BIO100 Notebook by Veronica Vega https://padlet.com/veronicavega93/njg1uqngqwmr en-us 2016-02-04 19:17:50 UTC 2016-02-12 02:31:54 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-uploads.storage.googleapis.com/97172597/b20da40b13d1396b7fd57e6b13441446b6a9ed85/71709965b2355912ccca2557cc04a13b.JPG Plant Adaptations        02/04/16  veronicavega93 https://padlet.com/veronicavega93/njg1uqngqwmr/wish/93341313         Today in the plant adaptation lab I learnt many interesting things. For example, the difference between xeric and mesic habitats, what plants have adapted to these habitats, and some different adaptions plants make. To begin, the difference between xeric and mesic habitats are, xeric is characterized by dry climate such as a desert and mesic is characterized by moisture for example, the tropical rain forest. There are all kinds of plants that live in both habitats, but xerophytes are plants that have altered their physical structure to withstand the climate it lives in, for example a cacti. Mesophytes plants have altered their leaves to withstand heavy rainfall in their habitats for instance, rose pedals. Some common houseplants are mesophytes as well. Lastly, the different ways plants have changed their appearance to withstand their environment. Most xerophyte plants have little to no leaves; this reduces transpiration, which is evaporation of water from the leaves. So having smaller or no leaves reduces the amount of water the plant losses. Some might even have spines or thorns to keep animals away from their water supply for example, a cactus. To elaborate, xerophyte trees for instance, the Palo Verde has a smooth green waxy trunk to lock in the moisture. Most plants may even have a long root system, which allows the plants to draw water from deep under ground near the water table. There are some plants that have a shallow root system, which allows them to absorb big quantities of water when it rains. Lastly, most of xerophyte plants store water in their core to be able to survive the dry climates, for example, the Sugaro cactus. On the other hand, mesophyte plants had to adapt to their wet environments so their leaves have a drip tip, which allows the rainwater to drip off an example of this would be the maize, their long leaves allow the water just to roll off. We then got to explore on our own to find both types of plants. 
       I also liked that we got to go to the greenhouse, I’ve never been in one or knew what they looked like inside. Even though we didn’t do much it was a cool experience.
]]> 2016-02-04 21:03:00 UTC https://padlet.com/veronicavega93/njg1uqngqwmr/wish/93341313 Research Project                      02/11/16 veronicavega93 https://padlet.com/veronicavega93/njg1uqngqwmr/wish/94768398 Group Members:
Lindsay 
Georgina 
Zach
 
Name of Group: Arizona Native solitaire bees.
 
Hypothesis: We believe Arizona Native solitaire bees will prefer mesquite wood.

Experiment: Dr. Plowes allowed us to use the bee housing on MCC campus. We will then bring in four different kinds of wood (pine, mesquite, cedar, and Palo Verde). Dr. Plowes offered to bring in Palo Verde and mesquite for us, Georgina is bringing in cedar and I will be bringing in pine wood. Each piece measuring twelve inches by three inches. We will then bring the wood in to have two holes drilled 3-5 inches deep and 5/16th width. After the holes are done we will then place two pieces of each wood in each level of the housing. Before we chose a day, Georgina volunteered to make a data sheet for us to use when we are observing. This data sheet will represent each log at each level of the housing, having names of each wood and their locations. We will use the sheet to mark which log bees are more attracted to. For example, during our fifteen minutes we see two bees going to pine wood, we would then place two x’s indicating that both bees went to pine wood. Each person will then chose a day of the week to observe the housing from 10:00-10:15 A.M. Zach will be coming on either Monday or Wednesday, Lindsay will come on Tuesday, Georgina will be observing the housing on Thursday, I will be coming on Saturday morning to do my observing. We may still want to tweak the time a little if all members of the group feel that we don’t see enough bees. Over the course of the project we will get together just to make sure no one wants to switch days or if the data sheet isn’t working just anything that we may need to tweak. At the end of the project we will then compare data to see what solitaire bees like the best for nesting.
]]> 2016-02-12 02:00:27 UTC https://padlet.com/veronicavega93/njg1uqngqwmr/wish/94768398