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):