Biofilm Simulation at the G.C. Marine Reserve

Generation 1 of my biofilm plate simulation.

.

Generation 2 of my biofilm plate simulation.

In class we made a grahm cracker reserve using icing, a life saver, marshmallows, and graham crackers. The icing represented the surface for things to hold onto. The sprinkles represented the organisims, and the lifesavers represented the bolts that attached the graham cracker to the substrate. 



Crustaceans and Echinoderms

Differences

Crustaceans

• Exoskeleton
• Bilateral Symmetry
• Molt

http://s2.hubimg.com/u/1550865_f248.jpg
Kingdom: Animal
Phylum: Arthropods
Class: Crustaceans
Order: Decapoda
Family: Alpheidae
Genus: Alpheus
Species: Alpheus Bellules



http://www.betaparticle.com/blog/UserFiles/Image/goin4-1.gif
Kingdom: Animal
Phylum: Arthropods
Class: Crustaceans
Order: Decapoda
Family: Madijae
Genus: Maja
Species: Maja squinado



http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l8xyppy5rm1qcc9roo1_500.jpg
Kingdom: Animal
Phylum: Arthropod
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Stomatopoda
Family:Odontodactylidae
Genus: Odontodactylus
Species: Odontodactylus scyllarus

Echinoderms

• Endoskeleton
• Radial Symmetry
• Test

http://www.msnucleus.org/membership/html/jh/biological/echinoderms/images/sea_star01.jpg
Kingdom: Animal
Phylum: Echinoderm
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Phanerozonia
Family: Asteriidae
Genus: Pisaster
Species: Pisaster ochraceus 

http://www.studentreader.com/files/purplestarfishonrocks.jpg
Kingdom: Animal
Phylum: Echinoderm
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Phanerozonia
Family: Asteriidae
Genus: Pisaster
Species: Pisaster ochraceus



http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/178498/178498,1264952311,1/stock-photo-striped-sun-star-with-green-sea-urchin-45638512.jpg
Kingdom: Animal
Phylum: Echinoderm
Class:



Similarity

• Regeneration

Cool Mantis Shrimp Video Link

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5219672612991804355#

Mollusk Discovery

Chiton



Common Name: Butterfly Chiton

Scientific Name: Cryptoconchus porosus

Taxonomy

• Kingdom-Animal
• Phylum-Mollusk
• Class-Polyplacophora
• Order-Neoloricata
• Family-Acanthochitonidae
• Genus-Cryptoconchus
• Species-Cryptoconchus porosus

Link to video:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CD0QtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DzsScH4TJ7NA&ei=DtaQTdmMEKG00QGd1-CnCw&usg=AFQjCNHAZrziCx-0pQkQb5KOa7slG5XYIg&sig2=gXxCkX1VwNBtPe8f4sA74w

To be a true chiton, it has to have no eyes and no tentacles. It has to have 8 overlapping shells over a muscular foot. It uses its radula to scrap algae off rocks. They can hold on tight to rocks, and if pried off they will roll up.

Plankton Wars!!!!

Last Wednesday our class participated in a PLANKTON WAR!!! We got with a partner, and we had to come up with a plankton design that would not float or sink too fast. Me and my partner Ashleigh, came up with a design that we thought would be a sure fire win. Our clay plankton was held together by toothpicks that were plunged down the middle. We inserted Q-tips in the sides where we hung soda can tops off the ends of the Q-tips. We put a nut in between each layer of clay so that it would give us a little weight so that we would not just float. When it was our turn to test our plankton, we felt that we had a really good chance at winning the war. We were wrong!!! As soon as our plankton hit the water it sunk like a rock. We had the chance to take somethings off, but on our second try, we still failed. I feel as though our plankton failed because of the weight of the nuts and the weight of the clay. 

The winner of the war was Karen and Morgan. Their plankton won because it was light-weight, but also heavy enough to float below the water's surface. Their plankton had a flat head and two toothpicks sticking out. Their plankton also had a red sword for show.   

Observation Day #5- At home edition

Site 1

• See: While I was outside, I saw pieces of my bus stop bench all over my yard. As I was picking up the pieces of my broken bench, I could see cars zooming by, and unknown species of birds flying high in the sky.
• Feel: I felt the cold winter air blowing strongly as I walked around my house. I also began to feel fatigued as I walked around and picked up the broken pieces of my bench.
• Hear: I could hear the birds chirping high trees. I could also hear the faint sound of my neighbors dog barking, and the sound of their car door closing.

Site 2

• See: Across from my house, I could see the beautiful and majestic horses grazing in the pasture. As I went further up my road, I could also see trees with their leaves coming back. I could also see the colorful flowers growing back.
• Feel: I could still feel the cold wind blowing, but it was more intense because the cars were zooming by me as I walked my road.
• Hear: I could hear the horses neighing, the remainder of leaves rustling in the wind, and the neighbor's dog as I walked by their house.

Site 3

• See: As I returned home, I found my dad outside raking up the leaves in our yard. There wasn't many interesting things in my yard except for some squirrels scurrying up the trees to their homes for the night.
• Feel: By now, it was really starting to get cold outside, but my adventure was not over yet.
• Hear: I could hear the faint sounds of the nocturnal creatures coming out of their cozy homes to enjoy the night air.

Site 4

• See: I went around to my backyard, and I went to the hidden trail in our woods. There wasn't much to see, except for fallen trees and the power line. The creatures had not yet made it out of their homes.
• Feel: I felt the branches crunching underneath my feet, and some of the low hanging branches hitting me in the face as I walked the trail.
• Hear: I heard the leaves rustling and the crickets chirping an annoying, but somewhat soothing song.

Observation Day 1-January 17, 2011

Site 1

• See: We saw animal poop, tree branches, and pinecones.
• Hear: We heard the wind blowing through the trees and the leaves rustling as we walked through the woods. 
• Feel: We felt the cold wind as we walked through the woods.

Site 2

• See: We saw rabbit poop, some leaves that had be chewed on, possibly by deer, and leaves.
• Hear: We could still hear the wind blowing and the leaves rustling.
• Feel: It was a little warmer here, but still cold. I could feel the wind blowing.



Site 3

• See: There were alot of bare trees, leaves, and twigs.
• Hear: I heard the wind blowing and the leaves crunching as we walked through the woods.
• Feel: I felt the cold wind blowing through the trees.

Site 4

• See: I saw rotting tree logs, leaves, and branches on the ground.
• Hear: I heard the wind blowing through the trees, and I heard the leaves crunching under our feet as we walked.
• Feel: I felt the cold wind blowing,and thorns hitting me as we walked through the woods.



Observation Day 4-February 14, 2011

Site 1


At site 1, we went to the pond. It was very sunny and warm. It was also very windy out. I saw geese in the water, and heard a tree break and crash as the wind blew violently.
Site 2


At site 2, we were by the creek in the woods. By the creek there was a lot of shade, so it was cooler than when we were out in the open with the sun being more exposed. It was still windy, and in the water, there was polution.
Site 3


At site 3, we took a long walk through the woods along the creek. It was hot, sunny and windy. We had to watch for falling trees, and watch for the thorn vines on the ground.

Plankton Observations- February 7,2011

On February 7,2011, our class looked at plankton from the lake water under a microscope. The picture on the left is a picture of a worm. It is a macro sized zooplankton and it is a meroplankton.

The picture on the right is a picture of a micro-plankton. It is a zooplankton, holoplankton because it will always be a plankton for the rest of its life.

The picture to the left is a sand sample from Star Beach, Japan. These are sea star skeletons, which are meroplankton. They are also macro, zooplankton.

The picture to the right is of another example of a micro-plankton. It is also a zooplankton and a holoplankton because it will always be a plankton.






 Pictures provided by:Mrs. Richardson

Observation Day 3-January 23, 2010

Site 1

• See- In site 1 there was a lake filled with geese. There was also a lot of dead plants, trees, twigs, and leaves around.
• Hear- While at site 1, I heard a lot of pine cones crunching as we walked through the woods. I could also hear the wind blowing through the trees. 
• Feel- As we walked through the woods, I felt a variety of things on our journey. I felt the sharp pain of the thorns hit me when we took our trek through the woods. I also felt the cool late January wind blow.  

Site 2

• See- At site 2 there was not much to see, but I did see some birds flying high in the sky and moss covered trees and branches. There was also a few deer tracks around the area.
• Hear- Throughout the walk I heard crunching leaves and birds singing a lovely song. 
• Feel- I could feel the warm rays of sun beaming down from the sky. I could also feel the hard rocks, branches, and pine cones underneath my feet. 

Site 3

• See:  At site 3 I saw: thorns, vines, rotting logs, low hanging branches, and birds flying high in the sky.
• Feel: At site 3, I felt the cool breeze blowing through the trees and the warm rays of the sun beaming down.
• Hear: I heard leaves rustling and the wind blowing.

Site 4

• See: I saw the trees, a bunch of fallen trees and branches, rotting logs, and pinecones.
• Feel: I felt the cool breeze and the warm air blowing through the trees.
• Hear: I heard the leaves rustling and the wind blowing through the trees.