Demonstration 1: Interdependence of Species
Table 1: Interdependence of Species Results
Round
Species Missing (Bead Color and Name)
1
Red = Flowers
2
Yellow = Bees
3
White = Lichen
4
Orange = Trees
POST LAB QUESTIONS
1. Explain how the ecosystem was affected by the missing species for each round of the demonstration.
a. Round 1 = If flowers were removed from the ecosystem, then bees would no longer be able to create honey or pollinate edible plants and trees that humans depend on for food.
b. Round 2 = Bees are pollinators. If this species were to be removed from the ecosystem, then agriculture would be impacted and that would mean less food for humans.
c. Round 3 = If lichen were to be removed from the ecosystem, then …show more content…
Provide one action we as humans engage in that leads to the extinction of each of these components.
Action affecting Lichens = Lichens obtain nutrients from the air, water and sun. Industrial pollutions can affect their ability to create soils for plants to grow.
Action affecting Trees = Deforestation is devastating tree populations worldwide, largely due to urbanization.
Action affecting Flowers = Air pollution is causing a number of species of flowers to go extinct. According to a British study reported on by The Guardian (Jowil, 2010), more than 25 percent of flowers currently face extinction.
Action affecting Bees = Because bees depend on flowering plants and trees for food, deforestation is having a large impact on the bee population.
3. Provide three specific actions that humans can take to minimize our impact on the ecosystem and ensure the survival of lichens, trees, flowers, and bees.
Action 1 = Riding the air pollutants created by automobiles may go far in reducing the impact on a number of species including lichens, flowers and bees.
Action 2 = Reducing the number of trees cut down through deforestation could help many tree species to repopulate regions already impacted by …show more content…
Develop a hypothesis on which pot you believe will contain the highest biodiversity.
Hypothesis = If plants obtain energy through photosynthesis, then placing them where they can obtain direct sunlight will create an environment for prime biodiversity.
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept the hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
Accept/Reject = I would accept my hypothesis. I tested my hypothesis by placing Pot 1 where it could get sunlight and placing Pot 2 in shade. After a week of growing, Pot 1 had a higher number of plants of each seed species. Pot 2 had a fewer number. Also, observing both test subjects I noticed that Pot 1’s plants were darker in color and the stems looked firmer.
3. Assume each pot represents a sample that you found in a group of wildflowers. Based upon the diversity of flowers present in each pot; would you say that the ecosystem is healthy? Why or why not?
Answer = I would say that the ecosystem is healthy based on the diversity of flowers present in each pot because not only was there a greater number of each species, but they appeared healthier and more