Assignment:
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES FOR EXPERIMENT ASSIGNMENT
• Experiment - Species Interactions: Competition
• Experiment - Biomes (Part I and II)
Experiment 1: Species Interactions: Competition
In this exercise you will be evaluating the effect of competition on the population size of two species of microorganisms. Be sure you have read through the readings for as well as the introductory information for the Experiment.
You will use the following data to answer the questions.
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Grown Separately (cells per ml)
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Grown Together (cells/ml)
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Day
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P. caudatum
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P. aurelia
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P. caudatum
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P. aurelia
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0
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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10
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8
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10
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6
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4
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28
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50
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20
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66
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6
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50
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86
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20
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80
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8
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60
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96
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16
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80
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10
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58
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100
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6
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88
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12
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58
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96
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4
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94
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14
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58
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96
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0
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96
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16
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58
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98
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0
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96
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A. Now it is time to analyze your data.
a. You will need to generate two graphs, one which depicts the number of both species per day of culture when grown separately and one that depicts the number of both species per day of culture when grown together.
b. You must use the Scatter type graph in Excel and each graph should have two lines (one for each species).
c. Be sure you label your axes and your series; meaning you will need to indicate which line pertains to P. caudatum and which to P. aurelia.
Paste your two graphs below:
Questions
1. What were the dependent and independent variables for the experiment?
2. What were the carrying capacities (maximum population size) for the two species when grown separately and on what day were they reached?
3. Describe what happened when the two species were grown together and explain why. Be sure to discuss the magnitude and timing of each species' carrying capacity compared to when they were grown separately.
4. Do these results support the principle of competitive exclusion; why or why not? Be sure to cite your sources.
5. Think about what would if additional food was placed in the test tube containing both the species. How might this change the results?
Experiment 2: Biomes
In these two relatively short exercises, we will be examining the biotic and abiotic factors that define a biome. You should have completed the readings for this week before beginning.
Procedure - Part I: The Great Graph Match
A. Open the following website:
NASA. No date. The Great Graph Match
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/graphmatch_advanced.php
B. In the Great Graph Match, you will need to match abiotic information (annual rainfall and temperatures) to the appropriate biome. Follow the instructions on the page and fill-in the Table below. For the Explanation column, you need to briefly explain why you chose the biome you did based on the data presented.
C. Be sure to provide complete citations for the sources used.
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Location
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Biome
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Explanation
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Frogmore, England
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Goteborg, Sweden
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Koombooloomba, Australia
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Barrow, Alaska
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Alice Springs, Australia
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San Bernadino, California
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Centralia, Kansas
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Citations:
Procedure - Part II: To Plant or Not to Plant
A. Open the following website:
NASA. No date. To Plant or Not to Plant
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/biome/plantindex.php
B. In the To Plant or not to Plant, you will need to determine which in which biomes to plant various plants, based on the information presented. Follow the instructions on the page and fill-in the Table below. For the Explanation column, you need to briefly explain why you chose the biome you did.
C. Be sure to provide complete citations for the sources used.
Table below. Plants, biomes and explanations.
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Plant
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Biome
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Explanation
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Creosote bush
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Spruce
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Flowering dogwood
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Orchid
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Lichen
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Bluestem grasses
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White sage
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Saguaro cactus
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