2) Theuns Kuhn: I now have a better understanding of ecology because the Eco-column showed me how biotic and abiotic because we saw how the lack of sunlight, water over the holidays and the temperature effect the growth of the plants, algae ect.

Angus Sutherland: Doing this Eco-column gave us a better understanding of ecology. Ecology is the study of how abiotic components affected the biotic components.

These are examples on how abiotic factors can affect the biotic factors. These examples are not however a reflection of OUR eco column:

Sunlight and artificial light.	One of the reasons our radishes did not flourish was due to the lack of light exposure.
Temperature	For algae to develop a fairly warm temperature is needed. It cannot develop in freezing conditions.
Water	For algae to develop the water used in the aqua zone needs to be from a natural source. Water from the tap contains chlorine which kills bacteria therefore stopping algae from developing.

 

Nikolai Piotrowski: I feel now that I have gained the basic understanding of ecology through the way that I have see our Eco-column behave due to the dynamic relationships between abiotic and biotic components and how without any of the key parts in an Ecosysytem how it stuggles to be self sustaining.

3) Theuns Kuhn: Yes, I think we did work well together because we quickly decided who must do what. Angus did most of the physical work (measuring the Hp, taking pictures of the the Eco-column and cell-scoping) and Nikolai and I shared most of the writing work. I think that we could of got slightly better mark though.

Angus Sutherland: I think that each member pulled their weight in the group. We worked well together with each member doing his part. Our Blog mark was an acuarate reflection of what the whole group deserved.

Nikolai Piotrowski: I feel that the group worked very well together but with a few difficulties at certain times. There was very good communication between the members and we came to conclusions early on thoughts and what is needed to be done by who. I thought the quality of the work was excellent from every group member.

-column as an ecosystem – 1 member to post.

 Ecosystems

2.1) Definition of an ecosystem: A unit in which aboitic and biotic organism have a relationship were they interact with one another, the living (biotic) organism interact with the abiotic physical environment . An ecosystem is a defined area which is self sustaining. An ecosystem cannot exist without abiotic and biotic components. An ecosystem as four main sections. 1) Autotrophs (make their own food) or producers which are mainly green plants because of photosynthesis . 2) the consumers which are heterotrophs, mainly animals. 3) the decomposers which are in fact heterotrophs mainly bacteria and fungi. 4) the non living/ abiotic environment.

2.2) The reason we consider our Eco-column to be an ecosystem, is because in our Eco- column we have biotic (decomposers, heterotrophs, Autotrophs) and aboitic components in our column which is the most vital part of an ecosystem. Are Eco- column is in a defined space with the ability for outsiders eg. Fruit flies, to enter our Eco- column just like in environments and habitats. Proof of this is we have bacteria, fungi and earthworms as decomposers; we had algae and a plant as our Autotrophs to produce oxygen. We had fruit flies and earthworms acting as Consumers so in our ecosystem we had all the essential parts in an ecosystem. One of the reasons we would consider our Eco-column not to be a successful ecosystem is because it was not self sustaining but in nature it is the circle of life to die so therefore that is an acceptable feat that our Eco-column died but for us as a group it feels a bit like a failure but we still think of it as a success..  In our ecosystem we had one or 2 food chains running but not an entire food web. Therefore we do not think are Eco-column was a perfect ecosystem but could be classified as one as we had biotic and abiotic components.

Evidence of abiotic components:

Soil:

Bark, decomposed fruit and twigs:

Evidence of biotic components:

Radish plants:

Algae:

2.3) The reason we think our eco-column was a success was understanbly that the eco column had all the essential parts of a ecosystem. Unfortunately for us , mistakes let us down as we did not recycle the water often enough, didn’t have a food web in our ecosystem and had no water for three weeks during the holidays . On the other hand we can see it as a success but not as a success as a ecosystem.  If our eco- column deemed success it would be that we had all the essentials defining a ecosystem. All our posts were done with great success because of our eco-column so we can conclude that our eco-column was success but not a success as an eco-column. Bacteria and fungi are still living in our eco-column decomposing what is left this is what really happens in nature so another plus by which it was it success. One of the reasons we would consider our eco-column not to be a successful ecosystem is because it was not self sustaining but in nature it is the circle of life to die so therefore that is an acceptable feat that our eco-column died but for us as a group it feels a bit like a failure but we still think of it as a success.

Changes in our eco-column over 3 weeks

Predictions

We think that the chances of our Eco-column surviving over the holidays are very low due to us group members or anyone else being there to look after the Eco-column (adding water ect.).  

Terra Zone: The plants will die and be dried out on the ground.

Decomposition Zone: The level will lower and there will be less waste.

Aqua Zone: There will be more algae due to it growing.

Photos of Eco-column before the holidays (end of term 1):

Terra Zone

Decomposition Zone

Aqua Zone

Accuracy of predictions:

Terra Zone: We were right in saying that the plants will die because they received no water or sunlight during the holidays. We were wrong in saying that the plants will be dried out and on the ground because the plants decomposed very quickly and by the time we got back there were no plants left at all. The soil was also extremely dry and formed dry clumps because the Terra zone received no water during the holidays to keep it moist.

Decomposition Zone: We were wrong in saying that the level will lower because it stayed approximately the same as there was a lot of matter in the decomposition and will take more than 3 weeks to see a drastic difference in the level of the decomposition zone. We were right in saying that there will be less waste because the fruit pieces and the banana peel had decomposed completely due to the fruit flies and other organisms eating/decomposing the material. The decomposition zone also dried out drastically because no water was added to the Eco-column during the holidays. 

Aqua Zone: We were wrong in saying that there will be more algae because the amount of algae stayed the same. This was because the algae did not receive oxygen because the water was stagnant unlike a flowing river. The water level also lowered due to evaporation. 

Photos of all 3 zones before and after the holidays:

Terra Zone

End of term 1 (before the holidays):

After the holidays (start of term 2):

Decomposition Zone:

End of term 1 (before the holidays):

After the holidays (start of term 2):

Aqua Zone:

End of term 1 (before the holidays):

After the holidays (start of term 2):

Observation of biotic components under light microscopes

Observation of biotic components under light microscopes

The Water

We took out some water from our aqua zone, and observed the water under a light microscope. The water was relatively clean but some plant fragments that have gone through the recycled water where clearly visible and some small pieces of swimming algae where also visible.

url of photo below:

http://microbeauty.blogspot.com/2009/08/drain-water-under-microscope.html

The Soil

In the soil there are no clear biotic components and the soil has a rich appearance. The soil looks moist.

Photos of us looking through the light microscope at the water from the Aqua Zone and the soil from the Terrra Zone.

Who did what?

The Comments were done by Nikolai Piotrowski.

The picture of the soil was taken by Angus Sutherland.

The picture of the water was taken by Angus Sutherland.

The picture of the water was taken by Theuns Kuhn.

The setting up of the microscope for the soil was done by Theuns Kuhn

The setting up of the microscope for the water was done by Nikolai Piotrowski.

The putting together of this post was done by Nikolai Piotrowski.

The picture comments in the picture were put together by Theuns Kuhn.

Abiotic components of our eco - column

Test 1:

Temperatures:

Temperature of room: 29 degrees Celsius

Temperature of aqua zone: 28 degrees Celsius

pH of water:

pH of water is 9

No difficulties were encountered when recording the pH.

Test 2:

Temperatures:

Temperature of water: 21 degrees Celsius

Temperature of room: 22 degrees Celsius

pH of the water:

pH of water is still 9

No difficulties were encountered when recording the pH.

Photos of us taking recordings: 

 Terra

The earthworms are thriving because the moisture is perfect for the earthworms and the temperature is a warm, there is plenty nutrients for them to eat and at night the light is dark as usual which is very good for earthworms.  “It is moist as fresh water is added is regularly as possible. Earthworms need few requirements to thrive; a dark, moist environment with plenty to eat is all they need.  The result is nature's perfect fertilizer.” http://www.worms4earth.com/aboutworms.php

Decomposition

The moisture is good enough for the fruit fly eggs to hatch as the decomposition zone is quite closed so the eggs can be able to hatch. Fruit flies are attracted to rotting materials and this affecting our decomp zone as the material is rotting, fruit flies prefer humid temperatures. “Fruit flies are active in the summer, but you won't find them in cold winter temperatures. The tiny pests will find their way into your home in warm months, hovering around exposed fruit and food wherever they can find it” this supports my point of the fruit flies being attracted to warm temperatures.

Read more: Can Cold Temperatures Kill Fruit Flies? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_10005344_can-cold-temperatures-kill-fruit-flies.html#ixzz2NVNIKTSk

Aqua

 The algae will not thrive in the aqua zone as the water is not be recycled. The tropical temperature of the water is not ideal for the algae. “Temperature The optimal temperature for phytoplankton cultures is generally between 20 and 24°C” our temperatures on the first time were about 28°C and on the second time was 22°C  so the plant is experiencing a difference in temperature which is not good for the plant and the average temperature was over 24°C. http://www.growing-algae.com/algae-growing-conditions.html

The pH is 9 of our water, and inorder for a algae to thrive the pH needs to be inbetween 7-9, and that is good for our algae plant. There is almost no sunlight that gets into our system and therefore  our radish seeds are dead and it is not helping our algae at all.  There is movement in the air due to the fans.

  The pH range for most cultured algal species is between 7 and 9, with the optimum range being 8.2-8.7. Complete culture collapse due to the disruption of many cellular processes can result from a failure to maintain an acceptable pH. The latter is accomplished by aerating or mixing the culture. In the case of high-density algal culture, the addition of carbon dioxide allows to correct for increased pH, which may reach limiting values of up to pH 9 during algal growth.

http://www.growing-algae.com/algae-growing-conditions.html

Algae, diverse group of simple, plantlike organisms. Like plants, most algae use the energy of sunlight to make their own food, a process called photosynthesis.

https://autocww2.colorado.edu/~toldy2/E64ContentFiles/AlgaeAndFungi/Algae.html

Who did what?

Nikolai did all the comments and collected the links and copied and pasted the info.

Theuns posted data and made the pictures comments.

Angus measured all the data.

Changes in the biotic components of our eco – column

Changes in the biotic components of our eco – column

Set 1 eco - column test (Monday 4 march):

Number of plants:

7 radishes

3 three leaf clovers

Colour:

Clover leaf colour is rich dark green

Radish leaf colour is light green

Radish stem is white but firm

Animals:

3 fruit flies are in decomposition zone that are alive

2 earthworms that were put in the Terra Zone are now not visible (possibly dead)

 

Leaves:

2 on each radish plant

Three on each clover stem

Height of plant (cm):

10; 9.5; 6.5; 8.5; 7; 10; 8

Average = 8.5

Set 2 eco - column (Thursday 7 March - last):

Number of plants:

6 radishes

No three leaf clovers (died)

Colour:

Clover as no leaves (died)

Radish leaf colour is faded light green/yellow 

The stem of the radishes are white and weak

Animals:

5 fruit flies in decomposition zone that are alive

2 earthworms that were put in are unvisiable

Leaves:

2 on each radish

The clover has died and its leaves have been eaten

Height of plants (cm):

11.5; 10; 7; 7; 11; 9

Average = 9.25cm

Test 1 (4 March) and test 2 (7 march) for Terra Zone: 

Test 1 (4 March) and test 2 (7 march) for Decomposition Zone:  

Test 1 (4 March) and test 2 (7 march) for Aqua Zone:  

Pictures of identified specimens:

Fruit flies:

http://www.smallfootprintfamily.com/how-to-get-rid-of-fruit-flies-naturally

Earthworms:

http://www.petcaregt.com/petcare/earthworms.html

 Who did what?

Theuns measured the height of plants, number of leaves, number of plants, colour of leaves and labelled all the photos above and included the photos of the identified specimens as well as the urls of those photos.

Nikolai checked to see whether the plants are alive or dead as well as number, type, where they are found.       

new pictures of annotated diagram