Honors 201

Our Group: Nature of Islands

The Societies 9/12/00

Group Members:

Jesse Thiel

Lindsay Stratford

Anthony Georger

Hamilton Galloway

The Society Islands are situated in the center of the South Pacific Ocean, thousands of miles from any continent. Despite the difficulty of reaching a location so distant, life has found a way to colonize these islands. The purpose of our experiment, as we spend this semester learning more about our island group, is to determine the likelihood of certain continental species of plant surviving such an arduous journey across the sea.

Therefore, our hypothesis in creating this experiment is stated: Seeds exposed to a salt-water solution (sea water) for the longest amount of time are least likely to survive, with observable differences between species.

A test of this hypothesis is that length of exposure to experimental salt water should represent the time seeds would spend at sea. The greater amount of time spent in the water could represent a greater distance such a seed could have traveled from a continent or another island. Our experiment will attempt to prove that the greater amount of exposure to salt water a seed has, the less likely it is that the seed will grow into a healthy plant once it has reached landfall. On a greater scale, this experiment will prove the difficulty in plant colonization of islands far removed from the continental bases of life.

Procedure:

In order to test our hypothesis, we will use the following materials.

• 4 small flower pots
• 2 cubic feet of soil
• A packet of seeds
• A pitcher of water to be mixed with salt
• Three smaller cups to fill with salt water

Each pot could be seen as representing a small island, ready to accept new life. The contents of the packet of seeds will be divided into four equal parts. One quarter of the seeds will be planted immediately into one of the flowerpots. This would signify an island very close to a continent, where plant seeds could have been blown ashore and never exposed to salt water. Each remaining quarter of seeds will be exposed to salt water for differing periods of time. Salt water will be mixed in a pitcher ahead of time to assure that it is of the same consistency in each of the three smaller cups. Since ocean water is composed of 96.5% water, 2.5% salt and 1% dissolved organic materials, (source: Encyclopedia Britannica) our salt water will also have 2.5% salt (approximately a teaspoon for 8 ounces of water.) From the same source, we have found that the percentage of salt in ocean water is measured by weight. We will work on any necessary conversions.

The first group of seeds exposed to salt water will be placed in a cup for 15 minutes. The second group will be exposed for an hour, and the third group will be exposed for a day (24 hours). Each group will be planted immediately after exposure, and growth times will be factored accordingly. After each group of seeds is planted, they will be watered with fresh water in equal amounts and all pots will be placed on the same windowpane with a southwest exposure allowing for maximum sunshine. If all other factors are kept equal, the only differences between the plants (and therefore the only cause of various patterns of growth) should be the beginning exposure to salt water.

The first quarter of seeds, not exposed to salt water, should act as a control group. We will be able to observe the growth patterns of these species of plants as if they had grown into fertile soil. The group exposed for 15 minutes should represent a brief exposure to salt water, such as what may occur when migrating birds drop seeds from the continents into seawater closely bordering an island. The group of seeds exposed for an hour may be interpreted as representing a small journey between islands, whereas the group exposed for a day could be seen as seeds that have traveled a great distance to reach an island. Our largest limitations in this experiment are a lack of knowledge of the exact species of plants we will be using and their capability (or likelihood) of ever being transported to islands by way of the sea. Therefore, we cannot predict their capability of handling salt water. Hopefully by using this wide range of exposure times, any deficiencies in these two areas can be accounted for.

Our group will divide the duties of this ongoing experiment in a way that is as fair as possible to each group member. Jessie Thiel will keep the plants on her windowsill throughout the semester, and will be responsible for the day-to-day upkeep of the plants — (watering and recording growth). As the plants grow, Jessie will note the differences in growth patterns, observing the locations of leaves and flowers as well as their colors and configurations to help tell the variety of species apart. Plants with like characteristics will be observed, with the seeds not exposed to salt water providing the base model of a "healthy" plant. Deviations from this "normal" species of plant will be recorded, with some characteristics (such as withering leaves) noted as unhealthy changes due to salt water exposure. Lindsay Stratford and Hamilton Galloway will both work on future assignments for the project, including any needs to keep a weekly log of plant growth or the writing of papers that summarize the progress of our experiment. I, Anthony Georger, have been responsible for drafting this assignment, and will work with the group to plant the seeds, as well as on any other written assignment, as necessary. During the initial acts of the experiment, I will time the exposure of seeds in the salt water, Jesse and Lindsay will plant the seeds and Hamilton will bring the pitcher and salt, creating the salt water necessary for the project.

Anthony will provide all measurement devices, such as rulers and watches, as well. Group members will work together to fill in any gaps unforeseen at this time that may later arise and become necessary to address for the experiment to be a success.

By the end of the semester, this experiment should conclude with 14 weekly logs of plant growth, which will be used to determine the success or failure of our original hypothesis.