Biotic or Not?

 I found there were biotic and abiotic factors on my plot.  Listed below are a few examples from my plot.

Abiotic:

1.       Rocks/Stones

2.       Creek water

3.       Air

4.       Sunlight

5.       Soil Mineral Matter (clay/sand)

 Biotic:

6.       Decayed logs

7.       Mushrooms

8.       Ferns

9.       Maple trees

10.   Oak trees

11.   Sassafras plants

12.   Jack in the pulpits

13.   Deer

14.   Squirrels

15.   Frogs

16.   Water Bugs

17.   Owls

18.   Fox

19.   Earthworms

20.   Moths

Looking up Close

Leaf

Water Sample From the Creek

I looked at some objects from my plot up close under a microscope.  These are the images seen from my microscope.  I thought the water sample image was really interesting. On the microscope, I was able to see the detailed grains of sand and the dirt clump in the creek water. I could even see a few oxygen bubbles present on the slide.  With the leaf, I was impressed with the magnified view of the leaf veins.  Not only did the leaf have the main veins, but it also became apparent that there were hundreds of tiny small veins connecting throughout the leaf.

My Plot is an Ecosystem

My Plot is an Ecosystem

Species
        1. White-tailed deer
        2. Oak Trees

Population
        1. Herd of deer

        2. Parliament of owls

Community

             1.  Blackberry bushes

Deer

Coyotes

              2. Oak trees

Squirrels

Fox

Ecosystem

                     Sunlight
              Blackberry bushes
              Air
              Deer
              Coyotes

                      Rain
              Soil Nutrients

Oak trees

Squirrels

Hawk

Fox

Expression

For my expression, I created a house out of different materials that I collected from my plot.  I used a wooden fruit crate for my base.  Sticks were glued onto the crate to make the log house.  The bark was attached to cardboard to make a roof.  The gables were made out of fungi.  Acorns were used to decorate the house. Moss was glued to a plywood-base to form a yard for my house.

Taking Action

Trash on my Plot

I found trash on my plot and took actions to improve my plot!

My trash-free plot

Meet my Plot!

In biology, we study God’s creation.  For this plot study project, I have chosen to narrow my observations to a particular location.  I selected a plot on my family’s property, located in a rural area of Cannon Township.  My plot is situated in the woods and contains a creek head, a swamp, and a ridge.  This site is home to several species of living organisms, including insects, rodents, carnivores, a variety of birds, plants (from jack in the pulpits to trees nearly a hundred years old), and decomposers.    I have observed frogs, water bugs, mushrooms, and dark, muddy soil near the creek.  This plot study is a new concept for me, but I am excited to explore my plot throughout the next couple of months.