Bio 103, Lab 1: Darwin's Voyage Revisited

Kaitlin Cough
Elizabeth Harnett

We went on an extended expedition to Planet Nearer to observe the many forms of plant life. We defined plant life using our experience from Earth. First, we decided if the form came from the ground (in other words, if it had a root system). We also looked at whether or not the form was moving by its own accord (we also took into account the fact that we knew the plant was growing, as it had leaves of varying sizes). Finally, we decided plants were the forms which were green, because although there were similar forms (leaf-like) on the ground, these were brown (which on Earth are considered dead).
Our first Category's plants, Category A, shared several characteristics. They were:
-substantially taller than other categories
-had larger leaves
-possessed trunks, which in turn were encased in an outer shell.
Within Category A, however, there were two sub-categories. The first was characterized by several larger specimens. These four species possessed a straight central trunk that was large and thick, with a very rough outer shell. They were separate and generally stood alone. The second sub-category was, while similar, shorter than the first, with denser foliage that seemed to grow out in a cap like manner rather than straight up. These had not one central trunk but a cluster of several, smaller trunks entwined whose outer shells were thinner and light in color.
Our next category, Category B, shared the following characteristics:
-the plants were found most often on the ground,underneath the category D plants.
-were usually found in shades of vibrant green
-were usually thick, patchy and moist
Many different sub-categories made up Category B. In the first sub-category were plants found at the base of category A plants. They were usually of shades of green, yellow and brown. They were drier and found in patchier clumps. The next sub category was made up of very light, dense and moist patches found around rocks. The next sub-category were found in the moist crevasses of the category A plants, and were found in big, soft thick patches.
Category C plants all shared the following characteristics:
-they were found on Category A plants
-were different shades of light green
-were usually dry and rough in texture
There were three main sub-categories underneath Category C. The first sub-category was made up of plants that were light green, dense and very short-they almost couldn't be seen by the naked eye. The next category was made up with plants of a minty green color, and were found in flat clusters. The final sub-category of plant was also found in clusters, however they were layered and found abundantly on category A plants.
Category D was primarily characterized by the plants' low-lying position. Within this category, we divided plants into two sub-groups using leaf design and stem design. The first group had specimen with stems that had forms splaying out from it (there were 5 specimen in this group). In the second group, there were plants that were essentially simply stems - there were no forms branching out from the original form (there were 2 specimen in this group). In all, there were 7 types in this group.

Eurie Kim

Saskia Guerrier

Vivian Cruz

 

Plants as we know it are usually green things that have some type of a root or stem. They grow in different shapes and forms.

This is what we observed on Planet Farther:

FLAT

1) Thin, green  2) Fat, green  3)Brown  4) Fuzzy ends  5) "Hairy" leaves  6) 3 Round leaves  7) Curled, Heart leaves 8) Red stem  9) Fat, round leaves  10) Long, pointy leaves

 

SHORT

1) Heart leaves  2) Flower-like, seedy, layered leaves  3) Baby, pointy, light colored leaves  4) Oval, light colored leaves  5) Long, straight leaves (all alone)  6) Huge, ruffly leaves, red-stem  7) Pointy edges, heart leaves, top layer (of leaves) shiny.

 

MEDIUM HEIGHT

1) Skinny, spiky leaves, all over, round red berries

 

TALL

1)  Close-together branches, hanging leaves, over all oval shape  2)Clumped-together branches, higher up on the trunk, over all round shape.

 

We were able to differentiate the types of plants by height, shape of leaves, texture, and color.  We classified all the 20 different plants under Flat, Short, Medium, and Tall because we thought it would be easier to focus on the diversity of the plants within each group. And then under those headings, we subcategorized the plants by distinguishing the shape of the leaves, texture, and color.

Additionally, we also noticed that the lighter-colored plants were not under the tree and more exposed to the sun, which could show that the sunlight affects the plants' coloring.  Most of the different plants also grew in clumps, even though they would be next to another type of plant.  Furthermore, the existence of subcategories under the main groups shows the ability of plants to co-exist with another type.  This shows that diversity and interactivity could be possible ways of living on Planet Farther.

Ruth Goodlaxson

Rachel Mabe

Paige Safyer

A Categorization of Plants from Planet Nearer

Our survey of Planet Nearer included a triangular area of land, and served as a good basis for categorization of plant life on this planet. In the end, we divided the plants observed into three categories: Category G, Category P and Category T. We were then able to further divide based on observable characteristics. Our distinctions were based on color, texture and shape of different components of the vegetation, and we discerned three major categories and six different types of plant life. There were two major substances that made up these plants: one, soft and green which we call “leaves,” and the other hard and brown that comprises trunks.

Category G consists of one plant. It was the first we noticed upon arrival at Planet Nearer, and covers most of the ground. The plant is entirely green, thin and straight. The tallest examples averaged about four inches tall. It appeared to have no “base;” it grew directly from the ground even though it was similar in texture and color to the substance that emerged from the upper sections of plants in the T category.

Category P also consists of one plant. It covered an area of brown soil about 12 feet square bordering the area covered by G. It consists of individual stalks, ending in circles of leaves. There were small buds at the end of each stalk in the center which were a lighter green color than the leaves and the stalk. Each plant was about 6 to 12 inches in height. The leaves were about 2 inches wide and three inches tall, with a smooth papery texture and had small points on the half of the leaf farthest from the plant.

Category T contained four varieties. The common features were a hard, brownish trunk toward the ground and softer green leaves on top. The first variety noted was T1A; this plant grew amongst category P plants. It has many thin, interweaving trunks with knots and light green, ovular leaves with serrated edges. We also noted a similar Category T in the same area. T1B appears to be related to T1A due to a similar pattern of interweaving trunks and serrated leaves. However, the leaves were darker green and longer ovals, and grew closer to the trunk in addition to growing at the top. These grew next to Category P, but there was noted thinning of P under these plants. There was one plant we called T2; this had a straight trunk, bark streaked with white yellow-green leaves and very high branches. The leaves had 5 to 6 points each and we noted some of the same shape turning brown on the ground. There were two of the T3 variety, one very large and one smaller. This type had brown bark with green and white streaking. The leaves were speckled in brown, with very defined points. The tree also had large knots and branches that became smoother farther out from the trunk. Under this tree, we found many hard green ball-like objects. Downhill, we noticed smaller plants with the same kinds of leaves as this tree, which lead us to believe that the balls rolled downhill as a means of reproduction.