Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Last BOW of the Year

What was your favorite topic this semester? Why?
 My favorite topic was the ecosystem, because I liked learning the interactions between animals and the circle of lifeeeee.
 
What was your least favorite?
 My least favorite topic is the body systems.

What would you change about this class if you could?
 nothing.
 
What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment in biology this year?
I was learning about animals and people around me, and I used the knowledge in real life without even knowing it.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

[BOW 2-11] Endangered Species

Dear Mom,

How have you been? Are you still working hard and getting stronger? I'm doing good, too, I guess. Actually, no, things have been very rough for me. My trainer is making me work too hard, and I get very tired. I have been fainting so much lately and have visited the doctor more than I should. I've gotten stronger, but at this rate, I'd rather be weak and relaxed than strong and strained.

We're endangered, ma. There's not that many of us left. Those humans never give us any rest. Maybe this is why we're such a rare species, ma. My trainer is calling me. I must go.

With much love, 
                           Pikachu.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

[BOW 2-9] Symbioisis

Predator/prey: the relationship between two organisms in which one is the predator and the other is the prey, which the predator consumes.

Parasitism: the relationship between two organisms in which one benefits and the other is damaged. the harming organisms lives on the other organism.

Mutualism: the relationship between two organisms in which both benefit.







commensalism:the relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other if neutral.




References:
https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbiosis

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Habitable Planet.

 
Producers--
 
Step 1 Questions:
What assumptions does this model make about co-dominance as well as the general terrain of the ecosystem?
It assumes there is no co-dominance
Do you find one producer to be dominant? Why might one producer be dominant over another?

Plant A is much more dominant over Plant B. There are no more organisms of Plant B's species by 8 steps. Plants A probably made more food than Plant B by being taller to absorb better light.

Step 2 Questions:
Does adding the herbivore establish a more equal field? Is one producer still dominant over the other? Why might one producer be dominant over another?
Yes it does. Plant B is now dominant over Plant A. If rabbits are eating Plant A, which I assume is taller than Plant B, then Plant B has more exposure to the light and therefore makes more food.
If the simulation included decomposers, how would your current results change?
Plant A would be higher in population.
How do producer population numbers with the presence of an herbivore compare to the primary colonizer model?
The rabbit is the top predator. Nthing in the ecosystem could eat it so far.

Food Web--

Step 1 Questions:
Was your prediction correct? How did you arrive at your prediction? What differences were there between your prediction and the simulation?
No it wasn't. I thought the top predator would become dominant, but it's population did not rise.
What would happen to this imaginary ecosystem if the producers were to die out? 
Herbivores, omnivores, and the top predator would be non existent.
Did any of the species increase in number? What could account for this increase? Which species decreased in number and what might account for this decrease?
Rabbits increased in number because there was more Plant A to eat. Plant A decreased in number because it is eaten by the rabbit and omnivore.
Which populations would benefit the most from the presence of decomposers?
Plant A, for it will get more nutrients.

Step 2 Questions:Was your prediction correct? How did you arrive at your prediction? What differences were there between your prediction and the simulation?
I didn't think any species would die out, but Omnivore A and Omnivore B both died out.
Were you able to modify the parameters so that each species survived? Explain how you decided what changes to make.
Yes. If the Top Predator didn't eat Herbivore B, then all the species survive.
Which way does energy flow and how does eating an organism result in energy transfer?
Energy flows upward to an organism in another tropic level.