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.