User:Michael Robert Eckhart/Notebook/Biology 210 at AU

1/26/2015- ME

Identifying Protists and algae in our Hay Infusion

Introduction

The purpose of this experiment was to identify the different kinds of life in our Hay Infusion. The abiotic and biotic components came from the campus of American University. The specific kind of ecosystem we collected from was farmland. Abiotic are components of an ecosystem that are not living, whereas biotic are components of an ecosystem that are living. Examples of biotic components of an ecosystem are Algae and Protists.

Materials and Methods

The sample used in the experiment was collected in a test tube from the community garden. the specific type of ecosystem used was "Farmland". We then mixed dried milk powder with 500 ml of water in a jar. Ten grams of the sample was dissolved in the dried milk and water mixture to create a Hay infusion culture. The Hay infusion culture was then left alone, with the Top off, for a week. The next week we took samples from the top and bottom of the Hay infusion culture. These sample were put on a wet mount then examined under the microscope, en-search for Protists. the Protists were identified and recorded. We then serial diluted a sample of the Hay infusion culture and placed 3 sample of it in a pea tree dish to sit and grow life, for a week.

Results

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 1 shows the Hay infusion culture in a jar.

Figure 2 shows the , serial diluted, Hay infusion sample in a pea tree dish.

Conclusion

Samples of the Hay Infusion culture were collected from two different niches, the bottom and top of the Hay infusion culture. We observes the samples from both niches, under a microscope and bye regular eyesight, and found protists and algae. A protist is an unicellular eukaryote that consumes nutrients. Algae is an unicellular eukaryote that performs photosynthesis. In the top niche, we found Paramecium bursil, spirostomun, and Blephanismn. At the bottom niche, we found Pandorina, Paramecium multimicrocucleatum, and paranema. All of these were protozoa and motile. None of the life found in the Hay infusion, except for the algae, photosynthesized.

The Paranema met all the needs to be described as life. It did this by, consuming nutrients provide by the Hay infusion culture. These nutrients could include microscopic bit of plant or a smaller protist. It itself is a cell because it in unicellular, therefore it meets the requirement of having cells. Many of this protist were found in the sample taken therefore, we can assume that it replicated and we can also assume that it has DNA, because for replication to occur, one must pass information onto the offspring. Lastly, it participates in evolution, because it reproduces, we could not observe the sample long enough to see changes in the organism.

If the Hay Infusion Culture grew for another two months, some changes that I would think to occur would be alot more protists. because the culture only grew for a week, only a certain amount of life was observed. Although, a selective pressures might cause the protists to reduce in number, because of lack of nutrients in the culture. this could be cause by other protists consuming all of the nutrients the culture has to offer.

1/25/15- ME

Lab 1

Biology at AU

Introduction

The Purpose of this experiment was to take samples from a specific transect, of the AU community, and observe it. Samples of the transect were also put in a Hay Infusion to grow potent life inside of it. The transect we were assigned was from the AU Community Garden. Its ecosystem type is farmland. There were many abiotic and biotic components of the transect. An abiotic component is anything that is part of an environment or ecosystem that is not living or man-synthesized. A biotic component is anything that is a part of an environment or ecosystem that is living.

Materials and Methods

Each of us were assigned to a group of three classmates and with that a transect of land at AU. We traveled to the transect and recorded observations of abiotic and biotic components of the transect. We then collected a sample of the transect and put in a Hay infusion Culture. The Hay Infusion Culture was created by adding 500 ml of water into a jar, 10 grams of a sample of the transect, and 5 grams of dried milk powder. The Hay Infusion Culture was left to sit, with the lid off, for a week.

Results The Abiotic components of my transect are wood planks, fencing, rocks, snow, wire tubes, and soil. The Biotic components of my transect are plants, leaves, bacteria, and protists.

Conclusion

The purpose of this experiment was to observe that abiotic and biotic components of our transect assigned. We were assigned a farmland type ecosystem. The observation recorded were consistent with what we expected to be there. We did not see animals. Future direction that I may have taken would be to observe during a warmer time of the year when animals are more mobile and likely to be seen. This way we could have observed and recorded them.