A terrarium is a miniature (sometimes self-sustaining) ecosystem built by humans. In this lab, we were tasked with making our own terrariums to study.
OBJECTIVE:
To make a semi-self sustaining environment (since we can't regulate the atmosphere as our tank has an open top that will let water vapor out)
MATERIALS:
-worms
-scotch moss
-various other plants
-sand
-rocks
-dirt
OBJECTIVE:
To make a semi-self sustaining environment (since we can't regulate the atmosphere as our tank has an open top that will let water vapor out)
MATERIALS:
-worms
-scotch moss
-various other plants
-sand
-rocks
-dirt
PROCEDURE:
Each day we spray water into the terrarium. Other then that, we do not interact with it, and only observe.
RESULTS:
Day 1:
We just built the terrarium and added the worms and plants. The worms are adjusting well, and have dissipated into the environment. We also added a miniature rock volcano, just for fun.
Each day we spray water into the terrarium. Other then that, we do not interact with it, and only observe.
RESULTS:
Day 1:
We just built the terrarium and added the worms and plants. The worms are adjusting well, and have dissipated into the environment. We also added a miniature rock volcano, just for fun.
Day 7:
Some scotch moss has dried out, despite our efforts to add water to the terrarium each day. The worms continue to hide in the dirt, and thus I could not get a good photo of them.
Week 5: Not much has changed since the last update. No creatures appear to have died and there is no noticeable change in the plants.
CONCLUSION:
There was only one limiting factor, and that was abiotic. The limiting factor was the plastic of our container. The plastic prevented growth and also prevented other species from getting in. any insects we would have put in there would have escaped because we had no lid. As such, we could not contain any animals (except worms) and we could not allow the plants to grow more.
Water cycles through our terrarium in a simulated water cycle. We add water to the soil, where it is absorbed by the plants and animals, then released as water vapor back into the atmosphere. Since our terrarium has an open top, the water escapes the environment before it can condense into clouds or water again. Because of this, we manually add water.
Carbon Cycle:
We will start this cycle from photosynthesis. The plants, upon receiving sunlight, photosynthesize to produce glucose which contains carbon atoms. The carbon then goes through two possible processes. First, it could be converted to fuel the plant (as ours did) or it could be deposited in the soil by death of the plant host. The earth worms would then break down the dead plant matter, and the carbon would transfer to the soil.
Nitrogen cycles through our terrarium when atmospheric nitrogen is absorbed by plants, which, when they die, are absorbed by decomposers like our earthworms. They are then released as nitrates back into the atmosphere.
There was only one limiting factor, and that was abiotic. The limiting factor was the plastic of our container. The plastic prevented growth and also prevented other species from getting in. any insects we would have put in there would have escaped because we had no lid. As such, we could not contain any animals (except worms) and we could not allow the plants to grow more.
Water cycles through our terrarium in a simulated water cycle. We add water to the soil, where it is absorbed by the plants and animals, then released as water vapor back into the atmosphere. Since our terrarium has an open top, the water escapes the environment before it can condense into clouds or water again. Because of this, we manually add water.
Carbon Cycle:
We will start this cycle from photosynthesis. The plants, upon receiving sunlight, photosynthesize to produce glucose which contains carbon atoms. The carbon then goes through two possible processes. First, it could be converted to fuel the plant (as ours did) or it could be deposited in the soil by death of the plant host. The earth worms would then break down the dead plant matter, and the carbon would transfer to the soil.
Nitrogen cycles through our terrarium when atmospheric nitrogen is absorbed by plants, which, when they die, are absorbed by decomposers like our earthworms. They are then released as nitrates back into the atmosphere.