Photos 10/21

This is the view from the top of the container:This is the view from the side:

Seld-evaluation

This experiment is full of errors like:

• I think I should have started this experiment earlier to see if the plant could continue to live perpetually without interaction. 
• I should have included more organism types. I had a photoautotroph and a primary consumer. I should have at least have included a detritvore. 
• This experiment is invalid because the cricket went missing halfway through the experiment. It either died and decomposed, or the container had an opening somewhere (I do not have a clue where that could be). The experiment was testing the habitat for the plant and cricket, so with the cricket dying it makes the data collected false. The cricket could have killed the plant if the cricket still lived. If I had time, I would change the container and purchase a new peppermint plant and cricket. 
• This experiment did not have a control. To have a control for this experiment, I should have made a separate environment with a peppermint plant and a cricket, and allowed it to live in the open air. 

Conclusion

       This experiment's purpose was to see if a peppermint plant and a cricket could live separated from the outside ecosystem. During this mesocosm experiment, the plant grew significantly from 5in to 8.5in. This is a remarkable amount of change for a 3 week period. This supports the hypothesis of persistent living of this mesocosm apart from the rest of the world. However, this experiment is most likely invalid. The cricket went missing halfway through the project, and the cricket's body was never found.

Data

Data Table

Mean: 6.75

Percent Difference: There is a 170% difference. 

Qualitative Data: 

The leaves initially (first week) turned brown, and the plant appeared to be dying. The cricket seemed to have been doing well. However, in the second week, they plant grew significantly. The cricket went missing sometime during this week. In the third week, the plant grew much more than the previous week, and lost the green leaves. The cricket was never found. 

Apparatus and Materials

Materials list:

• Four (4) cups of organic natural soil (All Natural Potting Soil) 
• 12in by 6in by 8in glass terrarium
• clear duct tape
• 25 oz (740 ml) of purified water
• A 5in (12.5 cm) Peppermint Plant (Mentha x peperita)
• 1 large field cricket (Gryllus pennsylvanicus)
• 1 measuring cup

Method: 

1. Purchase a sealable terrarium or build a terrarium out of 2L soda bottles. 

       *This method uses a sealable terrarium.*

2. Purchase the rest of the materials as well like soil and a plant. 

3. Place the sealable terrarium on a flat surface with the top off, so that items can be placed inside. 

4. Scoop 4 cups of organic soul, and put the 4 cups of soil in the terrarium. 

5. Plant the peppermint plant in the soil. 

        *Make sure to place the peppermint plant inside the soil and line the plant with soil.*

6. Measure out 25oz (740 ml) of purified water in the measuring cup. 

7. Gently water the soil with the 25 oz (740 ml) of water until there is no water left in the measuring cup. 

8. Release the cricket in to the terrarium. Use caution because crickets can jump, so have the glass top  ready to be placed. 

9. Place the glass top on the top of the terrarium. 

10. For extra measure, seal the glass terrarium with clear duct tape around the facets. 

11. Observe the mesocosm for at least three weeks.

12. Reopen your mesocosm and analyze your data. 

13. Report the findings of your mesocosm. 

Research Question, Hypothesis, and Variables

Research Question: How a sealed terrestrial ecosystem with a photoautotroph and a primary consumer affect plant height?


Hypothesis:
If a terrestrial mesacosm is sealed for more than three weeks with a cricket and peppermint plant inside, than it can continue to live sealed from the outside environment because the cricket will inhale oxygen (O2) and exhale Carbon Dioxide (CO2) while the peppermint plant will use photosynthesis to transform the carbon dioxide into oxygen and water and organic molecules.

The independent variable is the environments  being sealed in the mesocosm which is the variable to be manipulated.
The dependent variable is the height of the plant. This variable depends on the independent variable.
This will be measure in a combination of quantitive and qualitative data.

Photo Update

I currently can't find my cricket...