Example of a prediction the experiment might yield. This model was chosen because the plants grow quickly in the in beginning in search of light. However, as time progressed the growth slowed as the plants reached their maturity and maximum height.

Experiment

Day 3: Plant Set Up

Day one's work on the experiment required another screen to be placed over the middle section that will give the plants partial light, because the light filtering through one screen was too strong. Then we tested measured the light intensity to make sure the plants were getting the correct levels of light the experiment. The day ended with the seeds being planted so they could start the process of germination. On day three both of the species of fast plants had begun sprout out of the soil. Here are the measurements taken from the plants.

Day 3: Partial Light Standard (left) Yellow-Green (right)

Day 3: Indirect Light Standard (left) Yellow-Green (right)

Day 3: Direct Light Standard (left) Yellow-Green (right)

The experiment will measure the growth of the a standard fast plant to the yellow-green fast plant in the different light intensities. Each quadrant of the planters has three three seeds in them and will be pruned so only one plant will be compared to the other. This will minimize any error as the experiment progresses. It will be important to record which plants sprout first and grow more quickly in the three sections. The most important data will come from the contrast of the two plants and their reaction to the harshness of the light. This will determine what kind of light different species prefer.

The Experiment

Close Up of the Two Plants

The experiment tests how light affects the growth of two different variations of fast plants. The test will compare how direct light, part shade, and indirect light alter the growth of the standard fast plant to the yellow-green variation. So far in the experiment the group had make a stand to hold a light over the 6 plants. Next screens were cut to place over two of the three sections of light. To create the shade, three screens were layered, allowing the least amount of light. Next one layer of screen makes the partial light. To make sure light does not seep between the different light intensities walls of styrofoam walls were put up between the sections. It do this one pice of styrofoam was wedged in between a base and glued. So the experiment would be ready next week three containers full of tap water to be distilled. Lastly the seeds were planted into six planters. Three standard fast plants and three yellow-green so one of each can be placed in the three different sections.

Complete Experiment Set Up

What is the Scientific Method?

The scientific method is very important process of proving or disproving a theory by measuring and the empirical date that is collect. There are a few basic  steps to the scientific method.
The first is to ask a question.
Then observe and investigate a phenomena.
The next step is to formulate a hypothesis.
Then make a prediction on what will occur in the experiment.
Next test the hypothesis through an experiment.
Then analyze the date taken from the experiment and see if it supports the hypothesis.
Lastly draw a conclusion from the evidence. If the conclusion does not support the hypothesis, the hypothesis can then be revised.

Abiotic factors are chemical or physical environmental factors in an ecosystem. In order to test how the different components effect the environment there are many tests that can be preformed. For example to test the soil one could take one species of plant and grow it in three or four different soil types. This would be interesting depending on what plant one chooses to preform the experiment on, because different species of plant have adapted to different kinds of soil. Think of a cactus verses a sunflower and how their soil differs. To keep the results accurate try to water them equally and make sure they are exposed to same amount sunlight. Another experiment is on sunlight could be done by growing four different plants. Place one in direct sunlight, one in semi-shade, one in indirect sunlight and the last without light. Then monitor the growth of the amount of plant growth. This experiment will also need to keep some constant components like the water and soil. These two experiment will isolate different key factors in an ecosystem

In the ecosystem experiment we dug up some moss and roots on the trail. Today we sorted through the moss and looked for the different organisms that within it. We also took notes on the vegetation and the different items surrounding the ecosystem. We were lucky enough to dig up an ant hill full of larva and small light orange ants.

Here's a list of the organisms we founds:

a.     25 fallen leaves

b.     5 acorns

c.      10 pieces of scat

d.     50 ants and ant larva

e.     a square foot of moss

f.      1 beetle larva

g.     3 sticks

h.     1 gall