48,49,50...differen alleles for the same trait,stromata,chordata

This photogenic gull is an example of a chordata(big idea 1 # 14). a chordata is any organism with a spinal chord with a hollow space inside for nervous tissue. The spinal chord is the centrlal signal transduction pathway of all chordata and is a unique type of nervos tissue, similar to that found in the brain. All mammals are chordata. (done with big idea 1!!!)

 this random snazzy plant demonstartes stomata(big idea 2 #33), the openings of a plant where water exits th plant and CO2 enters. around it are guard cells, which open and close the pore to preserve water. They are commonly located on the bottom side of the leaf becuase this does not have direct sun and less water will be drawn out(form fits function!   FFF!)

 thos roan cattle is an example of different alleles for the same trait(big idea 3#8). This cow is both red and white, a case of codominance  that shows the dominant and recessive alleles. these two colors are different phenotypes that express themselves in random locations on the body. for this set of alleles, possible outcomes are white, red, and roan(red and white)...(differet possibilties of this phenotype to follow later). happy new year friends

45,46,47...coelomate,gymnosperm leaf,biome

Thia is another example of a biome(big idea 4 #3). a biome is an ecosystem that is similar to that on another place in the planet in qualities such as climate, elevation, latitude, ect. they are basicly the overall type of terrain and folliage in an area. This is a swamp, but a transitional swamp becuase the water level varies and the area is sometimes dry, as shown here. It normally is covered by a shallow layer of water that allows for many wetland plants and a huge diversity of species.
(done with big idea 4!!!)

This is a pretty gymnosperm leaf(big idea 1 #25) on a cliff above a beach in Bodega Bay. visible are the exposed seeds of the tree, a quality that seperates gymnosperms from angiosperms. This tree is a pine, meaning that it has neatles instead of traditional leaves. The purpose of this it to reduce the surface area that water can evaporate through. Water is also preserved by a wax coat on the leaf that conserves water. This photo aptly demonstrates bothe the seeds and leaves of a gymnospem, making it pretty cool.

 tis is the shell of an oyster washed up on a beach, an example of a coelomate(big idea 1 #16). Coelomates are any organisms that have a complete digestive track. They are a step above cnidaria, which have a gastrovascular cavity. Coelomates have  two openings for digestion with a track between them, so food never actually enters the body cavity.(intestines ect are seperated from body cavity by epithelal cells. Oysters are mollusca, which are coelomates.

42,43,44... phloem, cohesion, phenotype...at 1 AM

this root has been broken in half, revealing the inner layers. An important layer is the phloem(big idea 2#30), which is the nutrient transport of the plant. It is the middle layer of a plant stalk, between the xylem and the layer of supporting fibers. It moves sugars produces by photosynthisis around the plant to power growth and development. Along with the Xylem, it is the main transport tissue of the plant and a major factor in growth and survival.

the splashes/ ripples resulting from a skipped stone demonstrate cohesion(big idea 2#10). this molecular phenomina is more responcible for life as we know it than any ther in my oppinion. It is what allows unicellular organisms to survive and what makes plants stand tall. This is when two moleculas are polar and form hydrogen bonds to eachother. essentially, the liquid sticks to itself and it takes some force to break this attraction, seen here by the rock bouncing due to surface tension.
(this photo took probably 10 minutes to get right)

These are both the leaves of a eucalyptus tree with a different phenotype(big idea 3 #17). a phenotype is the physical embodiment of dominant and recessive alleles and is what is displayed due to genotype. This can either be the trait of the dominant allele, the recessive allele, or a mix depending on codominance ect. These leaves are the same in function but different in shape due to the expression of different genotypes.

39,40,41... detritovore, catabolism, r-stratigist

This small cocoon is a nifty example of an r-stratigist(big idea 4#19). This term refers to any organism that produces a large anount of offspring but puts forth little to no parental effort. Many of the offspring die but some will grow up to adulthood and reproduce. The other strat many organisms follow is having few offspring but investing a lot of parental time and support, almost ensuring survival. Butterflies, moths, and most other insects will have tens or sometimes hundreds of offspring, few of which will ever make it to the cocoon phase of their lives. a great example is sea turtles, which produce hundreds of eggs but leave them and never see them again.

This is a cool hole in the side of a tree that turned out to be mostly hollow(how is it still alive?), and contained twigs and bird feces, meaning that it was once a nest of a bird which is an example of catabolic(big idea 2#7). Catabolism a series of pathways that breaks down a molecule into smaller bits that can be used by the organism. It is done in all hetrotrophs that consume other bits of organic materials to gain nutrients. It is done by glycolysis and the krebs cycle and produces ATP by oxidative phosphorylation.

My poor buddah was forced to sit by some fecal matter, probably from a deer, which can demonstrate  detritovores(big idea 4#7). dertitovores are organisms that get their nutrients and energy from eating non-living matter such as feces or dead things such as carrion or fallen leaves. They are decomposers of ecosystems and are vital in recycling nutrients. examples are fungi, worms,ect.

36,37,38....gnathostome, mutualism, angiosperm

This is my dog! he blends in with my couch nicely. he is a good example of a gnathostome(big idea 1#23). These are animals that have jaws as well as several other unique features. Almost all vertebrates are gnathostomes. This most likely evolved from aquatic animals that had a connection between their throats and the gills, allowing them to get water throught the gills by opening and closing their mouths. This strengthened the jaw muscles and eventually organisms got to the point that they could capture prey in the jaws.

Apart from displaying my favorite of all jareds, this picture demonstrates a lichen, which is an awesome case of mutualism(big isea 4#12). This is a symbiotic relationship between two organisms in which both benifit. It is like a clown fish and a sea anemone, in which both species gain from the relationship by providing protection from predators and the fish eating harmful paracites. Lichens are pairs consisting of fungus and photosynthetic organisms, which provide water/nutrients and energy respectively.

this beautiful area full of flowers and clovers and other fancy things is an example of angiosperms(big idea 1#6), which are seed-producing flowering plants. Unlike gymnosperms, their seeds are surrounded by plant material, not exposed like on pinecones. They are commonly seen by us in he form of fruits which contain seeds. They are all flowering plants and can either self-pollinate or pollinate with other plants by taking advantage of pollinators, such as bees and bats.

33,34,35... long day plant, predation, bilateral symetry

This tasty looking potato is a splendid example of a long day plant(big idea 2#29). This term refers to a unit of measurement of how much time a plant spends in the cycles of light and dark. plants can sense the time shifts of these periods and uses them to detect the changes of the seasons, most plants will blossom regardless of how long the dark-cycle is as long as they recieve enough light. Long day plants bloom as soon as they reach their critical ploto period, explaining why many plants bloom in spring when the day begins to lengthen.

This hole is actually an animal burrow,deducible by the mound of soil outside and the way most leaves have been cleared from the enterence. A reason for a burrow like this is to defend against the elements as well as predation(big idea 4#18). This is when one organism feeds on and usually kills another in order to attain nutrients from it. It is what forms trophic levels and a food chain in every ecosystem. All hetrotrophs are some sort of predators, eating another organism for food.

 

 This highly attractive house plant in my living room demonstrates bilateral symetry(big idea 1 #12). This term refers to anything in nature that is symetrical across a line. It is similar to math equations and graphs in which the inverse is found;identical across the line of symetry. To me, bilateral symetry is geometricly appealing and i would recomend the offspring of this plant to any who agree(+shipping and handling). This is common in animals to help them balance.

30,31,32...hypertonic, callulose, and gymnosperm cone

This tree is an example of cellulose(big idea 2#8). This structure is very important in the formation of plants and therefore andvanced life as we know it. it has the common C6H12O6 formula but forms long chains by dehydration synthisis, making it occour in nature as C6H10O5. It forms the cell walls of plants that allows them to be turgid and stand up without violently and tragicly exploding. Humans cannot digest cellulose, but some animals such as termites and ruminants(cows ect). Wood contains roughly 40-50% cellulose.

 This lovely grass is an example of hypertonic(big idea 2 # 21). This is when a select fluid has more molarity due to stuff inside than the surrounding body. Water flows from low water potential to high water potential and therefore into the body with a higher molarity; known as osmosis. This is one reason that water flows up plants to give them water in higher levels, along with cohesion.

This is a gymnosperm cone(big idea 1 #24). It is the reproductive vessle of a gymnosperm, known for having bare seeds or sometimes in the form of cones like this one. Most cones are cypres trees and are located above the equator. They are gametophytes and grow quickly, making them one of the first species in succession after a destructive event.

28 and 29.... modified root and biome

This underwater shot of a river demonstrates a biome(big idea 4 # 3). This specificly is a freshwater river, one which has its own native climate, plant life, temperature, and animal life. The factors that compose a biome are latitude, humidity, and altitude. These are less important for aquatic biomes than land biomes, with several other factors contributing including turbidity, current speed, depth, andhow far the location is from the source or delta.

This tree is located along the side of the river where it floods often, making it necessary for the tree to have a modified root(big idea 1 #29). When the water level receeds, it is visible that  these roots are very tall and originate from the tree roughly 18 inches above the surface. This is a common yet not extreme for of stilt root. These grow along the surface a ways before growing undergrond as a means of support against forces put on the tree...ie flowing water.

26-27... tetrapod and unsaturated fat

This random nut found at the river represents an unsaturated fat(big idea 2#37). This type of hydrocarbon contains many unsaturated fats that can be useful in nurturing the new organism, while animals contain saturated fats. They are considered "healthy fats" becuase they are liquids at room temp and are less likely to cause heart attacks/ strokes as saturated fats.

This is a sandy track from a deer, probably a black-tailed or mule deer because these are most common in the area. Deer are a great example of  tetrapods(bid idea 1 #39), which are four-legged creatures with feet including many mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. It is a vary general and broad term used to classify organisms. The first tetrpod evolved from a fish and migrated to land for unknown reasons.

24-25..modified stem and leaf

These sharp and jagged leaves demonstrate a modified leaf of a plant( big idea 1 #28). Clearly along the evolutionary path to this plant, leaves that had some sort of point or were similar to these occoured in the population over many generations and gave these organisms some advantage over the rest of the population(im guessing animals eating them). These genes bacame more prevelent and are now the wild type.

These plants' leaves have fallen off for winter, but the thin twigs they attach to are located roughly five feet above the water line to assure that they will still be able to photosynthesize when water levels rise, making it a modified stem of a plant( big idea 1 #30). The origins for this probably are that organisms with shorter stems would be submerged and die, or at least fail to reproduce, while those with longer stems survived more frequently.

22 and 23... seedless vascular plants,calvin cycle

these lovely leaves are an example of the Calvin Cycle(big idea 2 # 5), also know as light-independent reactions. It is a process that occours in the chloroplasts of plants and is when carbons from CO2 are incorperated one at a time to for 3C sugars that will later be stored as starch or turned into other macromolecules such as lipids or protiens. It is powered by ATP from light-reactions

this fern is an example of seedless vascular plants(big idea1 # 38). these plants reproduce by the use of spores and are gametophytes, containing no seeds(insightful commentary) and no flowers. They do, however, have xylem and phloem which makes them into vascular plants. They are one of the oldest plant species seen in fossiles.

18-21... arachnid, transpiration, byrophyte, adaption

 

This is mossy stuff on a rock in my yard which is an example of a bryophyte(big idea 1 #13), or a nonvascular plant. Becuase they are nonvascular, they cannot grow very tall and must be in a moist enviroment. They contain neither plowers or seeds.

This is the inside of a rusty and gross mailbox on the side of a hill, containing within it the web of an arachnid(big idea 1 #8). arachnids are deffined by the reliable source of wikipedia as "joint-legged creatures with eight legs, which in some circumstances are transformed for sensory functions." Examples are spiders, scorpions, and ticks. Their boddies have two distinct segments and they tend to be hetrotrophs or parasites. The most common phobia is arachnophobia.

 

These seasonally-confused flowers exemplify transpiration(big idea 2 #36), which is the mass flow of liquid from the roots of the tree to the leaves to replace water that was lost through pores. This is a vital process that is powered by the cohesion of water and will supply the plant with electrons for photosystem I and II.

This rose bush is clearly very thorny, an example of adaption of a plant( big idea 1 #3). I would guess that these plants were eaten by hetrotrophs and through mutation one grew primitive spikes or thorns that prevented herbivors from easily eating folliage. This would promote reproductive success and would eventually become common within the population.

 

17...vestigal structure

The faint white line on my very white stomach is the scar from an appendectomy, an opperation to remove my appendix which is a vestigal structure(big idea 1#41). A vestigal structure is any structure that is still present in the population but have lost their necessity throughout evolution or changes in diet, enviroment, ect. The appendix is located just below the ileocecal valve connected to the large intestine. It is believed to have possible been used to house bacteria capable of digesting cellulose or maybe to maintain antibody levels durring development. It can be removed with no side effects and has no use in the modern world, making it a vestigal structure.

Will be publishing my pictures on instagram. The link is instagram.com/camachomann

#14... intruduced species#15...flocking#16..artificial selection

This felled eucalyptus  located along the American River is an introduced species(big idea 4 # 9). It was brought to north america in the 1850s in a search for a fast growing and reliable source of lumber(it didnt meet expectations). However, it burned easily and outcompeted many native plants and did not support most native species. Taday, many are removed from forests in an attempt to return many original species to their former prevelence.

Thr four geese in the background demonstrate a flock(big idea 3 #9). Animals of essentially every variation have been observed flocking, schooling, or herding in some form. This behavior originated to increase protection to an individual. For example, a single buffalo can be taken down by a lion pack but they hesitate to attack a herd of many individuals. Likewise, if a predator want after a flock of geese they would not only notice it sooner and have more time to react but also the chances if  any single individual being caught would decrease.

This domesticated citrus is an example of artificial selection(big idea 1#11). This is similar to natural selection in that plants with the best traits reproduce exceot that these traits are not always condusive to health but rather to human use. For example, trees with larger, sweeter, and more moist oranges have been selectively bred for hundreds of years to maximize the harvest from a single tree. This is NOT genetic engineering which is done in a lab, merely selection and control of the reproduction of organisms.

#13.... adaption of an animal

The pair of ducks pictured represents adaption of an animal (big idea 1 #2). Ducks have webbed feet with which they paddle through the water with good speed. Birds evolved millions of years ago and were land animals, having feet similar to chickens. As they moved back into the water in search of easily attainable food and enhaced safety from predators, their feet grew back together giving them a distinct advantage over terrestrial birds and securing a fresh water ecological niche.

#9...anabolic #10...seed dispersal #11...succession #12... haploid

 growing on this rock is moss, which has many reactions within that are anabolic(big idea 2 #2). Anabolic pathways are any that construct molecules from smaller units which requires energy(in this case from photosynthisis). Moss is an autotroph and can produce much of its own food through anabolic pathways. It is also a nonvascular plant and has an uncouth root system unlike those common in the plant world. We saw the specifics of anabolic pathways when we studdied photosynthisis and saw catabolic(opposite) with a look at glycolysis.

 

The above is all that remains of a fairly primitive method of seed dispersal(big idea 3 # 20). This plant spreads its seeds by wind in a similar way to dandelions with light seeds and a feathery papus to allow the seed to float on the wind, sometimes for many miles. A pod like this would have held hundreds of seeds because seeds spread in this way have a very small chance of landing in a favorable spot for germination.

This log is all that remains of a mid-sized tree that was burned down and is now covered with molds and fungi(decomposers). While it did not work out well for this tree, this is an essential step in ecological succession(big idea 4 #20) in which an ecosystem or community changes over time, usually due to a natural disaster. One organism will make very fertile soil for another generation as well as give the opportunity to new species to grow and flourish as there is initially little to no competition for resources and light.

This small plant is a gametophyte and therefore has a haploid(big idea 3 # 6) chromosome set, meaning only half of its parent organism. Gametophytes practice alternation of genetics, meaning that every other generation there is an organism with only half the chromosome # of its parent. It will undergo mitosis to produce gametes that will then form a zygote, the main purpose of which is to create greater genetic diversity of offspring and to spread these new offspring twice as far downwind as normal plants.

5-6

This is a gymnosperm cone. (Big Idea 1 #24). A gymnosperm is a vascular plant that has seeds not enclosed in  specialized chambers. There are two types of cones: pollen and ovulates. The pollen containing cones are smaller and the pollen would be carried by the wind. The cones containing ovulates are larger and would be fertilized by the pollen. This is a male pine cone because it was smaller than some other cones that were on the tree and was located near the top of the tree. I could also see the pollen on the ground around the pine cone.

These are the gymnosperm leaves. (Big Idea 1 #25).  These leaves are from a pine tree. The leaves of the gymnosperm are specialized to help the tree retain water even in harsh conditions. Some gymnosperm leaves are evergreens lasting more than one growing season. Some are deciduous and will die and fall off every season. Leaves vary from plant to plant; some are single bladed while some are clustered and fall in groups. They are also where photosynthesis occurs in the gymnosperms

4-8

chitin(big idea 2 # 9) is a natural chain of polymenr that composes many items in nature such as the cell walls of fungi, the exoskeletons of insects and arthropods, as well as the shells of crabs and lobsters. It is similar in function to cellulose. It is leathery and flexible alone but becomes hard when calcium is added. It is used to make sergical string for use within the body becuase it is biodegradable and does not need to be sergicly removed later. This image is a fungus/mushroom at the American River.

This photo is of a small pond and represents unicellular organisms(big idea1 # 40). they generaly live in water or very moist enviroments and are the earliest form of life known: predecessors to multicellular organisms. Examples include prokaryotes and some protists. Within this pond, there are likely thousands of unicellular organisms. Interestingly, all members of a certian type of these organisms are identicle becuase of mitotic division; all genetic variation is due to mutation.

This photo is of an autotroph(big idea 2 # 4), which is any orgnism capable of producing its own food from either photosynthisis(more common) or chemosynthisis. Ina food chain, they are the primary producers that are consumed by primary consumers. They consume energy from the enviroment and use it to create NADPH and then simple sugars, commonly in the form of starch. This is also where most nutrients and vitamins enter an ecosystem.


This photo depicts an oak gall, which is an example of paracitism(big idea 4 #15). these growths are created when a gull wasp lays eggs within the branch of the tree and releases a chemicle that causes the branch to swell and form a balloon that protects the larve. They grow and develop within this gull and eat the starch-rich interior of the plant, only eating their way out when they are fully complete growing. This is an obvious example of paracitism becuase one species gains and the other is weakened by the relationship.



This picture is of the xylem(big idea 2 #38) of the plant and also the rumpus of the lovely Woollgar. The xylem is the most inward part of the tree and its primary function is the transport of water to the leaves via transpiration which takes advantage of the cohesive properties of water. It consists of long cells that contain tracheary elements that form vessels to move water to the leaves for use in photosynthisis(water donates the electrons)

#1-gastropod,#2-adhesion,#3-autotroph,#4-fungi

This is a gastropod (Big Idea 1 #21). Specifically, it is a snail.  A gastropod is in the phylum mollusca and is normally made up of a one part coiled shell and a flat muscular foot and a head with two elevated eyes. This gastropod was inside its shell so we are unable to see its foot and eyes; however, It does have a one part coiled shell that is visible. They mainly live in marine and freshwater areas, but some are able to live in the desert.

This picture shows the concept of adhesion of water (Big Idea 2 #1).  Adhesion is when one substance latches to another. In this case water is clinging to the leaf. In plants, adhesion of water helps to counter act the effects of gravity as well as help moving water against gravity in plants by having water cling to the water conducting cells in plants. Adhesion is helping to keep this water drop from falling off the leaf. The properties of adhesion help to allow trees to be very tall and still receive water.

This is an autotroph(Big Idea 2 #4). Specifically, this is a picture of moss. An autotroph is an organism that obtains its food molecules without eating other organisms or products derived from other organisms. In the food chain, they are considered producers and provide energy for all other organisms. All their energy is derived from the sun's energy and is that energy is used in photosynthesis to create sugars which are food molecules. Without autotrophs, the heterotrophs of the world would not be able to live.

This picture shows a fungi (Big Idea 1 #20); It is a decomposer. The mushroom will absorb the nutrients of any organic material it decomposes. It is important for nutrient cycling and exchange. Unlike plants fungus' cell walls have chitin. It is a eukaryotic organism. While some are safe to eat, other wild mushrooms can be poisonous. They are not noticeable most of the time except when fruiting as mushrooms or molds.