Biology report

Vincent Schelwald 333132

duckweed experiment
group 1
Aandrei
Petya
Ruben
Fortune
02/01/2015

introduction
background knowledge
Plants are able to convert light energy into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis
(Campbell & Reese, global Edition). This process is dependent on both a-biotic and biotic factors.
Since plants are autotrophs, the most vital are a-biotic factors such as light, temperature, wind,
water, and atmospheric gases (Campbell & Reese, global Edition). Photosynthesis will work if there
is red blue ore yellow in the area. Under each colour is the same amound of energy prodeust
(http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/biology/ligabs.html). The plant of interest in this study
is Lemna minor, Also called Duckweed. duckweed is a small plant that lives in fresh water
environments, and live in groups from 8-30 the leaves are approximately 6-10 mm in size
(ecy.wa.gov). Duckweed was chosen for this experiment because it can be manipulated easily within
a laboratory setting
the goal of the experiment
the goal is to find out on which colour of light the duckweed will grow the fastest.
hypothesis
It is said that altering the amount of light received by duckweed will alter its photosynthetic rate. It
is predicted that a lower light intensity will lower the rate of growth in duckweed. Thus if the light
intensity is 0 the duckweed will barley ore not grow.
Procedure
there are different light sources each a different colour under each one has to be a bowl whit leafs.
Now get a bowl of water and add liquid nutrients to the bowl so the duckweed can grow. Now count
25 lemna minor and add them to the bowl, do this for etch colour. Place the bowls under the lights
and count twice a weak how many leafs grew for 4 weeks long.
Results
here you'll see the charts of the different colours of the duckweed experiment.
On the x axis are the days the data where captured
the Y axis are the values
each line represents its own value so blue is temperature in degrees Celsius, yellow is light in luxe
and red humanity.

duckweed
dark deta
80
70
60

temp
hum
lux

50
40
30
20
10
0
time in days

Afbeelding 1: On the x axis are the days the data where captured the Y axis are the values each line
represents its own value so blue is temperature in degrees Celsius, yellow is light in luxe and red humanity.

duckweed
white data
500
450
400
350

temp
hum
lux

300
250
200
150
100
50
0
time in days

Afbeelding 2: On the x axis are the days the data where captured the Y axis are the values each line represents its own
value so blue is temperature in degrees Celsius, yellow is light in luxe and red humanity.

duckweed
green data
1000

1000

900

900

800

800

700

700

600

600

500

500

400

400

300

300

200

200

100

100

temp
hum
lux

0
time in days

Afbeelding 3: On the x axis are the days the data where captured the Y axis are the values each line represents its own
value so blue is temperature in degrees Celsius, yellow is light in luxe and red humanity.

duckweed
orange data
400
350
300

temp
hum
lux

250
200
150
100
50
0
time in days

Afbeelding 4: On the x axis are the days the data where captured the Y axis are the values each line represents its own
value so blue is temperature in degrees Celsius, yellow is light in luxe and red humanity.

duckweed
red data
500
450
400
350

temp
hum
lux

300
250
200
150
100
50
0
time in days

Afbeelding 5: On the x axis are the days the data where captured the Y axis are the values each line represents its own
value so blue is temperature in degrees Celsius, yellow is light in luxe and red humanity.

duckweed
blue deta
700
600
500
temp
hum
lux

400
300
200
100
0
time in days

Afbeelding 6: On the x axis are the days the data where captured the Y axis are the values each line represents
its own value so blue is temperature in degrees Celsius, yellow is light in luxe and red humanity.

Amount of leafs in counted every week. You'll see a graph for every single colour and one all
together.

duckweed
leaf cound
120
100

leafs

80

Dark (Group 1)
White (Group 3)
Red (Group 2)

60
40
20
0
1

weeks

Afbeelding 7: in this graph the growth rate of the leafs are compared each line equals a
different group.

Afbeelding 8: the photosynthesis under different wavelengths.

Tekst 1: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/biology/ligabs.html

Pictures from the dark group.

Afbeelding 8: week 1

Afbeelding 10: week 2

Afbeelding 12: week 3

Afbeelding 9: week 1

Afbeelding 11: week 3

Afbeelding 13: week 4

Discussion
I think the results that we got are pretty reliable. Because the condition that the plants where set in
we almost constant thus they barely to nothing change the reliability of the outcome. The only thing
that could change the outcome greatly was that we had to add fertilizer to the experiment. And we
dont know if every group did that correctly so that would change the reliability of the experiment.
But I think looking at the data that we got that that didn't happen.
From what we know from the literature the experiment went ass predicted. In a dark environment
the plants will die because they cant make energy throe photosynthesis because there is no light.
Fore the other colours from the data that we got form the other groups we can see that they are
relatively close thus that confirms that the other wavelengths produce the same amount of energy
(photosynthesis).
Conclusion
without light the plants will die, under whit and red light are not much differences thus that says
that red light produces the same amount of energy. The small difference in amount of leaf could be
throe counting ore the amount of fertilizer.
I cant say if we answered our question because we did not receive all the data from the other
groups.
Recommendations are add a automated feeder so you know for sure that is not a factor of failing the
experiment. Second add a camera so we can see how the plants grow.
Literature
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/plantid2/descriptions/lemmin.html
Campbell & Reese, global Edition
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/biology/ligabs.html