User:Michael VR Muse/Notebook/Biology 210 at AU

Identifying Different Species in the Hay Infusion Culture January 22 2015

Purpose: The purpose of the experiment was to observe different species in a Hay Infusion Culture. The experiment was also used to regain familiarity with the compound light microscope and its different components such as the ocular micrometer. The purpose of the experiment was to also show that while typically students do not think about small organisms such as protists and algaea on a day to day basis they are far more abundant than humans and play a vital role on the survival of life on Earth. Finally, the last part of the experiment was to set up a serial dilution for next weeks laboratory.

Materials and Methods: The materials used were two different samples from the hay infusion culture, disposable pipettes, disposable slides, the compound light microscope, a dichotomous key, a bunsen burner, a clear rod for spreading, 6 agar plates, and a P100.

The first part of Lab was to observe wet mounts of known organisms under the microscope. Then observe the organism and make notes of its size, shape, color, and special structures used for mobility. Then, using the dichotomous key, answers to different questions confirmed the identity of the organism. Then samples from the Hay infusion culture were taken from the top of the culture and the bottom. Each sample was then mounted on a wet mount and observed under the microscope. Then, like earlier with the dichotomous key, organisms were identified and recorded. Finally the last part of lab was preparing a serial dilution. 10 microliters of broth were placed in 3 test tubes. Then 10 microliters of the hay infusion were put into the first test tube. This was swirled around then ten microliters from test tube 1 were put in the 2nd test tube, and then another 10 microliters was taken from test tube 2 and placed in the third test tube. Then 100 microliters was taken from tube 1 and plated on 2 different agar plates. One of the plates was only agar and one was agar and tetracycline. The sample was spread around with the clear rod and then sterilized with the bunsen burner for its next use. These steps were repeated from tube 2 and tube 3 by taking the 100 microliters and plating them on plates with agar and plates with agar and tetracycline.

Data and observations:

[[Image:]] 1.27.15 Excellent first lab book entry. Well organized, clear and nice diagram. Images could be a bit smaller. SK

American University Transect January 15 2015

Purpose: The purpose of the experiment was to observe different species in a designated transect on campus. This provided real life examples of biodiversity and helped strengthen each students understanding of the different components of evolution. The experiment also provided a sample from the transect for a Hay Infusion Culture which will be used for future experiments. The last part of lab was spent observing the Volvocine line to once again strengthen the understanding of evolution and to practice using the microscope.

Materials and Methods: The materials used were simply a tube and a flashlight. The methods started with finding the transect. Then determining its boundary. Then observing the different biotic and abiotic components of it. Then drawing the transect. Then finally collecting the sample.

For the second part of lab the compound light microscope was used to observe the Volvocine line. This started with first observing Chlamydomonas, then Gonium, then Volvox.

Data and Observations:

Figure 1. Image of the drawing of the transect with a key of the different components observed.

Biotic - grass (north) -tall grass (east) -red bush (west) -red flower (east) -cottontail plant (east) -organisms in the soil (north,west,east,and west) Figure 2. List of Biotic components

Abiotic -stand (east) -drain (southwest) -Dunkin Donuts cup (west) -straw (southwest) -rocks (north west east and south) Figure 3. List of abiotic components

Figure 4. Image of data table for observations of Volvocine Line

Conclusions and Future Directions: Based on the data and observations clearly there are many different biotic and abiotic components in the transect. The data and observations gave a great real life example of biodiversity and definitely strengthened the understanding of evolution. Also the Volvocine clearly demonstrated how evolution takes place. If I were to do the experiment again I would have tried to get in the areas that were tougher to see to observe more biotic and abiotic components of the transect.

--Michael VR Muse 18:50, 21 January 2015 (EST)MVRM