Ecological Niche – Click on the link in the Assignments section of the BioPortal

13 Jun Ecological Niche – Click on the link in the Assignments section of the BioPortal

Question
Laboratory 7: Ecological Niche (15 points)

Name: _________________________

Section: ___________

Lab Instructor: _______________________

Last 4 digits of your CUNYFirst Empl ID #: ______9250_______

Fall 2014

Instructions:

1) Click on the link in the Assignments section of the BioPortal to get to the lab.

2) Read the web page to help you understand the material in this lab before starting the experiments.

3) Utilize the links on the bottom of the web page to conduct experiments to determine the optimum temperature and pH for the four microbes below that match the last 4 numbers of your CUNYFirst ID number.

You must study four differentmicrobes. If you have duplicate numbers, or 0 or 9 in your ID number, pick one or more additional microbes randomly.

THE LIST OF ORGANISMS:

1.Rambies uglitus
2. Falitius rebrantus

3. Scribio euglensis

4. Pseudomonas retii

5. Neisseria atol

6. Sulfolobus litia
7. Leuconostoc botolus
8. Escherichia coli

Use the links at the bottom of the web page to begin growing cells to determine theoptimum conditions for each microbe.

4) Record the results in the Tables of Results (Temperature, pH) provided on the following pages. Read the instructions on the top of each table carefully.

Part I: Definitions and Background information

1. Define the term niche. (0.5 pts)

2. Name three resources for which organisms might compete. (0.5 pts)

3. Define evolution. How might evolution be affected by competition? (1pt)

Part II: Results Generated from the Ecological Niche Web Page

Table 1: Effects of Temperature on Microbial Growth

In the top row place the names of the 4 microbe that you will be studying (matching your ID number). For each temperature enter the LOG VALUE of GENERATIONS per HOUR (do not use generations per minute). Negative numbers should be recorded as 0. (1 pt)

Temp

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

Part II: Results

Table 2: Effects of pH on Microbial Growth

In the top row, place the 4 microbe names that match your student ID number. For each pH, enter the LOG VALUE of GENERATIONS per HOUR (do not use generations per minute). Negative numbers should be recorded as 0. (1 pt)

pH

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

9.5

10

Fill in Table 3 with the optimal pH and temperature for each of your four microbes using your data from tables 1 and 2.

Note: the highest log value equals the optimum pH or temperature. (2pts)

Table 3: Optimal Temperature and pH for each microbe

Microbe

Optimal Temperature

Optimal pH

Fill in table 4 with the highest and lowest temperatures and pHs showing growth for each microbe using your data from tables 1 and 2.(2pts)

Table 4: Fundamental Niche

Microbe

Lowest temp showing growth

Highest Temp showing growth

Lowest pH showing growth

Highest pH showing growth

Construct a graph demonstrating (a) the fundamental niche (the temperature and pH range in which the cells can grow) and(b) the optimum niche for each microbe with respect to temperature and pH.

The fundamental nichewill be shown as a box on your graph – the height of box covers the whole pH range of the microbe’s growth, and the width covers the whole temperature range.

Your complete graph will have four boxes, one for each microbe.

The optimum nichefor each microbe will be a point on the graph. (4 points)

Questions:

1. How can you use your graph to determine which organisms will be in competition? Using this information, determine which of the organisms you have studied are in competition. In what ranges do they compete? (1 point)

2. What is the significance of the optimal temperature and pH for the microbe? (1 point)

3. What would happen if all of your microbes were put into a test tube at 25 degrees at a pH of 7? Would there be competition? If so, which microbe or microbes would survive? (1 point)