placed the container in a safe spot in the lab. The mixture will sit for a week.
Data:
[C:\Users\Charlotte\AppData\Local\Packages\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\LiveComm\05c41f87a1ddfdde\120712-0049\Att\20003be2\BIO EDITED20.jpg]
Short Write Up:
My group's marsh transect included a multitude of both biotic and abiotic factors. The biotic factors included grass, leaves, and bushes. The abiotic factors included a large rock, a lamp post, snow, dirt, dead vegetation, a sidewalk on the far west side, and a drain to the north. There were a lot more abiotic factors than biotic in our sample.
Conclusion:
The transect was on a slight hill. It was located on the hill across from Katzen Arts Center beside Kogod. We noticed that there was a lot of trash spread throughout as well. This and the drain could have affected the life in the transect. Most of the trash was towards the middle of the transect and towards the drain. We found that different characteristics in the environment affect what types of organisms live in that ecosystem.
Contact Info
- Charlotte Raley
- American University
- Address 1
- Address 2
- City, State, Country etc.
- Email me through OpenWetWare
I work in the Your Lab at XYZ University. I learned about OpenWetWare from Professor, and I've joined because Required for Bio-210 class.
Education
- Year, PhD, Institute
- Year, MS, Institute
- Year, BS, Institute
Research interests
- Interest 1
- Interest 2
- Interest 3
Publications
- Goldbeter A and Koshland DE Jr. An amplified sensitivity arising from covalent modification in biological systems. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1981 Nov;78(11):6840-4. DOI:10.1073/pnas.78.11.6840 |
- JACOB F and MONOD J. Genetic regulatory mechanisms in the synthesis of proteins. J Mol Biol. 1961 Jun;3:318-56. DOI:10.1016/s0022-2836(61)80072-7 |
leave a comment about a paper here
- ISBN:0879697164
