User:Madison Hayes/Notebook/Biology 210 at AU

January 29, 2014

Introduction: The title of this experiment is Identifying Algae and Protists. The purpose of this experiment was to practice identifying groups of organisms using a dichotomous key and then put the practice to use identifying organisms in the hay infusion culture. The end of the experiment involved diluting the hay infusion culture and applying the dilutions to agar plates to set up for an experiment next week.

Materials and Method: The following materials were utilized in the experiment: a two page dichotomous key, a sample of known organisms, microscope, slides, covers, transfer pipettes,protozoa, hay infusion culture (created last week). In order to prepare the dilutions for next week the following materials were needed: hay infusion culture, four tubes, 10 mL of water, micropipeters and tips, spreader, 4 agar plates without tetacycline, and three with tetacycline. The procedures for the practice are as follows

Observations and Data: The following describes the hay infusion culture unperturbed by motion. The dirt previously in the jar collected at the bottom. The water could be described as a murky clear mixed with some opaque white clouds. Some chunks of dirt floated on the top of the water instead of settling at the bottom. Pieces of the grass that had previously been in the infusion could not be seen; either the grass disintegrated or was buried among the dirt at the bottom of the jar. The jar had no particular smell that was noticeable. The first niche from which the sample was taken was the top of the water. The second niche from which the sample was taken was from the bottom near the dirt. The samples were not taken from near any particular plant matter, but if it was the organisms could differ because organisms prefer different environments. Plant matter would offer different nutrients and a different environment to organisms leading to a different sample.

Niche 1-- I am attempting to upload pictures but openwetware is troubleshooting issues with the uploading function.

Organism 1-Peranema sp <Insert pic here>

Organism 2- Colpidium sp <Insert pic here>

Organism 3- Pandorna <Insert pic here>

Niche 2-- I am attempting to upload pictures.

Organism 1- Pandorina <Insert pic here>

Organism 2- Paramecium Bursaria <Insert pic here>

Organism 3- Chilomanas <Insert pic here>

Observations: Had the hay infusion been allowed to sit for another two months, I would hypothesize that the evidence of organisms would be more prevalent to the naked eye as the populations of organisms would be much greater. Another outcome could be that the organisms run out of nutrients and the organisms die. The slides would display unmoving organisms. SELECTIVE PRESSURE?????

Conclusion: