Laura's Scavenger Hunt

 

1.) Adaptation of a plant: This water hyacinth lives on the surface of my fish pond. This plant has adapted to permanently live and absorb nutrients through a fresh water source and thus is considered a hydrophyte.

2.) Adaptation of an animal: These are some pollywogs which are currently in the larval stage in the amphibian life cycle. They will eventually grow into adult frogs through the process of metamorphism, which will make them not only capable of living in water but also on land. This adaptation allows the frogs to survive in two different environments, which gives them better benefits in protection and a more abundant food supply.

3.) Amniotic egg: These chicken eggs are considered amniotic eggs because the nutrients found inside the yolk allow a chicken to form up until it is hatched. The multiple membrane layers allow protection from external conditions and a way for the fluid to remain inside the shell to nourish the forming chicken. The shell contains pores which allow a passage way for oxygen and carbon dioxide to cycle through the embryo as well.

4.) Anther and filament of stamen: Stamen is the male reproductive organ of flowers that creates pollen. By exposing the pollen, the plant is expecting a pollinator to pass by and pollinate the plant for reproducing.  The anther is connected to the top of the filament, which holds the grains of pollen. The filament is the stalk like structure that supports the anther to expose it to its natural environment.

5.) Auxin producing area of a plant: Auxin is a hormone that controls cell elongation, which results in the stimulation of growth. This is a plant that has grown a new shoot to a flower bud. By producing the hormone at the tip of the original sprout, the plant has now created a new stem from which a flower bud has formed. The amount of Auxin produced is responsible for the amount of new growth.

6.) Bilateral symmetry: Bilateral symmetry also known as plane symmetry splits an image on one plane into two equivalent mirror halves through a vertical plane down the middle. This butterfly is a perfect example because its left wing is symmetrical to its right wing.

7.) C3 plant: A C3 plant is a plant that fixes CO2 it absorbs from the air for the process of photosynthesis into a three carbon atom compound before entering the Calvin cycle. Approximately 85% of Earth’s plants are C3 plants, including this orange tree. C3 plants are found in areas where there is a moderate temperature and light intensity, a high concentration of carbon dioxide and a plentiful amount of ground water.

8.) C4 plant: A C4 plant is a plant that fixes CO2 it absorbs from the air for the process of photosynthesis in a two-step process before entering the Calvin cycle. If first fixes CO2 to form a compound consisting of four carbon atoms. The acid that is formed then pumps across the cell membrane into sheath cells where it splits into CO2 and a 3-carbon compound. C4 plants, such as this field of corn are well adapted to living in areas where there are high temperatures, intense sunlight, and limitations with water, nitrogen and CO2.

9.) Cambium: Cambium is found beneath the bark of a stem as shown in this piece of a cut tree. It is a layer of actively dividing cells between xylem and phloem tissues. The cells that divide inward are responsible for the formation of xylem tissues and the cells that divide outward are responsible for the formation of phloem tissues.

10.) Cellular respiration: Cellular respiration takes place in eukaryotic cells such as which the bunny above contains. The process contains three main stages which are glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (Krebs) and the electron transport chain. This is very important as it produces energy for cellular processes inside a cell.

11.) Cellulose: Cellulose is found in the rigid cell wall of plants. It consists of many polysaccharides. Its purpose is mainly structural by adding the necessary support for plants to stand upright, such as this iris that needs much stability with its thinner leaves.

12.) Coevolution: Coevolution is when species develop over time together because of their close environmental relationship. Flowers with longer necks to the floral chambers have coevolved with humming birds. Hummingbirds have long beaks that are capable of reaching the nectar inside this flower and in return may pollinate it.

13.) Cuticle layer of a plant: The cuticle layer on this mint plant is a non-cellular layer of a waxy lipid film. It coats and protects the epidermis layer of the leaves by preventing water absorption (desiccation).

14.) Detritivore: A detritivore, which is also known as a decomposer is an organism that feeds on dead matter to obtain its energy. By feeding on the detritus material from all trophic layers in the food pyramid, detritivores, like this worm ultimately decompose matter and return nutrients back into the soil.

15.) Eukaryote: A Eukaryote is an organism that contains a nucleus and other membrane bound organelles. Plants, protists, fungi, and animals such as this baby chick are all considered eukaryotes. In Eukaryotes, DNA and genetic material are enclosed inside the nucleus unlike how it is found free floating in prokaryotes.

16.) Flower Ovary: The ovary in a flower is part of the carpel, which is the female reproductive organ. Pollen grains sent from the style to the ovary will fertilize the ovules, which will eventually develop into seeds. The ovary in this flower is well protected at the bottom of the floral chamber and at the base of the style.

17.) Genetically modified organism: Genetically modified organisms are organisms that have been genetically altered through engineering techniques. The specific change in DNA of corn has allowed farmers to develop a more abundant crop that bears more to it than it once had as a wild weed. It also has been modified to be stronger from any condition that may prevent its success such as invasion of pests.

18.) Gymnosperm: Gymnosperms are any plants that reproduce by exposed seeds, such as this pine cone which is more specifically known as a conifer gymnosperm. Different from pollinating a flower which are angiosperms, gymnosperms during pollination rely on pollen grains to land directly on the ovules. Gymnosperms do not have the same protection or attraction angiosperms have. At maturity the cone enlarges in order to release the seeds.

19.) Heterotroph: A heterotroph is an organism that is unable to produce its own food and must in return prey off other organisms for energy. All animals are heterotrophs like this chinchilla that relies on physically consuming food because it is unable to fix carbon into any process of creating energy plants and other organisms do.

20.) Lichen: The lichen on this tree is composed of a fungus that has a symbiotic growth relationship with algae, which means two species live together for each other’s benefits although this relationship may be more seen as commensalism and parasitic rather than mutualistic.  The result between the relationship does not resemble either component.  Lichen is able to survive in extreme conditions, and may vary in color.

21.) Long-day plant: This lettuce plant is a long-day plant because it only flowers after being exposed to sunlight for a certain amount of time. If the flowers are pollinated they will eventually become seeds. The amount of sunlight versus darkness long-day plants need is based on a sensitive 24 hour day schedule.

 

22.) Meristem tissue: Meristem tissue consists of actively dividing cells that lead to growth and extension of the length and thickness of a plant. The green growth on the orchid’s roots is an example of growth caused by meristem tissue as it is most commonly responsible for the growth of tips of roots and stems. These tissues are important as it allows for the continual growth of a plant.

23.) Phloem:  In vascular plants, phloem is a tissue that is in control of carrying nutrients throughout the plant. These trees all contain phloem, which is its main source of directing nutrient flow from the green leaves that have completed photosynthesis to the rest of their bodies.

24.) Pollen: Pollen is found as grains on flowers, which are responsible for producing sperm cells. Pollen grains are used for reproduction resulting in seedlings. Pollen is found on the anthers of flowers and sticks to the stigma for fertilizing a plant. On these yellow flowers the stamen contains the pollen grains located on the anther, which are also yellow.

25.) Pollinator: A pollinator transfers pollen grains, which consist of sperm from the anther of a flower to the stigma of another flower, where fertilization will then occur in the ovules. This process occurs when an organism for example travels to one plant for nectar and ends up depositing the pollen it might have got on its self to another flower. Different insects and bees, like shown above in the picture are considered some of the different pollinators.

26.) Predation: Predation is the relationship between organisms where a predator (hunter) will feed on its prey (food). The predator will attack its prey and consume its flesh. In this image, a ferret has borrowed its way into our chicken coop where it has attacked and consumed several chickens.

27.) Seed dispersal: Seed dispersal is a movement of seeds away from a parent plant. Plants being stationary rely on factors such as wind, animals, and water to transport their seeds. This dandelion when its flowers went to seeds was able to disperse its seeds over a large area by having the wind carry its light weightiness.  Some seeds will latch onto animals or will be eaten by them and later deposited elsewhere; the uniqueness of each seed will determine the possible ways those seeds will be dispersed.

28.) Spore: A spore is a reproductive cell that forms asexually, which is different from gametes that need two parent cells to form. Bacteria and fungi, such as this mushroom produce spores as its mode of reproduction and dispersal.  Some green plants like algae and mosses also produce spores because of their asexual reproduction.  Spores are capable of developing into organisms just as a seed grows into a plant.

29.) Stigma and style of carpel: A carpel is the female reproductive organ in a flower. The base of the style connects to the ovary and the tip of the style connects to the stigma. In the picture the style has the same stalk like structure as the filament but is taller. The receptive stigma receives deposited pollen grains it traps on its sticky base to send down the style to the ovules for fertilization.

30.) Succession: This section of land shown in the picture represents the beginning stages of secondary succession because dirt is present.  In nature succession may be a result of forest fires or other disturbances caused by natural disasters. Succession is the gradual process of which life grows back after its initially established ecosystem has been partly destroyed.

 

31.) Tropism: This plant demonstrates tropism as its leaves are reaching for sunlight. Its bending action to reach the sun is the plants result in following its stimulus of light in its environment. The plants growth response to light is considered phototropism.