User:Sophia C Zbesko/Notebook/Biology 210 at AU: Difference between revisions
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''Materials and Methods'': First, wet mounts of known organisms were observed under the microscope to practice using the dichotomous correctly. It was important to be familiar with how the dichotomous key before successfully identifying organisms in the Hay Infusion. Only after two organisms were successfully identified, the dichotomous key was then able to identify unknown organisms in the Hay Infusion Culture. Before doing that, the culture itself had to be observed and analyzed without any disturbances. After observing the culture, two samples from two different niches (the top and bottom of the Hay Infusion) were taken for observation. A wet mount was made for each sample to observe the different algae and protists. To prepare for Lab 3 for next week, eight petri dishes were prepared, four of which contained agar and tetracycline, whereas the other four will just contain agar. | ''Materials and Methods'': First, wet mounts of known organisms were observed under the microscope to practice using the dichotomous correctly. It was important to be familiar with how the dichotomous key before successfully identifying organisms in the Hay Infusion. Only after two organisms were successfully identified, the dichotomous key was then able to identify unknown organisms in the Hay Infusion Culture. Before doing that, the culture itself had to be observed and analyzed without any disturbances. After observing the culture, two samples from two different niches (the top and bottom of the Hay Infusion) were taken for observation. A wet mount was made for each sample to observe the different algae and protists. To prepare for Lab 3 for next week, eight petri dishes were prepared, four of which contained agar and tetracycline, whereas the other four will just contain agar. | ||
''Data Observations'': The Hay Infusion Culture for transect 1 was a brown liquid. It had a gelatinous | ''Data Observations'': The Hay Infusion Culture for transect 1 was a brown liquid. It had a gelatinous film on the top with soil on the bottom and crushed leaves scattered throughout, as well on the sides. It had an opaque moist smell--like a wet woodland. The first wet mount was made from the top Hay Infusion on the film surface, not located by any leaves. The organisms that were found in this niche were Colipidium and Chlamydomas. The Colipidium was roughly 75μm, colorless, had an oval-like shape body, and exhibited motion. The Chlamydomas was a single greenish cell about 7.5μm, had an oval-shaped body, and had two observed locomotor flagella.The organism that was found in the second niche, or the bottom of the Hay Infusion with soil and leaves, was the Eudorina. The Eudorina is a colorless spherical colony of about 32 cells about 25μm long. If the Hay Infusion "gew" for another two months, the brown water would slowly evaporate, which would cause the carrying capacity of the organisms to decline. It might even get to the point that the organism can no longer live in their niche, because of limit resouces. | ||
[[Image:Colpidium.jpg]] [[Image:Chlamydomas.jpg]] [[Image:Eudorina.jpg]] | [[Image:Colpidium.jpg]] [[Image:Chlamydomas.jpg]] [[Image:Eudorina.jpg]] | ||
''Conclusions and Future Observations'': Just by observing the Hay Infusion Culture, it can be seen that many organisms live in different organism in a transect. While only protists and algae were identified this week, these unicellular eukaryotes are not the only organisms living in the Hay Infusion environment. Next week in lab, bacteria will be observed in the petri dishes that were created at the end of this lab. | |||
''Conclusions and Future Observations'': | |||
--[[User:Sophia C Zbesko|Sophia C Zbesko]] 13:49, 28 January 2015 (EST) | --[[User:Sophia C Zbesko|Sophia C Zbesko]] 13:49, 28 January 2015 (EST) | ||
Revision as of 15:36, 28 January 2015
Identifying Algae and Protist: Lab 2 on January 28, 2015
Purpose: The purpose of this was to understand how unknown organisms can be identified by using a dichotomous key after observing the color, motility, shape, and size. This was used to understand the characteristics of algae and protists, unicellular eukaryotes. Algae and protists will be identified from the Hay Infusion Culture from transect 1 that was made in last week's lab.
Materials and Methods: First, wet mounts of known organisms were observed under the microscope to practice using the dichotomous correctly. It was important to be familiar with how the dichotomous key before successfully identifying organisms in the Hay Infusion. Only after two organisms were successfully identified, the dichotomous key was then able to identify unknown organisms in the Hay Infusion Culture. Before doing that, the culture itself had to be observed and analyzed without any disturbances. After observing the culture, two samples from two different niches (the top and bottom of the Hay Infusion) were taken for observation. A wet mount was made for each sample to observe the different algae and protists. To prepare for Lab 3 for next week, eight petri dishes were prepared, four of which contained agar and tetracycline, whereas the other four will just contain agar.
Data Observations: The Hay Infusion Culture for transect 1 was a brown liquid. It had a gelatinous film on the top with soil on the bottom and crushed leaves scattered throughout, as well on the sides. It had an opaque moist smell--like a wet woodland. The first wet mount was made from the top Hay Infusion on the film surface, not located by any leaves. The organisms that were found in this niche were Colipidium and Chlamydomas. The Colipidium was roughly 75μm, colorless, had an oval-like shape body, and exhibited motion. The Chlamydomas was a single greenish cell about 7.5μm, had an oval-shaped body, and had two observed locomotor flagella.The organism that was found in the second niche, or the bottom of the Hay Infusion with soil and leaves, was the Eudorina. The Eudorina is a colorless spherical colony of about 32 cells about 25μm long. If the Hay Infusion "gew" for another two months, the brown water would slowly evaporate, which would cause the carrying capacity of the organisms to decline. It might even get to the point that the organism can no longer live in their niche, because of limit resouces.
Conclusions and Future Observations: Just by observing the Hay Infusion Culture, it can be seen that many organisms live in different organism in a transect. While only protists and algae were identified this week, these unicellular eukaryotes are not the only organisms living in the Hay Infusion environment. Next week in lab, bacteria will be observed in the petri dishes that were created at the end of this lab.
--Sophia C Zbesko 13:49, 28 January 2015 (EST)
1.27.15 Excellent first entry. Nice format and pictures. Could include a little more detail, but generally very good. SK
Biological Life at AU: Lab 1 on January 15, 2015
Purpose: The purpose of this lab was to analyze and observe a specific transect (an ecosystem) at American University, as well as view evolution through natural selection. A sample from the assigned transect, with biotic and abiotic components, will be obtained and used to examine over the next several weeks of the semester. The sample will be used to investigate the interactions between the different components and analyze all the organisms that lived in that specific niche.
Materials and Methods: First, the TA formed groups of three students who she allocated to each transect. Once assigned, my group went to our transect to observe and analyze it, as well as take a sample with a 50mL conical tube. The tube contained 50% of the soil from the transect itself and the other 50% consisted of several different types of leaves. The contents of the tube were then used to be a Hay Infusion Culture. The Hay Infusion was created by blending 10 grams of the sample, 500mLs of the deer park water, and 0.1mg of dried milk. This mixture was covered with a lid and mixed for 10 seconds and then was then left in the back of the lab without a lid.
Data and Observation: The assigned 20 by 20 feet transect, labeled as 1, was located on the North side of campus on the side of Kogod that faces the Katzen building. The biotic components were cat tail bushes, weeds, grass, fern, and mass. The abiotic, nonliving, components were rocks, soil, a storm drain, salt, and litter.
A topograhical aerial map of the transect.
A panorama picture of the 20 by 20 transect.
Conclusions and Future Directions: Both the biotic and abiotic components in the transect are important for the niche and affect the organisms that live in it. Closely viewing the niche will allow us to identify and study the various species that live in our specific niche. It will also provide evidence of whether or not the storm drain, litter, and salt have any effect on the living organisms. The Hay Infusion Culture that was created will be observed in next week's lab and different species will be observed under the microscope. The Hay Infusion will show how an ecosystem, or transect, has various species, as well as provide further information on how to understand how evolution changes life over time.
--Sophia C Zbesko 13:21, 28 January 2015 (EST)
First Entry: Testing to make sure this works. *Sophia C Zbesko 20:48, 25 January 2015 (EST)
