| Explore |
Prior to research, we knew that the basic elements needed for plants to survive are water, nutrient filled soil, sunlight, and CO2. Also, sunlight is not always needed for successful germination. We were also aware of the steps in germination. The first stage is imbibition (when the seed coat is softened through absorbing water). In the next stage, the seeds converts its starch into sugar and the root (the radicle) begins to grow, followed by the stem and the leaves. Pre-soaking seeds in water allows them to germinate faster due to easier water absorption. Seeds have natural dormancy that protect them against germination during the cold months. Lastly, we also know that the bark of a tree is its outmost protect to keep moisture out when it rains and to keep it in during dry weather and it’s also a tool to keep insects away.
After background research, we have discovered that plants are embryophytes that contain multicellular, dependent embryos. They can also either be a monocot (one cotyledon, parallel leaf veins, stem vascular bundles throughout) or dicots (two cotyledons, netlike leaf veins, stem vascular bundles in ring arrangement). To add on, they can either be an angiosperm, a flowering plant, or a gymnosperm. We also found that through some trees die of old age, most die prematurely due to biological factors (disease, invasive species, animals) and human damage. Through a previous experiment, we learned that different types of seeds thrive in different pH levels of water. Some may germinate better in alkaline water while others thrive in neutral or acidic water.
Some questions we have regarding plants are as follows:
How do different types of environmental hazards affect specific characteristics of plants?
What are the best ways to control invasive species and pathogens without the use of hazardous chemicals to our environment?
How do plants improve urban environments?
Is it possible to create salt or metal tolerant crops without making them invasive?
Can different types of light affect the growth of trees?
What circumstances cause trees to grow together? (Getting twisted together)
What causes certain plants to be poisonous while others are not? |
| Predictions |
We predict that the more variety of trees there are in an urban area, the better the area’s air quality will be. This is because trees play a vital role in removing pollutants in the air; they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen while filtering through pollutants. Each species of tree has certain benefits to the environment, so we predict that the wider variety of trees would mean better air quality as a result of the wide variety of tree benefits. Trees may also indirectly improve air quality in urban areas by reducing temperatures through shading, which decreases the amount of pollutants present that usually spike during high temperatures. In addition, the bigger and better condition the trees are, the better the air quality will be. |