Sci/207 Week 3 Lab Report
Ursurla Waller
Week 3 Lab Reporting Form
SCI 207: Dependence of Man on the Environment
2014 Sep 17
Week 3 Lab Reporting Form
Lab 3 - Experiment 1: Interdependence of Species
Table 1: Interdependence of Species Results
Round
Species Missing (Bead Color and Name)
1
Yellow; Bees
2
White; Lichens
3
Blue; Humans
4
Red; Flowers
Hypothesis: If certain species are missing from the ecosystem except humans (blue), then all other species will feel the effects.
Post-Lab Questions
1. Restate your hypothesis. Was it confirmed or denied? How do you know?
If certain species are missing from the ecosystem except humans (blue), then all other species are negatively impacted. Confirmation of my hypothesis presented by testing the effects of the ecosystem …show more content…
upon removal of a species. In each round, there was a species negatively impacted except for the round three, removing humans.
2. Indicate which species was removed during each round of the experiment.
a. First round- Bees.
b. Second round. Lichens
c. Third round, Humans.
d. Fourth round, Flowers.
3. Explain how the ecosystem was affected by the missing species for each round of the experiment.
a. Round one presented an ecosystem lacking Bees. Without bees, and the loss of pollination, this affected flowers as well as Trees. The Lichens’ would lose incidental pollination through their dung. The loss of the bee’s honey and pollinators for plants affected Humans.
b. Round two presented an ecosystem lacking Lichens, where the loss of nutrients in the soil affected both trees and flowers. This in turn, affected the population of Bees due to the loss of blossoming plants; therefore, they are unable to produce honey. Humans, affected by the loss of honey and fruits pollinated by the bees, and the flowers and trees that helps to create oxygen for all life.
c. Round three presented an ecosystem lacking humans, and it appears that without humans life on earth will not change.
d. Round four presented an ecosystem lacking flowers, negatively influencing every other species. Bees’ loss pollen, which is vital for honey, and their survival. Some trees loss their beautiful blooms and all trees were unable to produce fruits because the bees were dying off. Humans would also lose honey, fruits, flowers to cut and kill on the dinner table, etc. Lichens would miss the flowers as well as the bees, because of the loss of incidental fertilization, thereby influencing the trees.
4. What actions do we as humans engage in that can lead to extinction of any of these components?
Human activities such as driving, manufacturing, and spaying pesticides, spilling oil and gas on the soil while farming or filling at stations could all present vehicular, industrial, and agricultural pollutants which leads to the extinction of many species over time. Chemicals introduced into the soil by pollution will affect lichens and ground water. This affects flowers and trees; that affects the bee population, which would greatly affect the air and water quality, as well as the ozone layer, leading to human extinction.
5. What can we do to minimize our impact on the ecosystem?
We can understand the circle of life and that creatures and species that we at times deem unimportant, are actually the interdependent pieces holding life together.
Minimize direct pollution, disposing chemical waste properly, and recycling more are ways to minimize our impact on the ecosystem.
Lab 3 - Experiment 2: Diversity of Plants
Table 2: Number of Each Plant Species Present in Pot 1 and Pot 2
Species Observed
Number in Pot 1
Number in Pot 2
Zinnia
10
10
Marigold 20 25
Morning Glory
20
15
Cosmos
20
20
Ryegrass
55
50
Total Number of Species in Pot:
135
120
Hypothesis: If the seeds are dispersed in a natural pattern, then the two pots will yield relatively equal amounts plant species.
Post-Lab Questions
1. Restate your hypothesis. Was it confirmed or denied? How do you know?
If the same variation of seeds dispersed in a natural pattern, then the two pots will yield relatively equal amounts plant species. The hypothesis was confirmed as I observed the pots and noticed that the only differences between the observed species were 15.
2.
How many different kinds of species did you find in your sample?
There were five different species in both samples.
3. Which species is the most numerous in your sample area? Which is the least numerous?
a. In both of the samples, Ryegrass was the most numerous.
b. In each of the samples, Zinnias was the least numerous.
4. If each peat pot was a sample, you found in a group of wildflowers, would you determine based on the diversity of flowers that the ecosystem is healthy?
Yes, the ecosystem is healthy because of the diversity.
5. How does biodiversity contribute to overall health of an ecosystem?
Biodiversity contributes to the health of an ecosystem when various species depend, rely, and share the same responsibilities to ensure a healthy balance within the ecosystem. If one species, like the Ryegrass, over took the other species, there would be no diversity, and an unhealthy ecosystem.
References
Turk, J., & Bensel, T. (2011). Contemporary environmental issues. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Bottcher, A., & Rex, A. (2012). Environmental science student manual. Sheridan, CO: eScience Labs.
Shah, Anup. “Biodiversity.” Global Issues. 03 Mar. 2013. Web. 12 Aug. 2013.
<http://www.globalissues.org/issue/169/biodiversity>.
Week 3 Lab Reporting Form
SCI 207: Dependence of Man on the Environment
2014 Sep 17
Week 3 Lab Reporting Form
Lab 3 - Experiment 1: Interdependence of Species
Table 1: Interdependence of Species Results
Round
Species Missing (Bead Color and Name)
1
Yellow; Bees
2
White; Lichens
3
Blue; Humans
4
Red; Flowers
Hypothesis: If certain species are missing from the ecosystem except humans (blue), then all other species will feel the effects.
Post-Lab Questions
1. Restate your hypothesis. Was it confirmed or denied? How do you know?
If certain species are missing from the ecosystem except humans (blue), then all other species are negatively impacted. Confirmation of my hypothesis presented by testing the effects of the ecosystem …show more content…
upon removal of a species. In each round, there was a species negatively impacted except for the round three, removing humans.
2. Indicate which species was removed during each round of the experiment.
a. First round- Bees.
b. Second round. Lichens
c. Third round, Humans.
d. Fourth round, Flowers.
3. Explain how the ecosystem was affected by the missing species for each round of the experiment.
a. Round one presented an ecosystem lacking Bees. Without bees, and the loss of pollination, this affected flowers as well as Trees. The Lichens’ would lose incidental pollination through their dung. The loss of the bee’s honey and pollinators for plants affected Humans.
b. Round two presented an ecosystem lacking Lichens, where the loss of nutrients in the soil affected both trees and flowers. This in turn, affected the population of Bees due to the loss of blossoming plants; therefore, they are unable to produce honey. Humans, affected by the loss of honey and fruits pollinated by the bees, and the flowers and trees that helps to create oxygen for all life.
c. Round three presented an ecosystem lacking humans, and it appears that without humans life on earth will not change.
d. Round four presented an ecosystem lacking flowers, negatively influencing every other species. Bees’ loss pollen, which is vital for honey, and their survival. Some trees loss their beautiful blooms and all trees were unable to produce fruits because the bees were dying off. Humans would also lose honey, fruits, flowers to cut and kill on the dinner table, etc. Lichens would miss the flowers as well as the bees, because of the loss of incidental fertilization, thereby influencing the trees.
4. What actions do we as humans engage in that can lead to extinction of any of these components?
Human activities such as driving, manufacturing, and spaying pesticides, spilling oil and gas on the soil while farming or filling at stations could all present vehicular, industrial, and agricultural pollutants which leads to the extinction of many species over time. Chemicals introduced into the soil by pollution will affect lichens and ground water. This affects flowers and trees; that affects the bee population, which would greatly affect the air and water quality, as well as the ozone layer, leading to human extinction.
5. What can we do to minimize our impact on the ecosystem?
We can understand the circle of life and that creatures and species that we at times deem unimportant, are actually the interdependent pieces holding life together.
Minimize direct pollution, disposing chemical waste properly, and recycling more are ways to minimize our impact on the ecosystem.
Lab 3 - Experiment 2: Diversity of Plants
Table 2: Number of Each Plant Species Present in Pot 1 and Pot 2
Species Observed
Number in Pot 1
Number in Pot 2
Zinnia
10
10
Marigold 20 25
Morning Glory
20
15
Cosmos
20
20
Ryegrass
55
50
Total Number of Species in Pot:
135
120
Hypothesis: If the seeds are dispersed in a natural pattern, then the two pots will yield relatively equal amounts plant species.
Post-Lab Questions
1. Restate your hypothesis. Was it confirmed or denied? How do you know?
If the same variation of seeds dispersed in a natural pattern, then the two pots will yield relatively equal amounts plant species. The hypothesis was confirmed as I observed the pots and noticed that the only differences between the observed species were 15.
2.
How many different kinds of species did you find in your sample?
There were five different species in both samples.
3. Which species is the most numerous in your sample area? Which is the least numerous?
a. In both of the samples, Ryegrass was the most numerous.
b. In each of the samples, Zinnias was the least numerous.
4. If each peat pot was a sample, you found in a group of wildflowers, would you determine based on the diversity of flowers that the ecosystem is healthy?
Yes, the ecosystem is healthy because of the diversity.
5. How does biodiversity contribute to overall health of an ecosystem?
Biodiversity contributes to the health of an ecosystem when various species depend, rely, and share the same responsibilities to ensure a healthy balance within the ecosystem. If one species, like the Ryegrass, over took the other species, there would be no diversity, and an unhealthy ecosystem.
References
Turk, J., & Bensel, T. (2011). Contemporary environmental issues. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Bottcher, A., & Rex, A. (2012). Environmental science student manual. Sheridan, CO: eScience Labs.
Shah, Anup. “Biodiversity.” Global Issues. 03 Mar. 2013. Web. 12 Aug. 2013.
<http://www.globalissues.org/issue/169/biodiversity>.