Friday, September 7, 2012

Saravanan: Commensalism

Dendrobium kingianum
An Australia native which grows on the trunks and branches of trees; it derives the benefit of support from the tree, but 1) it can live without the tree and 2) the tree doesn't even notice the presence of this plant.

Dendrobium upin king (yes, that is a binomial)

This Dend. is a species which grows in large stands on trees, giving many off-shoots and many, many, many epiphytic roots. It's a slow grower, but in 50 years, it will cover the side of a tree that it germinated on. Again, the tree derives neither a benefit nor harm, and the plant can live without the tree. It's commensalism!


42.150986, -71.383086

Saravanan: Mutualism

Ficus carica
42.150986, -71.383086

The common fig relies on several species of fig wasp in order for it to produce fertilized seeds. This species, however, will set fruits whether or not they are pollinated.

"A fig looks like a tasty fruit, but when you open it up, there is a wasp inside."

That's an Indian proverb, similar to "don't judge a book by its cover," though the latter is more a cliche/

Saravanan: Plant adaptation for a specific environment


Top: Oncidium excavatum
Bottom: Phalaenopsis philippinensis 

42.150987, -71.383086

The Onc.  and Phal. are epiphytes. The specialized adaptation of both plants is that they both have vellamen tissue thickly coating their thin, wiry roots. The vellamen tissue absorbs ambient moisture, but also soaks up rain. Another adaptation is that, as epiphytes, these plants need to get nutrients from somewhere other than soil. Many growers believe that they can derive most nutrition from the sun and air, but the air doesn't contain much inorganic phosphorous, bioavailable nitrogen, or potassium ions! The leaves, therefore, despite being devoid of trichomes, are effective are absorbing and storing nutrients. Phals have large, thick leaves that do this job, but look at the Onc. Its leaves are thin, so it has a specialized stem, called a psuedobulb, which holds moisture so that the plant can go months without rain (as long as the humidity stays fairly high) during its winter dormant period.

You might think that the phal is planted upside down. Indeed, this is not true! The way it is growing is actually pendulous, it's version of right-side-up. This adaptation helps prevent crown rot, an affliction Phals are susceptible to due to their absorbent leaves and monopodial growth habit. This raceme will grow upwards, so at least the grocery stores manage to get that right.

Saravanan: Parasitism

Monotropa uniflora
42.153295, -71.384854

Interesting at first, but boring when you've seen is as many times as I have. The small flowers are parasites on the mycelium of the Russula ochrolueca in the bottom left corner. Because Monotropa uniflora only parasitizes fungi in the family Russulaecea, its presence can be used to identify fungi.

Saravanan: Different classes of proteins

Homo sapiens sapiens

(but many don't seem to be quite that sapient!)

Mr. Insulin- Messenger protein

40.132935, -74.564010



Left to right:
Ms. Hemoglobin- Transport protein
Ms. Collagen- Structural protein
Ms. Lactase- Enzyme
Ms. Actin- Contractile protein

42.433845, -73.405638



Humphries: Different Classes of protien

Saliva contains salvary amylase

Muscles contain actin and myosin


 eggs contain Ovalbumin
All photos taken at:
42º 16' 26.52” N / 71º 37' 53.07” W


Saravanan: Different Classes of Carbohydrates

Glucose
Baptisia alba
42.153520, -71.384193


Fructose
Rhus typhina
42.153520, -71.384193


My favorite indigenous tree! I love love love love love staghorn sumac, because I think it looks so peculiarly tropical due to the large compound leaves.

Glycogen
Russula olivacea
42.153295, -71.384854

identified partially by its proximity to this plant:

Cellulose
Monotropa uniflora
42.153295, -71.384854




Amylum
Rubus strigosus
40.145264, -70.573760


Humphries: Territorial behavior

 This Canis lupus familiaris is urinating on the edge of his owners property line. This is an example of territorial behavior because the dog considers the property to be his home and he is urinating on it to show ownership of just how far his land extends.

42º 14' 11.77” N / 71º 40' 25.02” W

Saravanan: Organisms in different plant divisions

Lycopodiophyta
Lycopodium obscurum
42.153063, -71.382353

Pteridophyta
Matteuccia struthiopteris
42.150992, -71.383065

My mom pulled out the larger fronds, because they were blocking the sun from the bleeding hearts.


Bryophyta
Tortula muralis
42.155038, -71.383053


Coniferophyta
Pinus rigida
40.145264, -74.573766



Magnoliophyta
Rubus strigosus
40.145229, -74.573703

Conley: Populations

A population of Felis catus.
42.2694° N, 71.6167° W

Conley: Animal adaptation for a specific environment

The Carolina Grasshopper (Dissosteira carolina) has a light greenish brown color to  
              blend in with dirt and grass which surrounds it. Helps it avoid predators. 
                                                                                                                42.2694° N, 71.6167° W

Conley: Redox Reactions

Tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) undergo photosynthesis, a redox reaction.
 
                                                                    42.2694° N, 71.6167° W

Conley: Gymnosperms

Picea pungens is a gymnosperm.

42.2694° N, 71.6167° W

Conley: Animal Pupa

This is the larva of the Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)42.2694° N, 71.6167° W

Conley: Endothermic organism

Canis Lupus Familiaris is another example of a species which regulates its own body temperature.
42.2694° N, 71.6167° W

Taylor: Nonvascular plant

 
Boston Fern
Nephrolepsis exaltata
42.361891,-71.726665

 
Five-Fingered Fern
Adiantum pedatum
42.362199,-71.726445

Taylor: Homeostasis of an organism

 
Canis lupus familiaris is panting in order to regulate its body temperature.
42.270533,-71.613988

Taylor: Organism's Home

 
The nest of an osprey (Pandion haliaetus).
41.290995,-71.92863
 
 
Entrance to the den of a fox (Vulpini vulpes).
42.248862,-71.643585
 

Byrne: Endothermic organism

 African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus)
Little Blue Penguin  (Eudyptula minor)
42.359,-71.049

Byrne: Exothermic organism

Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata) 42.359,-71.049

Byrne: Vivaporous organism

Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
42.258,-71.616

Byrne: Vestigial structures in an animal

The Kiwi, Apteryx sp., Has vestigial wings that it no longer needs.
TheSperm Whale , Physeter macrocephalus, has a vestigial pelvic girdle from when the mammal had legs.
Found at: 42.378,-71.116

Byrne: Different types of carbohydrates

 Galactose, a disaccharide sugar found in milk.
 Starch, a storage carbohydrate.
Cane Sugar, sucrose, found in sugarcane

Found at: 42.258,-71.616

Raissipour: Amphibian


43.867001 -70.333 Hyla versicolor, grey tree frog
These were baby frogs found by Sebago Lake in Maine.


42.283089 -71.600311 Rana catesbeiana, bull frog

Byrne: Different Biomes

 41.632,-70.314   Intertidal zone
 41.632,-70.314   Pelagic zone
42.258,-71.616   Temperate broad leaf forest