User:Erik Maradiaga/Notebook/Biology 210 at AU
1/19/2015 Observing our Transect at AU
Purpose: The purpose of this experiment was to introduce ourselves to our niche that we will be observing. In every ecosystems there are millions of living microorganisms that may be living in the soil, a certain type of plant, or anywhere else in the niche. The second part of this experiment was to see how evolution took place in the Volvocine Line. The reason why we are doing these two experiments is to introduce ourselves to the many different types of protist and to introduce ourselves with the concept of evolution. There was no need for a hypothesis in this first experiment.
Material and Methods: When we observed our transect, my lab members and I were describing our location and topography. Second, we had to draw an aerial-view diagram of the transect and be specific in the observations we see. Along with this step, we had to indicate in the diagram north, south, east and west. Last, we had to list the abiotic and biotic components of our transect and indicate their position in the transect. For the second experiment we were doing, we had to use a microscope to view the Chlamydomonas, Gonium, and Volvex. We prepared a slide by using a pipet and dropped each organisms to our slide. We repeated this step for all three organisms. Second, we observed the numbers of cells present, colony size, specialization of cells, mechanisms of motility, isogamous or oogamous, and we drew a picture of the specimen.
Data and Observations:
In the first diagram, it is a picture of our transect. It is located in front of Kogod School of Business. My lab members and I notice that there was a drain close to the niche, so we assume that there was water present in the niche. The area is a pentagonal shape with all sorts of living and non-living things present. For example, we saw that cattails were present in the niche, and there was also red cardinal flowers. likewise, there were rocks present in the niche. When my lab members and I listed the biotic components we saw in our niche, we listed that there was cattails, grass, red cardinal flowers, bushes, and the living organisms in the soil. For the abiotic components, we listed that there was snow, soil, rock, a drain, and a Dunkin Donut cup present in the transect. The second image is a picture of the results when we saw the 3 living organisms under the microscope. When we observed the Chlamydomonas under the microscope, we notice that it is a simple cell with a flagella in order for it to move. As we continue to see the Gonium and Volvex under the microscope, my lab partner and I notice that the level of complexity increased. For example, the Gonuim now has a range of 4-32 cells present which is different from the Chlamydomonas. Also, the Volvex is different from the other two cells because it has specialized cells that help it to reproduce and in order to do the process photosynthesis.
Conclusion and Future Directions: Since in this lab experiment there was no hypothesis, the data does not refute or support the hypothesis. We took a sample of soil from the transect in order to make a hay infusion jar for next week experiment so that we can conclude what type of protist are there in our transect. For future directions, I may want to take a sample of soil from the middle of the transect instead from the side close to the cement because I think that more protists are living near the cattails. There may be protists that have a relationship with the cattails or the red cardinal flowers that is present in the middle of the transect.
