An Investigation into Microclimate on a Sand Dune System
Geography Coursework: An Investigation into Microclimate on a Sand Dune System - First Draft Introduction Aim To provide detailed place study of a sand dune system on the Mediterranean coast. In particular to:- * Understand the physical morphology of sand dune systems * Consider the role of succession in the development of sand dune systems * Consider the impact of tourism on fragile ecosystems and consider how this can best be managed. We will be visiting a sand dune on the south coast of France near Montpellier; here will conduct our investigation and collect data to be used to complete our objectives. Objectives Profile To predict where ground temperature, soil temperature, air humidity, air temperature and wind speed will be higher and lower, and how to collect this data. Predictions for each Variable Ground Temp - I predict that the ground temp will be higher on the peaks and lower in the troughs this would be because the peaks would be more exposed to the sunlight whilst being to low to be affected by the wind. The troughs I expect to slightly overcast by the shadows of the peaks and marrum. Soil Temp - I predict that the soil temperature will gradually get cooler the further away from the sea the readings are taken. This would be because the further back you get the more vegetation and woodland you get which would shelter and therefore cool the soil.
The Effect of Temperature on the Speed of Response of Dionaea muscipula
The Effect of Temperature on the Speed of Response of Dionaea muscipula AIM: The aim of this experiment is to establish whether a relationship between temperature and response times of Venus Flytraps exists. ABSTRACT: The idea for this experiment evolved from doing various readings about nastic movements within plants. However, upon investigation, it was discovered that the Venus Flytrap would be better suited to doing studies on response times as the nastic plants required were not available in Queensland. Dionaea muscipula, common name Venus Flytraps, were placed in various temperatures and artificially stimulated, through the use of human hair, to respond. Five Venus Flytraps were bought, each of which had many small, trigger able traps. The size of the trap indicates whether the trap is able to be triggered or not. The reason for this is covered in the discussion section. One trap from each plant was set off at each of the following temperatures: 20°C, 25°C, 30°C and 40°C. Each of the times were recorded in a table similar to Figure 1. HYPOTHESIS: Due to the catalysing effect of temperature on most chemical reactions, it is foreseeable that the Venus flytrap will close faster when placed in a higher temperature. APPARATUS: - 5 Venus Flytraps (each with at least 4 open, trigger able traps) - Thermometer - Stop Watch - Human Hair - Heat Lights PROCESS:
Spectroscopy of Fast Green Solution and Chlorophyll A and B
Spectroscopy of Fast Green Solution and Chlorophyll A and B Introduction The purpose of this lab is to be introduced to measure the concentration of an unknown solution using spectroscopy and to isolate the individual pigments of a chloroplast extract to measure the light absorption of chlorophyll A and B. Fast green is Light is a photon, a particle without mass however is a wave. (Petrucci, 2010) In these experiments the visible light spectrum having a wavelength between 400 nm to 700 nm was used. A spectrophotometer separates light into distinct bands of energy, allowing on to focus a particular band of energy to measure its absorption from 0 to 100%. (Jones et al., 2007) The spectrophotometer tells the observer the absorbance based on whatever wavelength one wants to find. (Jones et al., 2007) An essential part of observing a substance under a spectrophotometer is that of using a blank. The role of a blank and the spectrophotometer is to set the absorbance of the spectrophotometer to zero allowing the absorbance of one substance to be shown. (Jones et al., 2007) In experiment one; water was used as the blank. Based on the results from the spectrophotometer, on is able to make a concentration curve to find the concentration of the unknown solution. (Jones et al., 2007) A spectrophotometer is an instrument that measures the intensity of the light entering a sample and
Cerealor Sugar Case Studies.
Title: Cerealor Sugar Case Studies - Rice Date: 21.11.01 Botany Rice is a semiaquatic, annual grass of the family Graminae, genus Oryza. It has a panicle inflorescence with one floret per spikelet (Marshall & Wadsworth., 1993). Furthermore, it has a perfect flower (both male and female), which consists of two interlocking hulls, six anthers and a single ovary. Most importantly, rice is naturally self-pollinating (Marshall & Wadsworth., 1993). Rice growers in some countries such as USA use pure line cultivars whereas most of them in China use hybridisation. Taxonomy Cultivated rice is referring to either Oryza sativa L. or Oryza glaberrima Steud (Marshall & Wadsworth., 1993). However, O. sativa is the predominant species and O. glaberrima is grown only in Africa on a limited scale (Marshall & Wadsworth., 1993). Oryza sativa is a tremendously variable species whish has worldwide distribution. Kato et al. (1928) classified these varieties into indica, the tropical race and japonica types, the temperate race. However, Morinaga (1954) proposed another group called javanicas. Several authors have ranked javanicas at the same taxonomic level as indicas and japonicas. (Singh et al, 2000) Domestication The date and geographical location of the first cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) is unclear. Nonetheless, domestication of
Surveying the Distribution and Abundance of Plants in Different Coppices
Surveying the Distribution and Abundance of Plants in Different Coppices Aim: To survey the distribution and abundance of plant species in old and new coppice woodland and determine the factors that cause these patterns. Introduction: Coppicing woodlands is a method by which trees such as hazel and ash are cut back to almost ground level, leaving just the stumps or 'stools', from which many new shoots will grow from. The wood cut from these trees was once used for a wide variety of things, including thatching spars and firewood. As the trees were cut back, this allowed a lot more light to reach the woodland floor, allowing a greater diversity of both plant and animal life-forms to exist. After eight years, once the trees have many shoots which have grown back to replace those cut off, these are then cut off too between November and March, allowing even more shoots to grow in their place, and again allowing more light to the floor. This cycle continues, however, most coppices are now neglected and have consequently over-grown. Variables: Light- different amounts of light could cause a different variety of plants to grow in the separate coppices, as they will all photosynthesise at different rates. Also, a different light intensity could create different numbers of plants in the coppices, as well as causing them to be spread out over a wider area, creating more competition
Fieldwork at Ainsdale National Nature Reserve; Succession in Sand Dunes.
Fieldwork at Ainsdale National Nature Reserve; Succession in Sand Dunes. Succession is a process, which occurs over time. Succession takes place over 100s of years; changes in soil and vegetation at a single location are a long lengthy process. The sand dunes in Ainsdale have undergone primary succession. This is when plants and animals colonize a previously deserted area; coastal sand dunes such as Ainsdale provide an exceptional environment for the study of primary succession. The vegetated dunes within the system have developed on an area of previously uncolonized sand. Due to the lengthy process of succession, time is replaced with distance. The dunes nearer the coast are younger than those further away. The diagram below shows a model of primary succession at a sand dune. Definitions - Strand line- the sand is dry and salty and lacking in plant nutrients. Only very specialist plants grow here such as sea rocket. Embryo dunes- the substrate is still extremely inhospitable to plant growth and contain newly formed sand dunes. Mobile dunes- the dunes grow upwards and due to the increasing distance from the coast the diversity of plant life also increases. Blowouts- where protection against the wind is removed, sand is picked up from a strong wind and deposited elsewhere, leaving a 'hole'. Fixed dunes- when the vegetation has developed so that it forms a more or
Investigating the inhibitory effect of reserpine on locomotor activity in mice, and its reversal by laevo-DOPA (L-DOPA).
Method: Experiment 1 Investigating the inhibitory effect of reserpine on locomotor activity in mice, and its reversal by laevo-DOPA (L-DOPA). A Control Mouse B Reserpine (4mg/kg) treated mouse. Test made 2-hours after administration. C Reserpine (4mg/kg) treated mouse. Test made 3-hours after administration. Note that reserpine induces catalepsy, and the mouse made very few revolutions of the wheel and so I minute recording was not shown D L-DOPA (500mg/kg) treated mouse. Test made 2-hours after administration. E Reserpine (4mg/kg) followed by L-DOPA (500mg/kg). Test made 3-hours after reserpine administration. Experiment 2 Investigating the behavioural effects of amphetamines and chloropromazine in rats. An open field test was conducted with the number of squares the rat enters being used as a measure of their motor activity. A series of tests were conducted under varying conditions, with each test lasting one minute. A Control rat B D-amphetamine (2mg/kg) treated rat. Test made 75 mins after administration C D-amphetamine (2mg/kg) treated rat. Test made 100 mins after administration. 30 second recording with the result doubled D Rat treated with D-amphetamine (2mg/kg) plus Chlorpromazine (0.5mg/kg). Test made 100 mins after administration E Chlorpromazine (0.5mg/kg) treated rat. Test made 100 mins after administration Results: Effect of drugs on
Describe the major pathways and transformations involved in the atmospheric transport of Sulphur, produced as SO2 in combustion processes. Outline the major impacts of SO2 upon plants.
Describe the major pathways and transformations involved in the atmospheric transport of Sulphur, produced as SO2 in combustion processes. Outline the major impacts of SO2 upon plants. Sulphur is an essential nutrient for normal plant growth and development. The primary source of Sulphur is from the soil in the form of sulphate (SO42-), which is taken up by the roots and translocated to the leaves where most of it is reduced and assimilated into organic sulphur compounds. An important primary source of sulphur can be found in the atmosphere. 15 molecular species of Sulphur are found in the atmosphere, according to Berresheim et al (1995). Plants unable to acquire all the sulphur they need from the soil are able to use SO2 from the atmosphere or other volatile compounds such as H2S.When more SO2 is taken up from the atmosphere by plants then is needed, plants are adversely effected. SO2 is considered the most important phytotoxic molecule. Originally most sulphur combustion was carried out in widely scattered domestic appliances, increasingly with introduction of Pollution Abatement Legislation, energy generation became localised in large centralised facilities, such as those designed to produce electricity. These attempted to improve the local environment around them by building taller and taller stacks to disperse the gases higher into the atmosphere. Consequently, gases
Adaptations of Aquatic and Tertiary Organism.
Adaptations of Aquatic and Tertiary Organism. Within plants water is transported up the stem via the process of transpiration. The stomata, as well as permitting entry of carbon dioxide, allow evaporation of water from the plant this is the process of transpiration. Transpiration occurs all over the plant through stomata in the stem and epidermis as well as in the leaves, however the adaptation of the leaf is its large surface are this means the main source of water loss is from the leaves. There is also "cuticular transpiration" which is water loss through the cuticles of the epidermis cells, these accounts for around 5% of water loss within the plant. The rate of transpiration is specific to the environment. Experiments with the potometer and an atmometer the rate of transpiration is dependent on a wide variety of internal and external factors. The opening between the stoma creates a chamber underneath the lower epidermis lined with spongy mesophyll cells, known as the "sub-stomatal air chamber". The number of stomata, their distribution, structural features and how open they are at the time. Externally many things effect transpiration, such as; . Temperature High temperatures encourages evaporation of water from the mesophyll cells 2. Relative Humidity, the degree to which the atmosphere is saturated with water vapour. This is important because it determines the
Chemicals and the environment
CHEMICALS AND THE ENVIRONMENT Pesticides A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest. www.epa.gov.html (office of pesticide programs) Pesticides can be used to control the numbers of pests which affect or reduce crop yields. They work by eliminating the organism or substance responsible for reducing crop yields as stated below. Pesticides are toxic substances deliberately added to our environment. They are used because they are toxic and biocidal- to kill and harm living things. www.pesticides/about.html In many ways crop plants are no different from plants growing under more natural conditions. They compete with other species for light, water and minerals. Insects feed on their leaves and die by being infected with viruses or fungi on the plant. This all reduces the overall growth of the plant and will most likely affect the number of seeds it produces which in turn reduces the yield of the plant. Crop farming today is based mainly on monoculture. With plants growing closely together insect pests and fungal diseases can spread rapidly meaning large areas are affected and heavy damage results in a short period of time. It is therefore important to control unwanted organisms that cause disease in order to obtain a good harvest. This is why the use of pesticides is extremely important in farming
