Lab 7: Ecological Interactions INSTRUCTIONS: Grow 10 radish seeds in 3 petri dis
ID: 37418 • Letter: L
Question
Lab 7: Ecological Interactions
INSTRUCTIONS: Grow 10 radish seeds in 3 petri dishes, one in water, one in Acetic Acid(vinegar) and one in 15% Saturated Sodium Bicarbonate (baking Soda) and see what grows and how fast and what doesn't grow. I don't expect experts to do experiment but maybe give an idea of what would happen to the seeds.
Pre-Lab Questions
Would you expect endangered species to be more frequently generalists or specialists? Explain your answer.
How does temperature affect water availability in an ecosystem?
Choose a species and describe some adaptations that species developed that allow them to survive in their native habitat.
Experiment 1: Effects of pH on Radish Seed Germination
Data Tables and Post-Lab Assessment
Table 1: pH and % Radish Seed Germination
Stage/Day Observations
Acetic Acid
Sodium Bicarbonate
Water
Initial pH
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Post-Lab Questions
Compare and construct a line graph based on the data from Table 1 in the space below. Place the day on the x axis, and the number of seeds germinated on the y axis. Be sure to include a title, label the x and y axes, and provide a legend describing which line corresponds to each plate (e.g., blue = acetic acid, green = sodium bicarbonate, etc).
Was there any noticeable effect on the germination rate of the radish seeds as a result of the pH? Compare and contrast the growth rate for the control with the alkaline and acidic solutions.
According to your results would you say that the radish has a broad pH tolerance? Why or why not? Use your data to support your answer.
Knowing that acid rain has a pH of 2 - 3 would you conclude that crop species with a narrow soil pH range are in trouble? Explain why, or why not, using scientific reasoning. Is acid rain a problem for plant species and crops?
Research and briefly describe a real world example about how acid rain affect plants. Be sure to demonstrate how pH contributes to the outcome, and proposed solutions (if any). Descriptions should be approximately 2 - 3 paragraphs. Include at least three citations (use APA formatting).
Stage/Day Observations
Acetic Acid
Sodium Bicarbonate
Water
Initial pH
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Explanation / Answer
Pre-Lab Questions-
1. Specialists are the ones that are included as Endangered species. This is because they need unique environmental space and adjusts less to changes. That’s they have more chances to get extinct.
2. Extreme range of temperatures affects water availability in negative way. This is because at low temperature water freezes and at higher range, it evaporates quickly. Normal range is suitable for water availability.
3. For adaptations, we can take a very common example of Cactus. (i) Widely spread root system to collect water from greater distances. (ii) Waxy coat to reduce water loss from leaves. (iii) Spines instead of leaves to reduce surface area for water loss through transpiration. (iv) Fleshy/ massy stems for water storage.
As I have not performed the experiment, so wouldn’t be able to fill in the table. But just for assumption, it seems, maximum germination would be seen at neutral pH i.e. at 7 (that of water), then good germination rate at basic pH (Sodium bicarbonate) and least in acidic pH (Acetic acid). Acid will cause root cells to lose water and plant cells would die.
Radish seeds can tolerate wide pH range, but that too between neutral to basic side, not the acidic side.
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