Lab- Predator-Prey Simulation: Population Growth

In the beginning of the experiment, one wolf could barely catch one rabbit out of the three on the board. The wolf was not big enough to catch all three of them and we had to keep multiplying the rabbits in order for the wolf to survive. As shown on the graph, when a wolf does not catch the rest of the rabbits, the rabbits multiply (that is why the rabbits number goes up very high). Once there was enough wolves, they were able to land on most of the rabbits. In the end, the wolves caught all the rabbits. When the rabbits were eaten, all the wolves in the next generation died because they had no food. So, the wolves depend on the rabbits in order to survive. Without the wolves, the rabbit population would skyrocket.

Biome Travel Blog: Oil Spill

Spilled oil can harm the organisms in the ocean because it is poisonous. When oil is released into water, it spreads into a thin layer and floats on the surface. Ocean currents move the oil around any way depending on the current. Once the oil moves, it kills plants and animals in the environment. Wind, like ocean currents, also moves the oil around. The oil can break up into different sections and go in opposite directions, either on the shore or out to sea. The creatures most affected by the oil are animals near the surface of the water (epipelagic zone). Animals that become coated in or ingest oil often die quickly.
Because the oil is spread out on the surface, sunlight is blocked from the organisms. Cyanobacteria and phytoplankton would most likely be effected by this natural disaster because they use the sun to go through photosynthesis. They would die because they do not have sunlight for the process.
Oil can affect the temperature of the ocean. The oil can form in tar balls and mats (oil compacted). The tar absorbs the sunlight which makes the temperature rise.
Fish and shellfish can be exposed if the oil is mixed up into their water column. Adult fish may experience reduced growth, enlarged livers, change in respiration rates. and reproduction impairment.
It is also possible for the oil to stick and clump with floating particles on its way to the deep sea. If it is not broken down by bacteria, then species could be effected by it.
Some fish have ways to get rid of the dangerous oil molecules (PAHs). Exposed fish will clear PAHs out of their muscles and organs. Because the oil is not in the fish's tissues, the oil does not pass up the food chain. Oysters, and mussels don't have this enzyme system so they can pass them on to their predators.

Biome Travel Blog: Marine Pelagic

The Marine Pelagic Biome is a vast realm of open water. The oceans cover 70% of the earth's surface. This biome covers 3,500 feet below the sea surface. The most obvious difference for organisms living in the sea is that the oceans are wet. In water sound travels faster than in air. Sand covers the ocean floor. Marine organisms have to deal with extreme pressure when they go to great depths. When the pressure gets higher, the biodiversity is lower because there is limited food, the temperature drops and there is less light. Marine organisms are faced with a challenge as they swim through different areas to deal with differing levels of salinity in the water. The ocean also is always moving with its constant currents and surface winds. 

Abiotic and Biotic Interactions: Sunlight affects the amount of algae growth. Plants underwater take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

There are 5 different zones to the Marine Pelagic Biome:

Epipelagic Zone (First 500 ft below the surface)- Sunlight Zone

This zone has only cyanobacteria and phytoplankton in it. It receives enough light for the tiny organisms to go through photosynthesis. At night, zooplankton rise toward the surface to feed on algae and bacteria. Most predators, both invertebrate (copepods) and vertebrate (fish) feed at night. The carnivores hunt by sight, so because of natural selection, zooplankton are transparent. Fish that come up to eat are dark on top and light on their bellies so predators don't come up and eat them. Many marine animals come up here, from plankton to great blue whales. 

Blue Marlin Photo by Tony Arruza/Corbis

Mesopelagic Zone (660-3,300 ft)- Twilight Zone

The temperature varies from 68 F- 39 F based on what part of the world you are at. This zone is known as the twilight zone because it does not have enough sunlight for photosynthesis. Fish in this zone have light producing organs and gas filled bladders to help them control buoyancy. Predators have upward-oriented eyes and mouths. Examples of animals in this zone: swordfish, squid, eels, cuttlefish

Cuttlefish Photo by Wolcott Henry

Bathypelagic Zone (3,000-8,000 ft)- Midnight Zone 

The average temperature is 39 F. This zone has the highest diversity of organisms. Fish here are black and have an antennae to help with buoyancy. Bioluminescence is important for species and gender recognition, luring prey, and confusing predators. There are no plants because there is no sunlight. 

Organisms in this zone: Viperfish, frill shark, squid, whales, octopus

Sponges, brachiopods, sea star

Octopus Photo by Espen Rekdal

Abyssopelagic Zone (13,123 to 19,685 ft)- Bottomless Abyss

This area has immense pressure and constant cold (35-37 F) Animals here are able to withstand the pressure (black swallower, deep-sea anglerfish and the giant squid) Some of these creatures have underslung jaws to sift through the sand to catch food. 

Deep Sea Anglerfish from Disney's Pixar "Finding Nemo"

Hadopelagic Zone (20,000 ft to the bottom of the ocean)- Hades/Greek Underworld

This zone has low population and low diversity of marine life. The most common organisms here: jellyfish, viperfish, tube worms, and sea cucumbers. 

Viperfish Photo by Danté Fenolio

These zones all work together because the animals eat the other animals in the zone above them. It is a circle of life. 

Producers: Phytoplankton and aquatic plants (seaweed and algae)- Every species in the marine biome need organic carbon to survive and these tiny organisms produce it. Phytoplankton make their own energy by using photosynthesis. 

Consumers: 

Herbivores- Zooplankton- eat the phytoplankton and invertebrates (like sea urchins) and other fish eat seaweed. 

Carnivores- Small carnivores (like sardines) eat herbivores (like zooplankton), but serve as a meal for bigger animals; Top predators (like sharks, tuna, seals and birds) eat the small carnivores.

Decomposers: Hagfish, worms, fungi and bacteria

Human Influence: We eat fish. 

Isopod Behavior: Response to Pebbles

Introduction
Question: When placed in an environment with two different chambers, do isopods respond more to a chamber with pebbles, or a chamber with no pebbles?
Background: Behavior means how something or someone acts in a specific situation. In this lab, I work with isopods, also known as roly-polies. These organisms respire through gills. I experiment with the isopods and see how they react and how their behaviors change in different types of environments. Here are some basic terms that are critical when learning the behavior of animals:
Proximate cause (the "how") is closest to being the cause for a result. It is the immediate trigger for a type of behavior. It focuses on the environment that stimulates the cause. An example of a proximate question about birdsong: How does it know when it is the right time to sing? Ultimate cause (the "why") is what is believed to be the real cause. Ultimate cause has something to do with the big picture, like evolution. An example of an ultimate question: Why does the bird sing? Fixed action patterns is an animal's instinct. It is a sequence of behaviors that an animal carries out every time; no matter what. An example: A mother goose lays eggs in a nest. If an egg rolls out of the nest, the goose will move her beak in a specific way to push the egg back into the nest. If the egg is completely removed from the nest, the goose will still move her beak trying to push nothing into the nest. Imprinting is a process where a young animal follows the actions/characteristics of its parent. A proximate cause for imprinting in young geese: The young geese see their mother leaving and calling them. An ultimate cause: The mother takes care of the geese and teaches it basic skills, so geese that do imprint have a better chance of survival. Taxis is a specific, and directed motion in response to a stimulus. For an example, if you leave a plant near a window during the summer, it will grow towards the window/towards the light. It directly goes to the light. Kinesis a random, undirected motion in response to a stimulus. For an example, when lights go on in a room, cockroaches scatter every which way, in no direct area. They are responding to the stimulus (the light) in a random way. Classical conditioning is an involuntary response to a stimulus. For an example, when kids hear the ice-cream truck, they get excited because they love to eat ice-cream. So the stimulus is the music from the ice-cream truck and the response is the happiness. Operant conditioning is a voluntary behavior based on the consequences. For an example, you kick a ball. The ball bounces off a wall and hits you in the face. Now, you pay more attention when you are kicking balls. Isopods are crustaceans, so they are related to crabs, crayfish, and shrimp. All these creatures, including isopods have gills and need water to breathe. Because isopods live on the land, they need moisture to live. When I put 6 isopods in a dry chamber, and 6 isopods in a moist chamber, most of the isopods would travel to the moist chamber. So there is only one independent variable, in my experiment I make both of the chambers moist. It will show how the isopods only respond to the pebbles.

Hypothesis: If isopods are placed in a rock/no rock choice chamber and are allowed to move freely for four minutes, then they will move towards the rocky chamber because they live in environments where there is dirt and rocks.

The independent variable are the rocks, and the dependent are the amount of isopods in the chamber with the rocks.

Materials:
Isopods
Two chamber box
Pebbles
Water
Circle place cards for chambers
Timer

Procedure:
1) Place two moist circle cards into each chamber, and pebbles on one side of the chamber.
2) Place 6 isopods into one chamber, and 6 isopods into the other.
3) Count how many isopods are on each side of the choice chamber every 30 seconds for 4 minutes.
4) Record the data on a table.

Results:

Conclusion: Based on my findings and the graph, as time went on, most of the isopods made their way to the chamber with the pebbles. You can see that the amount of isopods in Chamber 2 went all the way down to only one, and the line of Chamber 1 went up. My hypothesis was correct, that if isopods are placed in a rock/no rock choice chamber and are allowed to move freely for four minutes, then they will move towards the rocky chamber because they live in environments where there is dirt and rocks. Isopods are usually found under rocks, logs and leaves. They hide from the sunlight. I noted one specific isopod who actually went under the pebbles in the chamber. The isopods instinctively go to the pebbles because that is what they are used to. They need dirt and rocks in order to survive and feel safe.