Site Introduction

Objective:
Myobjectiveistostudytheplantsandgetabetterunderstandingofmy
surroundings.Iwanttolearnaboutmyenvironmentandhowtokeepitcleanand
healthy.

SiteDescription
1. ObservationDescription:
Mysitehasaslowmovingcreekintheback.Itis
veryshadyallday.Thereisaalcovecoveredinsmallbushes,grasses,and
plants.Itisverycalm,smellsfresh,andalowtemp,itisalsoverypleasant
tohearthebirdschirping.Therearemanybugs,birds,andpossibleracoons.
2. Prediction:
Ipredictthatmysitewillstayfairlyconstant.Idothinkthe
plantswillgrowalittle.Ipredictthatitwillgethotteranddryerbecauseitis
summerandweareinadrought.Ialsobelievethecreekmighthaveless
waterbytheendofthisstudy.

SiteData

Measurements Intro

Week2

Week3

Week
4

Week
5

Week
6

PlantHeight1

4cm

4.5cm

5cm

5.25
cm

5.5cm 6.0cm

PlantHeight2

7cm

7.5cm

7.75cm

8cm

8.25c
m

8.5cm

Tree1%of
49%
leavecoverage

49%

49%

49%

50%

49%

%ofspiky
28%
weedcoverage

29%

32%

33%

32%

32%

Estimationof
flyinginsect

45

30

38

34

28

35

#ofworms
underrockA

#ofspidersor
spiderwebs

17

15

20

18

23

17

#ofdeer
4
footprints/scat

Widthofcreek 45cm

45cm

43cm

43cm 42cm 41cm

Speedofcreek 2mph

2mph

2mph

2mph 2mph 2mph

Averagenight
Temp

40
40
43
43
fahrenheit fahrenheit fahrenheit fahren
heit

43
fahren
heit

44
fahren
heit

AverageDay
Temp

65
65
67
68
fahrenheit fahrenheit fahrenheit fahren
heit

68
fahren
heit

69
fahren
heit

#ofsquirrels

#ofdifferent
plants

about25

about25

about25 about
25

about
25

about
25

Quiet
and
peacef
ul

Calm,

Soundsat1pm Quiet,
Quiet,a
Quiet,
onwednesday somebird lotofbirds and
chirping
peaceful

Quiet,
birds
chirpin
g

birdsin
the
distance

FocusQuestions:

Intro:
1. Mybiomeisatemperatetreeshrubland
2. Iseeaparasiticrelationshipbetweenthebugsandtheplants,a
commensalisticrelationshipbetweenawormanddirt,ithelpstheplants
grow.

3. Thefoodchainis,plants>bugs>frogs>snakes>owls.
Week2:
1. Twoimpactsontheenvironmentistheerosionfromhikersandtrash.
2. Alimitingfactorfortheplantsarethetalltreesblockingoutthesunlight.
Foranimals,thereisntthatmuchfood,andmysitedoesnothaveroomto
supportbiganimals.
Week3:
1. Bacteriaareimportantforplantsbecausetheydecomposedeadplant
materialsothenutrientscangointothegroundandnewplantscangrow.
Forsoilbacteriafertilizesit.Bacteriahelpsanimalsintheirgutbybreaking
downfood.Bacteriahelpsthewholeecosysteminmanyways.
2. Fungiiseverywhereintrees,theground,andonhumans.Theyhelpbreak
downthingsthroughdecomposition.
3. Ithinkthereisfungiinmyarea,butimnot100%surebecausemysiteis
coveredinpoisonoaksoIhaventgoneinitthatfar.
Week4:
1. Theinvertebratesinmyareaare:Worms,Flies,Grasshoppers,Mosquitoes,
andotherbugsthatIamunawareoftheirnames.
2. Thewormdecompose,thefliesproducemaggotsthatdecomposestuff,
mosquitoessuckthebloodofotheranimals,andgrasshoppersfeedon
smalleranimals.
3. Thewormsarefoundontheground,mosquitosflyaroundandtheireggsare
inwater,grasshoppersareeverywhereandfliesflyaround.
Week5:

1.

2. 1=Anangiospermdicotbecauseitbearsfruitandhavetendrilscomingfrom
acentralpoint2=Aseedlessvascularplantbecauseitgivesoffsporesnot
flowersbutitdoeshavevasculartissue.3=Anangiospermdicotbecauseit
givesoffflowersandithastendrilscomingfromacentralpoint4=A
Bryophytebecauseitdoesntgiveoffseedswiththeprotectionofaovary

fruitorflower5=Anangiospermmonocotbecauseitflowershasvertical
tendrils
Week6:
1. Thedifferencebetweendermal,vascularandgroundtissueare:Thedermal
isa1celllayerthickthatsecretesawaxysubstancethatinhibitswaterloss.
Vasculartissueconstitutesthevascularsystemconsistingofphleomand
xylem.Groundtissueisallothertissuesthatarenotvascularordermal
tissues.
2. Nitrogenisessentialtosoilbecauseitfertilizesthesoil.Phosphorus
regulatesplantssynthesis.PotassiumregulatesitsCO2uptake.
3. 3examplesofpollination:Spores,Cones,Beeswithflowers.
4. 3adaptationsinmyarea:Thornsonvines,Poisonoaksabilitytocauserash,
andbrightflowerstoattractpollinators.