User:Nicholas Carey/Notebook/Biology 210 at AU

1/23/2015- NC

An intro to Biological Life at AU- Assignment of Transect

Intro- Ecology is the study of how different factors within an environment interact (Bentley, 2015). In order to better understand these interactions and the diversity of life, a transect will be studied. A transect is a small patch of land, that works as a manageable ecosystem to study rather than studying a huge area. The purpose of this experiment is to familiarize each group with their transect. This familiarization will likely be useful in the upcoming experiment centered on each group's transect.

Materials and Methods- The class was broken up into groups and each group was lead to their respective transect. Each group also was given a container for a soil sample. Each group member had to draw and label the transect, being sure to account for all abiotic and biotic environmental factors. After the transect was properly diagrammed, a sample was taken from the soil that best represented the make up of the transect. This sample of soil was then used to make a Hay Infusion Culture for another experiment. 10 to 12 grams of the soil was placed in a labelled jar with 500 mLs of water. Then .01g of dried milk was added to the jar and it was gently mixed for 10 seconds. After this the top of the jar was removed and it was left out until the next lab session. All of this was carried out in accordance with the provided lab manual (Bentley, 2015).

Data/observations- The transect was located immediately in front of the main entrance to Hurst Hall on the Eric Friedheim Quadrangle. It was mostly cut lawn grass with a significant portion consisting of mulch and soil with planted bushes. Abiotic components included: the pillar of a monument on the quadrangle, he soil/mulch mixture of the bushes, soil underneath the grass. The biotic factors included: grass, a tall grass-like plant, flowering bushes, and a dense bush.

Conclusions- It was clear that the assigned transect was the "Manicured Grassland" transect. A better understanding of the transect was acquired and this may prove useful in future endeavors. The Hay Culture Infusion for next lab seemed to be properly mixed and will hopefully lead to promising results in a week. Hopefully these next lab's results increase the data derived from he transect and also contribute to the understanding of ecosystems on the whole.

References- Bentley, Meg. 2015. A Laboratory Manual to Accompany: General Biology II. American University: Washington, DC. Pg.16-17

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