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Lo lamazon
-shrimp
Dayana
-gravel
Halley Notter
-plants
-duct tape
-fabric/cheesecloth
Macy?

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duct tape
2 bottles
scissors
rocks/ gravel

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Some materials I used were...

Spring water

soil

2 marigold seeds

2 radish seeds

2 bean seeds

hornwort

earth worm

goldfish

freshwater snail

freshwater shrimp

rocks

flower

2 cut 2 liter bottles

Our procedures started like this first, we put some hornwort in. Then we put 1 bottle of spring water and another 1/3 of it in on top of the rocks that were previously put in by Mr. Gillespie. After that Mr. Gillespie gave each group some shrimp and a water snail. Since we hadn't had the goldfish till a couple days after we put in 2 cups full of dirt onto the top half and buried 6 seeds that consist of marigold, beans, and radish. Lastly we put a worm, a pretty flower, the goldfish and then capped the lid and the 1/2s together with tape.
Some Initial data is so far the plant hasn't grown, the amount of water we've put into the terrarium was 800ml, we put in 194.2g of soil, 6 seeds(marigold, beans, and radish), and so far nothing has died.

For my reflection on the scientific Process I learned that in an ecosystem there are carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores. There are also consumers, producers, and decomposers. They all have there fair share in the environment. There are also food webs and food chains, in our ecosystem that we had made our food web was the fish eats the hornwort, the snail eats the hornwort and algae, the shrimp ate anything bad in the water and daphnia in which we could sadly not provide. The worm ate anything bad in the soil and decomposed it making it more fertile.

For the Scientific content its sort of like above the food chain and food web. The food chain in our terrarium is the fish eats the hornwort and the worm decomposes the fish. the food web is like above the fish eats the hornwort, the snail eats the hornwort and algae, the shrimp ate anything bad in the water and daphnia in which we could sadly not provide.

Building this terrarium helped me learned that its hard replicate what earth has made and it helps when we talk about ecosystems cause now we know how to make them we should know about them and how they work. For instance, what is in them and what happens what do they eat what helps make them there are so many questions in which an ecosystem can answer simply. Yes it was hard but it was worth it.

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Some materials I used were... Spring water soil 2 marigold seeds 2 radish seeds 2 bean seeds hornwort earth worm goldfish freshwater snail freshwater shrimp rocks flower 2 cut 2 liter bottles Our procedures started like this first, we put some hornwort in.

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Grow an entire living habitat using at-home supplies

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Making an ecosystem in a bottle is a fun way to learn about how plants and animals interact with their surrounding environment. You can monitor your ecosystem and record any changes that you notice on a daily basis. To create your own bottle ecosystem, you can try making a simple plant-based ecosystem, a more complex plant and water ecosystem, or an aquatic bottle ecosystem.

Cut off the top of a plastic bottle and fill it with 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) of soil.

Use a pencil to create 3-4 holes in the soil. Then place seeds like green beans in the holes. Sprinkle grass seeds on top, and water the soil.

Turn the top of the bottle upside down and fit it into the top of the bottle. Seal it with tape, and place the bottle in a sunny spot.

1. Cut off the top of the bottle. To make a bottle ecosystem, you will need an empty 2 quart (2 liter) plastic bottle. It is best to use a clear plastic so that you can see inside the bottle and make observations. Cut off the top of the bottle, about 2 inches below the neck.

To ensure your cut is straight, you can put a piece of masking tape around the bottle and then cut along the edge of the tape.

Ask an adult to help you cut the bottle. Use a pair of scissors or a utility knife to cut all the way around the top of the bottle.

Set aside the neck of the bottle with the cap for later use.

2. Add soil to the bottle. Use a small garden shovel and add 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) of potting soil to the bottom of the bottle. Lightly tap the soil with your hand to help it settle. Make sure you do not press too hard because you do not want to pack the soil tightly.

If desired, you can add ½ an inch of pebbles to the bottom of the bottle for drainage. This should be done before adding the soil, but is optional.

3. Create small holes to plant your seeds. The depth of the holes will vary depending on the type of seed you are planting. It is recommended that you start by planting green beans. They are hardy seeds that should grow easily. Read the directions on your seed packet to know how deep to make the holes. Use your finger or a pencil to make the holes in the soil.

If you are planting beans, the holes should be 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep.

Make the holes near the edge of the bottle. This way you will be able to easily see the roots growing.

4. Sprinkle grass seeds on top. Then, place two pinches of grass seeds on top of the soil. Lightly cover them with dirt. If you would like, you can also try adding insects and worms to the ecosystem.

5. Water the seeds. Prior to sealing your ecosystem, you need to water the seeds. Sprinkle water into the bottle. You want the soil to be damp, but not soaked. Let the water seep into the soil and then sprinkle a bit more. You want the water to fully permeate the soil.

If you tilt the bottle and water runs up the side, you have too much water.

6. Place the ecosystem in a sunny spot. Now that the ecosystem is sealed, you should place it in a sunny spot. For example, a windowsill is a great place to keep your bottle ecosystem. The location should receive indirect sunlight for most of the day.

You can also add a label to the base of the ecosystem with the date and identifying number. This way you can record notes and compare it with other bottle ecosystems that you make.

1. Cut one 2 quart (2 liter) bottle just above the base. Ask an adult to help you cut the bottle. Use a utility knife and cut a 2 quart (2 liter) clear plastic bottle, just about an inch (2.5 cm) above the base. The plastic near the bottom is usually quite thick and as a result, you may not be able to cut it with scissors.

You can discard the small base of the bottle because it will not be needed.

Place the top of the bottle with the cap to the side, for later use.

2. Drill a hole in the lid from the first bottle. Remove the lid from the first 2 US-quart (2,000 ml) bottle that you cut. Place the lid on a cutting board and then use a pair of pliers or a small handheld vice to hold the cap in place. Carefully drill a small hole through the center of the bottle cap.

You should ask an adult to help with drilling the hole into the cap.

Make sure to wear safety glasses when using the drill.

3. Place a string or wick through the hole. Next, push a thick cotton string or long wick through the hole. Wicks can be purchased from your local craft supply store. The wick or string should be about 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) long.

Screw the lid back onto the bottle.

Set this piece aside for later use.

4. Place the ecosystem in the sun. Now that you have sealed your ecosystem, you should place it in a sunny spot. Record any changes that take place on a daily basis.

1. Add pebbles. Next, add 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of tiny rocks or pebbles. You should always wash any rocks prior to adding them to your ecosystem. This will help remove any contaminants.

At this stage you could also add one dead leaf. This will provide a food source for any microorganisms in the water.

2. Wait 24 hours before putting the lid onto the ecosystem. Once you have placed everything into your ecosystem, you should wait approximately 24 hours before sealing it closed. This will allow your ecosystem to settle. After 24 hours you can screw the cap onto the top of the bottle.

Add New Question

What are good freshwater snails to put in the aquatic ecosystem?

Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. She received her MA in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2016. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the Caribbean and provided research support as a graduate fellow for the Sustainable Fisheries Group.

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There are a lot of freshwater snails available at local pet or aquarium stores. Good options include Gold Inca Snails, Ivory Snails, Japanese Trapdoor Snails, Mystery Snails, Nerite Snails, and Trumpet Snails.

For the aquatic part, can I use land plants as well?

Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. She received her MA in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2016. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the Caribbean and provided research support as a graduate fellow for the Sustainable Fisheries Group.

Will algae form in the aquatic ecosystem?

Yes. Algae spores are present, and exposure to the sun may cause algae bloom.

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Record your observations daily and share them with friends or classmates.

Try making multiple ecosystems and compare your results.

Consider adding worms or insects to your ecosystem to see how they react with the plants.

When working with sharp scissors, you should always ensure that there is adult supervision.

If you are using any bugs or animals in your ecosystem, make sure to take care and only remove what you need from their natural habitat.

This article was co-authored by Bess Ruff, MA. Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. She received her MA in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2016. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the Caribbean and provided research support as a graduate fellow for the Sustainable Fisheries Group. This article has been viewed 142,083 times.

To create a simple ecosystem in a bottle, you'll need a 2-liter bottle, soil, tape, green bean seeds, and grass seeds. You can also plant herbs, like mint, basil, and oregano, in your ecosystem. First, you'll need to cut the top off your bottle and fill the bottom 2 or 3 inches with soil. Then, dig 1-inch deep holes and plant all of your seeds except for the grass seeds. Sprinkle them on top and cover them with a little dirt. After that, you'll need to water the soil so it's damp. Then, place the top of the bottle upside down in the bottle and tape it closed to seal the ecosystem. Keep it in a sunny spot like a windowsill. For more tips from our Ecological co-author, including how to construct an aquatic ecosystem, read on!

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 142,083 times.

Katie English

"I am starting a aquatic ecosystem. This helped me by telling me what size of bottle to use, water and plants to grow in the ecosystem. It also told me that aquatic ecosystems are not compatible with most fish, but are good for snails and small water crustaceans." ..." more

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How to Create an Ecosystem in a Bottle: 3 Unique Ways

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Grow an entire living habitat using at-home supplies Making an ecosystem in a bottle is a fun way to learn about how plants and animals interact with their surrounding environment. You can monitor your ecosystem and record any changes that...

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list of stuff para cuando vamos de compras (we need to buy)- for those that don't speak Spanish

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list of stuff para cuando vamos de compras (we need to buy)- for those that don't speak Spanish

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water
cheesecloth
ghost shrimp
snails
land animals???
succulent plants
seeds
water plants
soil
bottle
decomposers
string of cotton