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CCHS Code Name Exploration

Project by group cchsparfittspring2017

Explore A C-Fern is a tropical Fern that starts out microscopic and grows to be a regular sized plant.
Research Question What would happen to the gametophytes (C-Fern Spores) if competition spores were added to the habitat?
Predictions If other spores were added to the habitat, then the C-Ferns would grow faster to compete for nutrients, than the C-Ferns without other competition spores.
Experimental Design Independent Variable: Adding different amounts and/or different types of other spores Dependent Variable: Gametophyte (C-fern) growth in relation to the different amounts of competition spores added to the habitat How We Will Measure: We will measure the Gametophytes (C-Ferns) by massing the dishes to determine growth and then to determine which is growing we will use the Logger Pro Software to measure the growth of the different spores. Constants: • Temperature of environment • Starting nutrient agar amount • Light amounts • Amount of C-Ferns in each dish • Depending on our provided spore, either type of spores or amount of spores • Type of C-Fern spores • Petri dish size Supplies: -Petri Dishes -C-Fern Spores -Nutrient Agar -Graph Paper -Logger Pro Software (Computer Application) -Pencil -Paper -Measuring Tool (Ruler, protractor, etc.) -Venue/Tablet/Computer -Lamp -Incubator Box (Plants) -Water (For soaking spores) -Dropper -Sterilized Isopropyl/Water Solution -Gloves -Mass Scale -Different Costa Rican Spores Procedure: 1. Sterilize petri dishes, agar and tools, including beakers, droppers and water 2. Inoculate Costa Rican and C-Fern spores in <5 mLs of water; let sit over night 3. Set out eight small pieces of tape and align lids closely, parallel to the dishes . Quickly measure and add the agar to the dishes and close the lids to keep the dishes sterile. 4. Let sit to allow the agar to settle. 5. After the agar has settled evenly, set the dishes on a flat surface and prepare your dropper, inoculation test tubes and spores. 6. Decide the drop ratios for each dish, since our hypothesis included speed and growth coverage we did different ratios of C-ferns to Costa Rican ferns. Our example is the control dish with 3 drops of C-ferns, the 1st dish had less amounts of Costa Rican Ferns compared to C-Ferns at a 3:1 drop ratio, our 2nd dish was an equal ratio of C to Costa Rican Ferns 3:3, and the final dish was a ratio of 3:5, with more Costa Rican Ferns than C-Ferns. However, depending on the variances in your experimental setup, you can vary the drop amounts. 7. Drop allotted drop ratios of the inoculated ferns into the dish, be careful so that you do not breathe in the dish, and that you open and close the dishes as fast as possible. 8. Add drops of water if the agar seems to be dry. 9. Collect massing data, and when you are able to accurately take percentage growth through a graph paper scale, do so. Collect data for a total 5 days, noting both growth and mass differences as well as observations. Even though me measured using both methods, measuring mass was a more accurate measurement.
Conclusion Based upon the evidence that the C-Fern Spores with competition in their dishes have provided, our hypothesis could possibly be correct. However, to be completely assured, we would need to conduct more experiments with our setup to make sure that our data hasn't been influenced in any other way. In conclusion, our evidence suggests that with more evidence and further experimentation that our hypothesis could be proved.
Investigation Theme CFERN
Grade Level High School Students (Grades 9,10,11,12)
School Name Cheyenne Central High School
Session Spring 2017

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NSF_Logo.jpg This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant #2010556 and #1502892. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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