User:Naseem Parsa/Notebook/Biology 210 at AU

Lab 1

Objectives of this lab: 1. To understand natural selection 2. To understand the biotic and abiotic characteristics of a niche

This lab will address the first objective through the observation of the Volvicine line, which is the evolution of the Chlamydomonas cell into a Gonium cell and finally into a Volvox cell. The second objective will be addressed through the observation of a transect at AU, or a niche.

Procedure Volvocine line: 1. prepare slides of Chlamydomonas, Gonium and Volvox 2. add protoslo to the slides 3. observe any characteristics (flagella, size, colonies)

Defining a Niche: 1. Take a sample comprised of plant and soil matter from the transect 2. Create a Hay Infusion Culture with 12 g matter in a jar (500 ml water, 0.1 g dried milk) 3. leave jar unopened in lab for future observation

Raw Data Transect- AU community garden near tennis courts Description- Dry grass, not many growing plants.

Five Biotic organisms in transect: 1. cabbage leaves 2. small green leafy plant 3. wood 4. sage plant 5. larger leafy green

Five Abiotic organisms in transect: 1. metal nails 2. soil 3. stones 4. tennis ball 5. plastic flag marker

Sample was comprised of a leaf with roots still attached from cabbage garden, and soil.

Conclusions Hay Infusion Culture was created with the soil/plant sample from the transect. It will remain in lab until the next week, where observations of its appearance, smell, contents will be made. Transect showed how niches function within an environment. Our transect showed signs of life but not many as it was an environment that doesn't really thrive in the winter months. The objectives of this lab were addressed as the evolution of the Chlamydomonas cell into the multicellular Volvox cell was observed to be a result of natural selection. For future studies, observing the Hay Infusion Culture for a longer period of time might add to our study of what types of organisms grow and live in certain niches.