Canopy Walkway GoPro- find the epiphytes!
Today we identified the variable and constants in our upcoming experiment. We will conduct a 6 week experiment on the biodiversity found in epiphytes on the playground. Epiphytes are plants that live in host trees. They have a symbiotic relationship with the host tree. Exotic examples include bromeliads and orchids. Local Texas examples include Ball Moss and Spanish Moss.
Our experimental question is this: Do pollutants affect the biodiversity found in epiphytes? Our variable, the thing we are testing, that we will change in the experiment is the type of pollutants: salt water, detergent, and fertilizer. (We will also have a control of pure water.) Our constants, things that we will keep the same, that help us keep our experiment fair, are numerous! To say a few, we will have the same size cups, the same color of cups, the same amount of water and pollutants added, the same height from the ground, the same area (Austin and Hill Playground), same type of trees (Oak), same period of time....
We will use plastic solo cups as artificial bromeliads, or water tanks, that will potentially house insect and other life in pools of collected water. Bromeliads have a rosette structure that allow them to collect the water they nee while also unintentionally form an ecosystem in the form of a small pool of water for other life, such as ants, beetles, mosquitoes, spiders, slugs, millipedes, and centipedes. We want to observe the biodiversity found in the artificial bromeliads over the course of 6 weeks and see how the biodiversity is affected by different pollutants. We will identify the arthropods and count the number of types and quantity in each artificial bromeliad, making observations each week, watching the progession and construction of the swimming hole environment.
Want to see real pictures of some epiphytes that Mrs. Cotten took while in the Amazon this summer?
Mrs. Cotten's Pictures (AmazonDiscoveries.weebly.com) Scroll down to epiphyte lesson plans
Want to know more about the canopy walkway?
Today we learned some background about epiphytes, dissected and planned out our upcoming epiphyte experiment and identified the variable and constants. Lastly, we looked trecked outside looking for epiphytes native to Texa on our very own playground and we instantly found loads of Ball Moss. We counted in just one small area over 200! Don't worry, they aren't hurting the oak trees! They aren't parasitic, like a stragler fig, a tree that grows from the top down, strangling its host tree.
We observed three types of epiphytes up close in class with magnifying glasses: a bromeliad, orchid and the ball moss we found outside.
Then we practiced identifying the variable and constants in some silly experiments, so we will be really excellent scientists who know how to conduct fair and reliable experiments!
Here are some other info and links on epiphytes:
Ball moss (Tillandsia recurvata) is a small epiphyte commonly found clinging to limbs of live oaks and other trees in southwest Texas.
Despite its name, Spanish moss is not a moss but a bromeliad—a perennial herb in the pineapple family. Most bromeliads, including Spanish moss, are epiphytes. Epiphytes grow on other plants, but do not rely on them for nutrients. They take nutrients from the air and debris that collects on the plant.
Ball Moss, good or bad?
Spanish and Ball Moss- is it killing me tree? NO!
About Epiphytes and list of types
Epiphyte Guide
Difference between epiphytes and parasitic air plants
Texas Epiphytes and Parasites (not all of these listed are actually parasites, but good list of plants to identify)
Epiphytes and other air plants and lichens in Texas
Plants in the Amazon
Pictures of Bromeliads
Pictures of Orchids
Today we identified the variable and constants in our upcoming experiment. We will conduct a 6 week experiment on the biodiversity found in epiphytes on the playground. Epiphytes are plants that live in host trees. They have a symbiotic relationship with the host tree. Exotic examples include bromeliads and orchids. Local Texas examples include Ball Moss and Spanish Moss.
Our experimental question is this: Do pollutants affect the biodiversity found in epiphytes? Our variable, the thing we are testing, that we will change in the experiment is the type of pollutants: salt water, detergent, and fertilizer. (We will also have a control of pure water.) Our constants, things that we will keep the same, that help us keep our experiment fair, are numerous! To say a few, we will have the same size cups, the same color of cups, the same amount of water and pollutants added, the same height from the ground, the same area (Austin and Hill Playground), same type of trees (Oak), same period of time....
We will use plastic solo cups as artificial bromeliads, or water tanks, that will potentially house insect and other life in pools of collected water. Bromeliads have a rosette structure that allow them to collect the water they nee while also unintentionally form an ecosystem in the form of a small pool of water for other life, such as ants, beetles, mosquitoes, spiders, slugs, millipedes, and centipedes. We want to observe the biodiversity found in the artificial bromeliads over the course of 6 weeks and see how the biodiversity is affected by different pollutants. We will identify the arthropods and count the number of types and quantity in each artificial bromeliad, making observations each week, watching the progession and construction of the swimming hole environment.
Want to see real pictures of some epiphytes that Mrs. Cotten took while in the Amazon this summer?
Mrs. Cotten's Pictures (AmazonDiscoveries.weebly.com) Scroll down to epiphyte lesson plans
Want to know more about the canopy walkway?
Today we learned some background about epiphytes, dissected and planned out our upcoming epiphyte experiment and identified the variable and constants. Lastly, we looked trecked outside looking for epiphytes native to Texa on our very own playground and we instantly found loads of Ball Moss. We counted in just one small area over 200! Don't worry, they aren't hurting the oak trees! They aren't parasitic, like a stragler fig, a tree that grows from the top down, strangling its host tree.
We observed three types of epiphytes up close in class with magnifying glasses: a bromeliad, orchid and the ball moss we found outside.
Then we practiced identifying the variable and constants in some silly experiments, so we will be really excellent scientists who know how to conduct fair and reliable experiments!
Here are some other info and links on epiphytes:
Ball moss (Tillandsia recurvata) is a small epiphyte commonly found clinging to limbs of live oaks and other trees in southwest Texas.
Despite its name, Spanish moss is not a moss but a bromeliad—a perennial herb in the pineapple family. Most bromeliads, including Spanish moss, are epiphytes. Epiphytes grow on other plants, but do not rely on them for nutrients. They take nutrients from the air and debris that collects on the plant.
Ball Moss, good or bad?
Spanish and Ball Moss- is it killing me tree? NO!
About Epiphytes and list of types
Epiphyte Guide
Difference between epiphytes and parasitic air plants
Texas Epiphytes and Parasites (not all of these listed are actually parasites, but good list of plants to identify)
Epiphytes and other air plants and lichens in Texas
Plants in the Amazon
Pictures of Bromeliads
Pictures of Orchids