Adam Nolan Transect LAB 1

Adam Nolan Lab 1 – Biological Life at AU

In this lab, the goal was to analyze a specific ecosystem that appears on AU’s campus in a 20 by 20 meter transect of land. The transect we were assigned was the marshland, which was located outside the tunnel, near the road, across the street from Katzen. We mapped the area by drawing what we saw, and samples were taken. We attempted to capture as much of the diversity of the area was we could in our sample. That includes both biotic and abiotic samples. The marshland was rich with vegetation and was very moist. Because it was winter, there was snow littered throughout the area. The west and southwest ends of the marsh were very rocky, while the north and northeast areas were muddy and had lots of taller plants. Large stones were scattered throughout the marsh. Cattails ran along the center of the transect. On the western most corner was a sewer grate where water drained. We recorded what biotic and abiotic factors we found. Abiotic factors included: Rocks, metal (sewer grate), soil, light, snow, air, ice. Biotic factors included: Grass, moss, cattails, weeds, clovers, cardinal flowers, straw plants, and various shrubs. After obtaining our sample and mapping the area, we returned to the lab and made a hay-infusion culture with the sample we collected. The hay infusion culture was made by placing 12 grams of our sample into a plastic jar with 500mLs of water. .1gm of dried milk was added, and the solution was gently mixed for 10 seconds. After that it was left uncovered for a week.