My Response

I thought that the Plot Study was a creative and worth-while way to learn about ecology.  I didn't think I would like the Plot Study at the beginning, but I ended up liking it towards the end.  It really taught me some things that just memorizing facts for a test could not.  Because I got to see it first hand.

Here are some things that I learned...

1) I learned that all of the organisms on my plot are dependent on each other.  My plot is an ecosystem where different types of organism are counting on each other to survive.

2) I also learned that because the organisms are dependent on each other, they are using different methods to obtain the resources they need for survival. (ex. predation, symbiosis, parasitism, etc.)

3) I also learned that our eyes can only see so much of God's world.  The pictures I took with the microscopes showed me this.  I would not have thought you could see tiny 'cells' on a leaf from a tree!

4) The food web we made showed my how all of the organisms are connected to each other in the circle of life....organisms will do just about anything to keep themselves alive.

5) Finally, I learned that nature can evoke some strong emotions that can lead to different artistic expressions. Looking at others art projects and poems I realized what an effect nature can have.

To conclude, I thought the Plot Study was an great way to learn about ecology and God's unique world. 

Seasonal Changes

Pic #1...week of Sept. 5
Leaves are green, and a layer of algae is covering the pond. I remember my first time going to my plot and it was 90+ degrees...very sticky out!

















Pic #2...week of Sept. 12
A few trees have started to change colors.  There is still a little algae on the pond, however, it must have been windy because it is all pushed to the back of the pond.

Pic #3...week of Sept. 19
This picture was taken on a crisp morning. No clouds in the sky and most of the trees have started to change their colors.  This is my favorite pic of my plot.

Pic #4...week of Sept. 26

More trees are starting to look barren.  However, there is one yellow tree in the middle of the pic that seems to be holding its leaves.

Pic #5...week of Oct. 3

All of the trees are starting to look alike.  The unique colors they had a few weeks back are almost gone.

Pic #6...week of Oct. 17

The trees closest to the picture seem to have more color left than the tree's out in the background.  The tree's are preparing themselves for the winter to come.  It would be very interesting to take a picture of my plot in the middle of winter and compare it to this!

Producers & Consumers

PRODUCERS
American Beech Tree
Sugar Maple Tree
Butterfly Bush
Grass
Weeping Willow

HERBIVORES
Rabbit
Deer
Chipmunk
Cardinal
Blue Jay

CARNIVORES
Fox
Eagle
Hawk
Daddy-long-legs

OMNIVORES
Raccoon
Skunk
Squirrel
Flies
Bats
Moles

DETRIVORES
Earthworms
Slugs
Worms
Milipedes
Snails
Woodlice

DECOMPOSERS
Fungi
Mushrooms
Moss
Bacteria

Biodiversity

I took pictures of five different types of trees on my plot and identified them by their leaves . To help me identify my leafs and what tree they came from, I used the source called: "Identify By Leaf": http://lib.oh.us/tree/leaf/leaf%20pages/017%20simple%20leaves/simple.html

My first leaf is from a Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
Tree Pic:

Leaf Pic:



My second leaf is from a Ginko Tree (Ginkgo biloba)

Tree Pic:

Leaf pic:

My thrid leaf is from a Blackgum Tree (Nyssa sylvatica)

Tree Pic: (it was a baby tree!)

Leaf Pic:

My 4th tree is a Beech...or the American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
Tree Pic:

Leaf pic:

Plot Community!

Competition:
1. blue jay and cardinal
2. oak and pine tree (competing for sunlight)

Predation:
1. spider and insects
2. blue heron and fish/tadploes

Mutualism:
1. plants and animals (plants give off H2O and animals give off CO2)
2. hummingbird who drinks a flowers pollen

Commensalism:
1. trees that have moss growing on them
2. worm attaching to a turtles shell and eating the turtle's food- the turtle is not harmed, however.

Parasitism:
1. Racoon and round worm
2. Deer and mites

Taking Action!

Emma Hosack and I went to her plot near Plaster Creek and picked up some trash around that area! Here is what we picked up...

It's hard to believe that so much trash can accumulate in one small area! For now at least, it is all picked up! Here is a pic of the trash-free plot...

Biotic or Not?

Abiotic:
-dirt
-water
-sunlight
-air pressure
-rocks
-temperature
Biotic:
-frog
-turtle
-tree
-flower
-algae
-shrubs
-weeds
-squirrels
-bunnies
-flies
-spiders
-fish
-dragonfly
-bumble bee
-mosquitoes

Looking Closely

My first two photos are of a water sample that I took from my plot. It looks like a combination of algae and larva.  It is amazing...you could never see that with only your eyes! The top picture is taken with the 10x lense and the second is taken wtih the 4x lense. I would have never thought so much was actually growing in the water.

My third picture is my favorite.  It is a leaf that I took from my plot.  The leaf almost looks like it has human veins...it reminds me that tress and leafs are very alive with the world. It makes me wonder what all the little dots on the picture are...investigation/hypothesis time!

My Plot Is An Ecosystem

1)
Species: Bee
Population: Colony of Bees
Community: Bees, Butterflies, Dragonflies
Ecosystem: Trees, Flowers (polon), Algae, Bees, Butterflies, Dragonflies

2)
Species: Deer
Population: Herd of Deer
Community: Deer, Racoon, Possum
Ecosystem: Trees, Brush/bark, Insects, Plants, Deer, Racoon, Possum

Expression Project

Meet My Plot!

Meet My Plot

Emily, Biology

September 7, 2011

                When I was deciding where I was going to do my plot study, I decided to choose a place where people have taken extra measures to make sure this place has been able to grow without the ‘outside world’ interfering with it.  My plot is located on the East Beltline between Burton and Lake Dr. in Calvin College’s ecosystem preserve.  When I first saw my plot I made a few observations.  I noticed there was a pond with many trees outlining it.  Also, there was algae growing on top of the pond that seemed to look like carpet across the surface.  I was able to see a turtle sitting on top of a rock in the water and a frog sitting in the foliage between some trees.  There were dragonflies, grasshoppers, and crickets that were all contributing to a different song.  There were many trees that were growing right in the water.  On a more concerning note, there were also some trees that were dying. Hopefully during this project I can come up with a reason on why this may be happening! I am excited to go back and see the changes that happen during the next few weeks.