User:Dorothy Spingarn/Notebook/Biology 210 at AU

February 12, 2016 Microbiology

Purpose The purpose of this lad was to introduce students to the microbiology of their transects and the protocol of PCRs. By doing this, the students gained the knowledge of how to set up a PCR and the vast array of microbes that were in the transects. Along with setting up a PCR, this lab focused on gram stains and if the agar plates were gram negative or gram positive.

Materials and Methods

Data

serial dilution table

Serial Dilutions Table

bacterial characterizations

Bacteria Characteriaztions

Conclusion

February 5, 2016 Exercise 2: Identifying Algae and Protists

Purpose The purpose of this lab was to introduce the students to a dichotomous key and learn how to use one properly. This was in order to be able to properly idetify the organisms found in the hay infusion for each transect. Because the environment is different at the top, middle, and bottom of the hay infusion, in each section, different organisms will be found.

Materials and Methods The lab was comprised of three procedures, with procedure one being practice for procedure two. During procedure one, the students looked at wet mounts and immobile specimens in order to get used to using a dichotomous key before going onto the moving organisms in the transects. Procedure two involved splitting up the hay infusions into three sections, top, middle, and bottom, and observing the organisms at each section. Using the dichotomous key, the goal was to determine some of the organisms found. Procedure three was preparing for the following lab by setting up agar plates.

Data

data from the wet mounts

During this, the hay infusion smelled very strongly of a swamp, with a sulfuric smell similar to rotten eggs, as well as having some sort of film over the top of the water. Based on the dichotomous key, there seemed to be various kinds of algae and protists in the hay infusion, including stentor, gloeocspa, and possible haematococcus. Stentor measured to be about 10 micrometers, with random, quick movements, characterized by a compressing motion as it moved, similar to a slinky. Gloeocspa meatured to be about 5 micrometers and was found in colonies and looked like a dart board, with a defined inner and outer ring.

serial dilution

The serial dilutions were for the following week's lab in order to compare the affect the agar plates had on different concentrations of bacteria.

Conclusion This experiment showed that there are different organisms in different layers of a hay infusion. In comparing this to the real world, it shows that there are different bacteria in different layers of natural water features and that there are different bacteria found in different areas of the transect and therefore different section of dirt.

• Dorothy Spingarn 19:54, 4 February 2016 (EST):DLS

January 15, 2016 Exercise 1: Examining Biological Life at AU

Purpose The purpose of this lab was to introduce the class to various microscopic life and to introduce the class to the various transects. This prepares us for future experiments in this part of the lab. The microscopic life visible in the first part of the lab, the Chlamydomonas, Gonium, and Volvox, will probably be visible in the transect samples.

Materials and Methods Procedure one consisted of setting up the microscopes to look at the samples of Chlamydomonas, Gonium, and Volvox and making observations on the size, colony size, and specialization of the cells. Abiotic components included rocks, tree, and soil. Biotic components included fish. Procedure two involved going to the transect, getting samples from water features and soil samples, as well as documenting the landscape with picture and drawings. Observe the 20 by 20 foot dimensions of the transect marked by popsicle sticks. Procedure three was the creation of a hay sample by taking 10 to 12 grams of the soil/ground sample and mixing it with 500 mL of Deerpark water. Add 0.1 grams of dried milk to the water and soil mixture and mix. Let the jar sit.

Image of Aerial View of Transect:

Data Images of Transect 4:

Images of Hay Infusion:

Conclusion The hay infusion will be examined at a later time, however, assuming that similar organisms are found, the hypothesis will be supported.

• Dorothy Spingarn 19:41, 28 January 2016 (EST):DS