Big Idea 1: Number 6
Angiosperm
This photo of an unidentified plant that I found on the banks of the American River is a clear example of an angiosperm. An angiosperm is a flowering plant. It's bright color may be a result of evolution in order for it to attract potential pollinators.
Big Idea 1: Number 29
Modified Root Of A Plant
This large tree that I found on the banks of the American River is an example of a tree with a modified root. This tree could not survive on such unstable ground if it didn't have such long, strong roots. Usually, this tree is about 3 feet above the water of the river, but with recent rainfall and snow melt, the river has risen, making it only about 4 inches above the water. Most trees would not be able to handle such a changing environment, but this tree has survived due to its roots.
Big Idea 2: Number 2
Anabolic
This photo of the sun made me think about photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is an anabolic reaction that involves sunlight. Anabolic means taking small units, such as carbon and water, and putting them together to create a larger molecule, such as a carbohydrate. Plants take in water, carbon dioxide, and photons (sunlight), and produce carbohydrate, and oxygen.
Big Idea 4: Number 7
Detritovore
This decomposing log that I found near the banks of the American River made me think of decomposition. Decomposition is conducted by detritovores. Detritovores are decomposers which include slugs, worms, sea stars, and millipedes. Detritovores feed off of decomposing animal or plant tissue, or fecal matter. This log is a clear example of the handiwork of detritovores.
Big Idea 2: Number 5
Calvin Cycle
This photo of a newly sprouted tree made me think, once again, of photosynthesis. To develop into a fully grown tree, this tree must be able to supply its cells with energy. It does this through creating ATP from light-dependent reactions, and then creating organic compounds that are used by both the plant and animals that feed off of it. These organic compounds are formed from the Calvin Cycle, which incorporates the ATP and the excited electrons from the light-dependent reactions. It uses these both of these to fix carbon into G3P.
Big Idea 1: Number 39
Tetrapod
This duck on the American River is an example of a tetrapod. A tetrapod is a four-limbed vertebrate. Tetrapods include amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Big Idea 1: Number 2
Adaptation Of An Animal
This big furry dog was being walked by its owner next to the American River. This dog is a prime example of an animal adaptation. This dog has a furry coat to help it deal with cold weather. Without such a warm coat, this animal would not be able to survive and thrive in frigid areas. This trait probably came to be through survival of the fittest because the dogs with longer hair and fuller coats most likely survived longer and reproduced more than dogs that lacked this trait.
Big Idea 4: Number 3
Biome: Grassland
This is a picture of a small portion of a wide open area near the American River that is abundant with grass. This is an example of a biome which is also known as a ecosystem. A biome is an area that has characteristics that define it, the animals, and the plants that usually live there. This is a grassland ecosystem which is usually abundant with grass, receives moderate to large amounts of rain, has cold winters and warm summers, and is inhabited by animals such as gophers, groundhogs, rabbits, and other plain dwelling creatures.
Big Idea 1: Number 13
Bryophyte
This is a picture of moss on a log that I found near the banks of the American River. Moss is a nonvascular plant species and usually grows in clumps. It is a Bryophyte because it is nonvascular which means it does not have a xylem or a phloem. Bryophytes tend to reproduces through seed dispersal from spores.
Big Idea 3: Number 20
Seed Dispersal Method
This cotton-like bush found on the banks of the American River is a perfect example of a type of seed dispersal method. The fluffy, white particles found on the plant, much like dandelions, were seeds. When blown by the wind, these seeds are meant to detach from the plant and to blow to different areas to "disperse" the seeds.
Big Idea 4: Number 13
Niche
This bamboo dominated area on the banks of the American River is a good example of a biological niche. These bamboo plants have thrived due to the lack of predators that eat bamboo, the abundance of natural resources, and the lack of competitive species. These plants have found their ideal environment to survive and thrive. This is also known as a niche.
Big Idea 1: Number 27
Lichen
This picture of a fungus coexisting with a tree is an example of a lichen. A lichen or is a fungus or algae that coexists with a photosynthetic organism. The photosynthetic organism or photobiont, in this case it is a tree, provides the fungus with organic carbon sugars produced from photosynthesis and the mycobiont, in this case it is a fungus, provides the tree with water and mineral nutrients that it collects from the atmosphere.
Big Idea 2: Number 1
Adhesion of Water
This is a picture of a water droplet sticking to my finger. This is an example of the adhesive properties of water. Adhesion of water is when water sticks to things other than itself. Water has adhesive properties because it is so polar. Oxygen is so electronegative that it pulls the sole electron of hydrogen so close to itself, that the oxygen becomes negatively charged and the hydrogen becomes positively charged.
Big Idea 1: Number 30
Modified Stem Of A Plant
This picture of a rose is a perfect example of a modified stem of a plant. This plant has thorns on its stem for protective reasons. It most likely developed this trait through evolution. Plants without thorns are more susceptible to being eaten by animals, so it is no wonder that roses with thorns out-competed roses without thorns.
Big Idea 1: Number 3
Adaptation Of A Plant
This picture of a plant growing through a small crack in a wooden fence is a good example of a plant adapting to its environment. This plant grew through the fence because it probably wasn't getting enough sunlight on the other side of the fence. It adapted to its environment by growing towards an area with abundant sunlight.
Big Idea 1: Number 24
Gymnosperm Cone
This pine cone is a perfect example of a gymnosperm cone. A gymnosperm is a plant that does not have flowers. Because it does not flower, the way it reproduces is by growing its seeds inside a dispersal unit such as a cone, and then having the cone detach from the tree in an effort to spread its genes.
Big Idea 2: Number 37
Unsaturated Fat
This butter is a form of unsaturated fat. At room temperature, it would be a fluid. It would be unsaturated because unsaturated fats include a double bond in the fatty acid chain, making it so it cannot be fully saturated with hydrogen atoms, and gives it a kink in its makeup so that it is not straight which makes it liquid at room temperature.
Big Idea 2: Number 32
Saturated Fat
This tasty treat is an example of saturated fat at its finest. Saturated fats do not include a double bond, which makes them able to be fully "saturated" with hydrogen atoms. Saturated fats are made up in a straight line, which makes them solid at room temperature, hence the delicious center of an oreo being solid at room temperature.
Big Idea 1: Number 12
Bilateral Symmetry
These horses, along with all mammals, are bilaterally symmetrical which means that their left half is exactly the same as their right half. Plants are not necessarily bilaterally symmetrical because most plants do not have the same amount of leaves on each side.
Big Idea 1: Number 4
Amniotic Egg
This chicken egg is a great example of an amniotic egg. An amniotic egg is an egg produced by a tetrapod, a four limbed animal, that can be layed on land. Chickens are tetrapods.
Big Idea 2: Number 6
Carbohydrate
These pieces of toast are good examples of carbohydrates. Breads are abundant with carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are organic compounds that are made up of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen only. Carbs are used for short term energy storage.
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