Seed Update #4

Both abiotic factors and biotic factors are necessary for survival for our plant. Some abiotic factors that our seeds have are the type of soil,  quantity of water,  the exposure of sunlight and the temperature. The type of soil is essential because you have to have an essential amount in order for the plant to develop. The same goes for the amount of water.  The temperature would need to be in the plant's range in order for the plant to develop.  Some biotic factors that our plants need are humans and other living organisms. Humans and worms are needed in order to take care of the plant. For example, humans provide the water that is essential for a plant's development and the earthworms provide nutrients for the plant.

Plants are constantly competing with each other for survival. Most of the time, this is mainly for resources. A clue of competition among the plants are the size of the leaves, the height of the stem, and the roots. They would constantly compete for the essential sunlight which attracts the plant to make it grow towards that direction. The plant that receives the most amount of sunlight and care would grow somewhat taller than the others.

Winners and losers are determined during the competition for resources among at least organisms. The most simplest way of declaring the winners and losers among our plants is when one plant stays alive and when another plant dies. Most of the time, it isn't easy to declare the "real" winner or loser.  There could sometimes be multiple winners at one time or multiple losers. It could be hard determining the result because several factors may have contributed to the result. You won't realize the cause of the result without a  more in-depth observation.

Our plants could have other relationships in the ecosystem besides competition with fellow plants. Organisms like insects (which are parasites) could chew on the leaves, which won't benefit the plant. The plant would eventually repair itself. Other organisms like weeds (commensalism) could also absorb part of the bean plant's diet. The bean plant wouldn't be benefited nor harmed.

 As more interactions occur, organisms will start to have more relationships with the other organisms in the community. The organisms  will start depositing nutrients into the ground.  Simple plants such as weeds will start popping up and growing.  Over time, they will eventually  be more common around.

Seed Update #4

Our plants need many abiotic and biotic factors to survive (ex. water, sunlight, bugs, leaves). The abiotic factors, like water and sunlight, are non-living objects that do not have carbon. However, biotic factors, like bugs and leaves, are living things and have carbon.

Our plants often compete for water and sunlight, causing them to try and grow on top of each other. The bean plants are also competing for nutrients in the soil with bugs. Our bean plants' roots spread out and try to take as much nutrients as they can from the bugs.

The plants that managed to get the most water and sunlight out of the other plants would be 'winners' because they bested the other plants. The 'losers' would be the plants that didn't get many nutrients because the 'winners' got them.

 Our plants have a mutualistic relationship with bees. The bees take pollen from our plants' flowers and pollinates other plants, allowing more to grow, while the bees get to make nectar from the plants' pollen. The relationship is beneficial to both our plants and the bees.

The bean plants are part of an ecological succession that is occurring in their garden ecosystem. Before any of the plants were planted, a good portion of the garden was empty and almost visibly devoid of life. As time passed by, the garden went through more changes and began to burst with life. More examples of succession would be the weeds growing near our plants or the many insects taking shelter (and possibly food) in our plants.

Seed Update #4

  In order for our bean plants to survive, they must rely on abiotic factors like soil and the nutrients within it, temperature and climate, availability of water and precipitation, and amount of light in the area. All of those factors have an affect on our plants, as they are all necessary for them to survive. However, some biotic factors are also the foundation of the plants' survival; organisms like bees, which help to spread pollen from flower to flower, affect the plant. Other biotic factors affect our plants, and not always in a positive way. For example, organisms like insects and bugs may feed off of our plants' leaves.
  Competition in nature is when organisms using the same limited resource or nutrient begin to fight to survive. A sign of competition in our bean plants are the height of the stems and their leaves, as well as their roots (although they are not visible at a glance). Our plants are competing against both each other and the other foliage and plant life around them for sunlight and water, two resources none of the aforementioned are capable of surviving without.
  Within the struggle of competition, the "winners" and "losers" are revealed with two determinants: which plant survives and which plant dies off. Although the "winners" and "losers" should be relatively clear cut, it is not always so. Most times, several "winners" emerge or the "winner" does not survive because of an abiotic or biotic factor.
  Our plants' interactions and relationships with their surroundings shows that they truly are part of the ecosystem in the garden. Organisms like caterpillars feed on the plants' leaves, which eventually grow back. The caterpillars and other similar organisms obtain energy and food, while the plant is harmed temporarily, as the leaves do grow back.
  In the garden ecosystem, as mentioned previously, our plants' have interactions and relationships with their surrounding community. As the bean plants continue to grow, weeds, moss, and other plant life are in turn springing up to grow as well. Organisms are becoming more common to be found, as the new bean plants are a new resource for them.

seed update 4

There are very few abiotic factors to the growth of our plant like the wood that surrounds the planter or rain. However there are more biotic factors like caterpillars, snails, or the condition the soil is in.

 Our plants are competing with other plants for resources needed to survive. Such as water and nutrients from the soil.

 It is clearly stated who wins this competition most of the time because the ones that lose do not survive as long as the winners. Some times however both plants get a minimum amount of nutrients so they both live for the same amount of time. 

The plants leaves are food for snails and caterpillars which eat their leaves for food. the leaves weaken yet they grow back. The caterpillars and snails benefit from this because the nutrients from the leaves give them energy.

Some succession that is happening with our plants is that they are growing leaves and flowers. Snails and caterpillars are starting to live near them more because they are food for them.

Seed Update #3

It has been about a month since we transferred our bean plants to the garden and the plants have been progressing fairly well, having grown taller stems, broader leaves and more white flowers.

Our bean plants need many substances and nutrients to survive, such as water. Water is essential to all living things on Earth and plants are no exception, so in order to survive, our plants must partake in the water cycle. When precipitation occurs, much of the water that falls ends up deep in the soil and the water is then absorbed by our plants, through their roots. Additionally, our plants tend to "sweat" and release water back into the atmosphere, in a process called Transpiration. The broad leaves that are attached to our plant assist in Transpiration, by carrying the water the plant transpires and allowing them to evaporate. However, our plants aren't limited to just the water cycle, as they also participate in the carbon cycle. Through photosynthesis, decaying organisms and gases in the air, our plants obtain Carbon Dioxide and use it to make energy. When the plants are consumed by consumers (like bunnies or humans), the energy they acquired is passed down to the consumer. In an attempt to procure more sunlight for photosynthesis, our plants have grown taller and just a tiny bit closer to the sun. Another cycle our plants take part in is the nitrogen cycle. In the nitrogen cycle, atmospheric nitrogen goes through a process called bacterial nitrogen fixation and is turned into compounds, such as ammonia, in the soil. These compounds are then absorbed by our plants, allowing them to make proteins, which will be given to the consumers that eat the plant. The white flowers on our plants will eventually become beans and the proteins in the plant are held inside the flowers (the beans).

Seed Update #3

During our most recent visit to the garden, the group noticed that more white flowers have bloomed from the bean plants. They have also sprouted even taller than the last time we had seen them.  The leaves and stems have become thicker and greener than before.
The participation of our plants in the movement of water in the biosphere lead to their participation in the water cycle.  The plants take part in the water cycle by absorbing water from the ground and taking it up through their roots.  For example, if it rains enough for rain to seep deep into the ground the roots are able to uptake the water. Then the water is released out through the leaves in the air during the transpiration process back into the atmosphere.  Our plants have been able to get used to their living conditions by using their ability to extract water from their environment, which allows them to grow at a steady rate.  Besides the water cycle, the pants also take part in the carbon cycle.  The sun provides the plants with enough energy to produce glucose during the process of photosynthesis.  This glucose is consumed by animals and broken down by both plants and animal to help them survive.  They also collect carbon to produce carbohydrates that animals consume as well.  Eventually, the consumers pass down all the nutrients they collect from plants to their consumers and so on.  Once dead organisms are broken down by fungi and bacteria, carbon dioxide is released into the air. The nitrogen cycle is another cycle our plants take part in.  In order for plants to gain access to nitrogen, bacteria in the soil converts unusable nitrogen into ammonia, which then becomes nitrates. The roots of plants use the nitrates in the soil to make proteins. These proteins are then consumed by animals that eat plants, which is then transferred throughout the food webs.

Seed Update #3

In our most recent check up on the bean plants, I observed that the stems of each plants had grown much thicker and taller than the previous weeks. The plants had grown more little white flowers.

Our plants participate in many essential cycles for survival. For example, plants participate in the movement of water in the biosphere. They all absorb water from the ground with their roots. The water comes from the seppage that occurs when water goes underground. The roots use the process called uptake to absorb the water through the roots and up to the rest of the plant. They then release the water back out to the environment from the leaves by a process called transpiration. The water has helped the plants adapt the the environment and absorb water. Our plants participate in the carbon cycle by collecting carbon dioxide and creating chemical energy through photosynthesis. Through photosynthesis, the plants produce glucose, which is essential for survival. When other organisms consume the plant, they get the nutrients in the plant. Another cycle that are plants participate in is the nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen gets converted into ammonia. Ammonia gets absorbed by the  plants in the fertile soil and produces proteins.

Seed Update #3

  After observing our plants once more this week, we have noticed that they have grown many more little, white flowers. The bean plants have grown quite tall, and their leaves and stalks greener than ever before. The plant that we tested with the Gatorade in our experiment has lost its reddish tinge, and it has become very difficult to differentiate the plants at a glance.

 

  In terms of the biosphere, our plants participate in the movement of water by taking part in the water cycle. The plants absorb water through their roots, and then release that water back into the air through transpiration. Our plants have adapted to living in the outdoors with plenty of water, with broader leaves to allow water to evaporate from them. In addition to being a part of the water cycle, our bean plants also take part in the carbon and nitrogen cycle. The plants take in carbon dioxide gas, using the carbon to create carbohydrates during the process of photosynthesis. These are passed on through the food webs by consumers. Our plants, just like almost all other plant life, use photosynthesis to produce glucose and what is needed for them to survive. As of the nitrogen cycle, nitrogen is used by all organisms to create amino acids, which is used to build proteins. Producers like our bean plants absorb the nitrogen through soil when bacteria converts the nitrogen gas to ammonia, allowing the plants to create proteins, which, in turn, is passed along through the food webs, allowing the nitrogen cycle to continue. 

Ecological Institutions

Name: Monterey Bay Aquarium
Website: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/
Level of Study: marine biomes/ecosystems
Location: Monterey, CA, USA
Methods of Study: scuba diving/submarine investigation, tracking (of marine creatures), observations of marine life

Name: Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Website: https://scripps.ucsd.edu/
Level of Study: marine biomes/ecosystems, atmosphere, planets
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Methods of Study: observations over time, modeling, global environmental observations, deep-sea investigations and observations of marine life

Name: California Academy of Sciences
Website: http://www.calacademy.org/
Level of Study: atmosphere, ecosystems, planets
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Methods of Study: scuba diving, marine investigations (observations and testing), collection of individual specimen for testing and studies(i.e. insects, bacteria, and animals)

seed update #3

In this most recent seed update the beans ave started to grow more flowers. The flowers are pretty noticeable, which is shocking because they are small and white.
                                       
Our plants our a part of several cycles which are very vital to the survival of living things. First off the plants are important in the water cycle. The plants bring underground water up from their roots into the stem and out to the leaves. In this process the water is also feeding the plant which allows it to grow. Then, some or most of the water transpires into the earths atmosphere. This is important because the plant provides water for other living things when the water in the clouds precipitate. Secondly, the plants are contributers to the carbon cycle. The plants take carbon right out of the air and other resources in order to perform photosynthesis. In this process of feeding itself the plant gives off oxygen. This is important because all animals that live on earth need oxygen to breathe and stay alive. Finally the nitrogen cycle is held together by the plants as well. The plants take nitrogen out of the underground water. Then they use in to make proteins. Then when they get eaten by animals that nitrogen is released back into the atmosphere and the process starts all over again.      

Ecological Institutions

Name: Monterey Bay Aquarium
Website: www.montereybayaquarium.org/
Level of Study: Marine Biome/Ecology
Location: Monterey, CA, USA
Methods of Study: 

• scuba diving
• implantable trackers
• surgical techniques

Name: Carnegie Institution for Science
Website: dge.stanford.edu  
Level of Study: Global Ecology
Location: Stanford, CA, USA
Methods of Study: 

• laser imaging technology
• transplant gardens
• field station

Name: The Smithsonian Conservation Institute
Website: nationalzoo.si.edu/default.cfm  
Level of Study: Conservation Ecology
Location: Front Royal, VA, USA; Washington, DC, USA
Methods of Study:

• surrogate bird species/surrogate species 

Seed Update #2

Three weeks ago we transplanted our black bean plants into the garden.  The plants have grown significantly since the last time we had visited them, two weeks ago.  Now there are tiny, white flowers blooming from the bean plants.  Sunlight, water, and nutrients from the soil all contribute to the energy the bean plants need to grow. The Phaseolus Vulgaris is considered a producer according to the trophic scale because it provides consumers with food to eat.  On the ecological pyramid it would be placed at the bottom because that is where all producers placed on that specific kind of pyramid.  I saw a bee collecting pollen from one of our bean plants and it made me realize that the plant really is a producer because the bee is consuming the pollen produced by the plant.  The trophic level of the bee would be first level consumer  and producer because with that pollen the bee could make honey.

Update #2

It's been awhile since we've checked on our bean plants and they've been growing bigger than ever. The plants have started to bloom a little bit, which shows that they have been getting the necessary nutrients from the sun and soil. Being the producers they are, the bean plants have the ability to create their own food and energy from sunlight and as producers, they are also on the bottom of the ecological pyramid, where all producers are.

Seed Update #2

   It's been about three weeks since we transplanted our black bean plants. Since the last seed update, the plants have grown immensely. They are now five weeks old and have began to flower tiny, white blossoms. One of our Club Soda plants, named Leslie by my teammate Raven, had a stem that was accidentally broken by another one of our teammates. When we checked the plants today, "Leslie's" stem had straightened and fixed itself.

   The Phaseolus Vulgaris is a producer that receives and creates energy from sunlight, water, and nutrients in the soil it's planted in. For this reason, on an ecological pyramid diagram, it would be at the bottom of the pyramid.

Seed Update #2

In our latest seed update the plants didn't grow as much as last time. However, the stems got thicker and the leaves got stronger. One of the bent plants that we had managed to fix itself. All the plants are green and have tiny white flowers spurting out.

   

Seed Update #2

It has been three weeks since we planted our bean plants. The plants looked like they have each doubled in size, in both height and width. The leaves have all grown to the size of a "normal" leaf. The plants also sprouted some blooming tiny white flowers. The broken plant, "Leslie", referred to by Raven, has fully repaired itself. The plants get their energy by photosynthesis which  takes in carbon, sunlight and water . It would be placed in the producer's trophic level because plants are in the base level.

Seed Update #1

After we completed germinating the seeds, we transplanted our living bean plants from their plastic cups to a garden. The plants that we fed water, Kool Aid, Gatorade and Club Soda seemed to be the only ones that survived.

The following week after the transplantation, we checked on our living plants. They grew larger in width than in length, unlike before when they were in the plastic cups. This was most likely they're reaction and adaptation to the change in environment, as the garden provides more space and sunlight than the plastic cups and fume hood. Overall, these changes in the plants definitely show that there is life in these organisms.

Seed Update #1

When our group completed the germination of the bean plants in class, we transplanted the plants that successfully germinated into the garden.  The only solutions that were fed to the plants that allowed them to germinate were Gatorade, Kool Aid, Club Soda, and the control solution.  As Mr. Bursch instructed, we stuck a shovel into the soil creating a deep hole, we massaged the cup eventually loosening the plant and its soil, then we flipped the cup upside down, and let the stem(s) of the plant feed between our fingers until it sat comfortably in our hands.  Afterwards, we carefully placed the plant into the hole, filled the rest of it with soil, and spread mulch around the plants. We repeated these steps for every plant that had germinated and survived by the end of the lab.

Thanks to the contribution of Mr. Bursch regularly watering our plants after we had transplanted them into the garden, they looked healthy when we visited them a week later.  What also help the plants survive outside after being in the fume hood for a little over a week was their ability to adapt to a new environment.  The bean plants grew significantly since the last time we had seen them.  Also, their leaves matured and became a greener hue. These are all signs of  healthy, nourished, and living plants. 

Seed Update #1

  A few weeks ago, the surviving bean plants from our experiment were transplanted into the garden. The Kool-Aid, Gatorade, Club Soda, and control plants finished germinating and began to grow at an amazing rate due to the change in climate (the plants had been under a fume hood for the majority of our experiment). All of the plants were watered regularly with only water.


  After transplanting the bean plants, the plants grew broader, greener leaves and started to flower. The significant growth and changes in the plants show how living organisms can react to their environment and adapt to survive, a few of the qualities that all living things have.

Seed Update #1

  After we finished germinating the seeds and they started to grow we transplanted them in the garden.  Only a few plants survived the germination which includes the kool aid plant, the club soda plant, the gatorade plant, and the control. To transplant the plants we had to dig a hole and turn the plants upside down in over to get them out of the cup. When we got the plans out of the cup we put them in the hole and filled the hole in with soil.










When we checked up on the plants the first time they grew several centimeters which is very good. Progress in growing stronger leaves were shown but they weren't fed the original solution. They were all fed regular water instead of club soda or gatorade.