Transpiration Lab

3.6	7.5	6.6	4.0
0.9	6.0	3.9	3.0
2.9	4.6	4.1	3.0
4.1	7.7	6.0	3.9
1.8	5.1	3.2	2.1
1.2	4.7	5.8	2.4
4.9	8.4	6.8	4.3
3.3	6.1	4.9	2.5
4.2	7.6	6.1	3.2

This is the data table for the plant transpiration lab in which we looked at how much plants transpire based on the temperature.  

1. Describe the process of transpiration in vascular plants.

Water in the form of  a gas leaves the leaves via the stomata and adheres to the plant turning back into a liquid.

2. Describe any experimental controls used in the Investigation.

The temperature change caused by the fan, heater, and lamp were all experimental controls.

3. What environmental factors that you tested increased the rate of transpiration? Was the rate of transpiration increased for all plants tested?

An increase in wind caused greater transpiration in all plants.

4. Did any of the environmental factors (heat, light, or wind) increase the transpiration rate more than the others? Why?

The wind caused the greatest increase in transpiration because it pushed the water molecules back onto the outside of the plant after they had left the leaves.

5. Which species of plants that you tested had the highest transpiration rates? Why do you think different species of plants transpire at different rates?

Different species of plants have different transpiration rates because of what types of plants they are (C4 C3 CAM). The difference found in C3 plants is caused by how large their stomata is.

6. Suppose you coated the leaves of a plant with petroleum jelly. How would the plant's rate of transpiration be affected?

They would barely transpire at all because the jelly would clog the stomata so no water would escape

7. Of what value to a plant is the ability to lose water through transpiration?

This way the plant does not burst it's cells in a wet season.

Plant Hormone

1. Auxins
This hormone is important during growth in plants because it is what keeps the roots and stem growing length wise. This hormone is released based on environmental factors like sunlight, water, and animals. Auxin is sent around the plant via cell to cell transportation. to make the stem "lean" a certain way it causes one side of the stem to grow longer cells that curve over the shorter cells below.
2. Abscisic Acid
Abscisic acid works opposite of the auxins in a plant by stopping growth when the plant does not have enough energy or needs to use it elsewhere. This is important to plants so that they don't keep trying to grow without adequate energy.
3. Ethylene
Ethylene is a gas that cause fruit to ripen in fruit bearing plants. This can be seen in banana's browning, apples getting mushy, and avocados getting softer. Fruit ripens in a contained environment because the gas can not escape.

Botany of Desire Blog

Borislav Dopudja Portfolio

University of Wisconsin: Washington County

http://www.finecooking.com/

http://sydkab.wordpress.com/2012/01/29/co-evolution/

http://www.differencebetween.net/

National Geographic

This blog post starts out with these photos that all connect to the idea of co-evolution in organisms as was stated in The Botany of Desire. First he started off by talking about bees and how the plants with flowers that they get nectar from, have co-evolved for mutual gain. This can be seen as a mirror to gardeners and the plants that they grow. These plants have changed so we would enjoy them and keep passing along their genes. The potato for example has evolved to something we want today for food.  Tulips have changed by keeping the genes that appeal to us.  Another analogy is the hummingbird that pollinates flowers just as bees do, unconsciously.  The plants have evolved so their pollen will get on these animals and spread to the next flower. The plants we eat have evolved in a similar way, they have changed so that they give us something we crave. This can be beauty, taste, or even stimulation. So he brings up: Why are wolves more amazing then dogs? Dogs outnumber wolves marginally today and yet wolves are supposedly their superior ancestors. Dogs however, have something the wolves don't. They evolved and learned if they appease humans they get to live and pass their genes on in the form of offspring.