Post 2 for Blog 3

What is an eco-system?

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in conjunction with the non-living components of their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a system.

Is our eco-column a valid eco-system?

To have a valid eco-system, you need producers, consumers and decomposers. In our decomposition zone, we had worms were fertilising our soil, we had flies that produced, consumed and also decomposed and they all survived a period of over three weeks. So yes, our eco-system was an actual eco-system.

Post 3 for Blog 3

2. Do I have a better understanding of Ecology?

Yes I do. I found out what makes an eco-system a real eco-system. I used to think that if an animal was in a place where it could eat, it was in an eco-system, but now I have a broader view of everything. I know of biotic and abiotic factors and micro-organisms.

3. Did our group function well?

I think we managed to work well enough together. I myself, needed to contribute a little more to the group, but overall, it was fine. I feel that if I got more involved with my partners, we could have got a brilliant mark.

George Meadows

How Our Grouped Worked together

As a group we were a bit lackadaisical at times and we procrastinated a bit but when it came to crunch time we pulled through and got all of our components on time. we were away on tours at the beginning of the project so that was difficult but everyone pulled their weight and did a good job. Our group sometimes didn't do everything thoroughly but after sometimes getting a second chance because of our nice teacher and realising that we need to take it seriously we started to focus and we got better marks.

How I have a Better understanding of Ecology

I know understand that all parts of the ecosystem are integral parts of the society and if one dies or escapes in our case it affects the hole ecosystem. before we started this eco-cloumn i had a pretty vast understanding of ecology and although this experience has refreshed my memory i have not learnt anything totally new. I have enjoyed this project.

Eco-column as an Ecosystem

Our Eco- column was a succesful ecosystem because it is still a surviving eco column and it has survived the holidays it is still self sustaing because we, as a group, have not done anything to our  eco-coulmn other than water it after setting it up. We have not experienced any casualties among our living ourganism and hav atractted other creatures such as fruit flies to live inside our ecocolumn. we have a happy eco-column where all our components work together and we dont have anything killing the other plants and animals.

Ecosystem - Definition

An ecosystem can be defined as 'a structural and functional unit of biosphere or segment of nature consisting of community of living beings and the physical environment, both interacting and exchanging materials between them'.

http://www.tutorvista.com/content/biology/biology-iv/ecosystem/ecosystem-definition.php

Eco-column as an ecosystem

Definition of an Ecosystem
Self-sustaining community comprised of interdependent organisms (plants, insects, animals) and their natural environment. It provides the food chain through which energy flows, and the biological cycles that recycle essential nutrients and wastes

reference: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/ecosystem.html


Our Eco-column is self sustaining becuase it has survived the three week holiday and and the grass is still alive, there are fruit flies inhabiting the decomposition zone and there are still earthworms in our terra Zone. Our elodia in our aqua zone is still growing and has grown alot over the holidays.

the first picture is after the holiday and the second is before the holiday

Temperatures and PHs

Test No.	Temperature of water	PH of Water	Outside Temp
1	20 degrees C	9 ph.	26
2	17 degrees C	9 ph.	22
3	20 degrees C	9 ph.	30

Abiotic factors affecting our eco column are sunlight, humidity, nutrition and hydration

 A spider has burrowed a hole in our decomposition zone :) this s a carnivore spider and its nest.

All Our Zones

Ecocolumn Progress

Hi

It is great to see the effort and time that all of you have put into your blog and ecocolumn. Posting blogs late at night shows great dedication.  Keep up the good work!

Who did what?

George - Managed the blog and completed the annotated diagram. He also collected pond water, bottles and extra soil.

Francois - Built the eco-column and collected all the live organisms to stock the eco-column. Collected - soil, elodea, radishes, grass, rocks, leaves, sticks, spiders, ants and other bugs.

Jean - Built the eco-column and bought all the materials used to build the structure.Contributed - base, poles, bottles, glue gun, fruit peels, cotton, tape, sticks, grass.

Annotated Diagram

Boitic Factors

What We Put in to out Eco-column
In our Terra zone radish seeds and grass have started growing and sadly our spiders have escaped. we also have earthworms live in our terra zone we also had ants in this zone but they are hard to find and we have not seen them yet so until we can be certain they are not there i will assume they are colonising  our terra zone.
In our Decomposition zone decomposition has started to occur, our fruit peels and leaves are turning brown and have mild on them, also our Perlbox millipedes have started eating the fruit and leaves and our decomposition zone has attracted some fruit flies. There are numerous amounts of insects living in our decomposition zone that are living happily and have not been reported dead…… yet.
Our Aqua zone is a bit lonely and only has a few rocks and elodia in it.

Why we put them in:
Terra Zone
Radish Seeds: Fertalise soil, food for insects
Grass: Fertalise soil, food for insects
Spiders
Earthworms
Ants
Decomposition Zone
Fruit Peels
Leaves
Fruit flies
Perlbox Millipedes
Aqua Zone
Elodia

Definition of self sustaining
A self sustaining process or system is able to by itself without anyone or anthing else becoming involved.
reference: http://dictionary.reverso.net/english-cobuild/self-sustaining

Definition of an Ecosystem
Self-sustaining community comprised of interdependent organisms (plants, insects, animals) and their natural environment. It provides the food chain through which energy flows, and the biological cycles that recycle essential nutrients and wastes

reference: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/ecosystem.html

Our ecocolumn is self sustaining ecosystem according to these definitions because we are becoming involved after we constructed it and our ecocolumn is comprised of interdependent organisms and their natural environment.

 

Full diagram

 

 

Decomposition Zone

 

 

 

Terra Zone

 

 

 

Aqua Zone

building our Eco Column

Jan Frans George Eco column

it is great to see that you have come so far in such a short time....keepup the good work!

ya lads top cricket player in grade #juice and # huge ... <3 to all my fans <3

hi......hope you will have your research done by monday

remeber to research how to create a blog!