Date: September 29/2014

Candidate: Laura Montes Ramrez

Title: Effects on the moisture of the soil with the absence and presence of sunlight in an ecosystem.

Topic: Biotic and abiotic factors on an ecosystem.

Criterion Planning D.C.P C.E

Completely
Partially
Not Accomplished

Instructions given by Teacher:

Build a bottle ecosystem and measure how an abiotic component affects the ecosystem

Introduction:
Abiotic and biotic factors are determinant at the time of making an ecosystem. Abiotic factors can be defined as
factors without life, such as temperature, pH, sunlight, moisture, etc. And biotic factors are the contrary, factors
that have life, such as grass, plants, animals, etc. Biotic factors do depend of abiotic factors, because that is what
determines the environment changes, the aspects where they live and their affinity with them, but abiotic factors
do not depend directly of abiotic factors1.

In an ecosystem, soil is very important because in it are all the nutrients and minerals for the plants, and in the
soil all the biological processes for it are done, and that is what allows the recycled material for the biosphere2.
Soil is source of water for plants transpiration3. Soil moisture determines the transpiration rates, and with it the
stomata of the plants. If soil is affected by another factors, it will affect the plants sustainment and that would
affect other factors in the ecosystem, because plants are connected with oxygen, referring to photosynthesis, and
if that changes the whole ecosystem would change4. Light is directly connected with the stomata processes.
And light may affect soil moisture too, because of the nutrients and minerals of the plants.

1
http://www.ehowenespanol.com/factores-bioticos-abioticos-ecosistemas-hechos_93671/

2
http://es.slideshare.net/creandocon-ciencias/factores-de-los-ecosistemas

3
http://passel.unl.edu/pages/informationmodule.php?idinformationmodule=1123617035&topicorder=6&maxto=8

4
http://es.slideshare.net/creandocon-ciencias/factores-de-los-ecosistemas
Materials:

- 2 plastic bottles of 2 litters capacity each

- 300 gr of soil*
- 700 litters of water*
- 30 grass leafs*
- 15 sow bugs*
- 6 rocks*
- 2 digital Thermometers of 40C
- Scissors
- 2 beakers of 500ml
*For each one of the bottles.

Objective:

Determine the changes that soil moisture on a bottle ecosystem can experience if there is absence of sunlight.

Variables:

Independent variable: Level of sunlight: Bottle #1 is going to be placed in a sunlight area while bottle #2 is
going to be placed in a dark area.

Dependent variable: Temperature: Four times a week its going to be introduced a thermometer in the bottles
to know the changes ecosystems have experienced.

Soil moisture: Four times a week its going to be taken a sample of soil, to determine the amount of moisture in
both ecosystems, with a balance and an incubator.

Controlled variables: Amount of water: With a beaker of 500ml its going to be added 700ml per each bottle to
the ecosystem, two times per week.

Amount of sow bugs and grass: Counting each sow bug and grass leafs, then putting them inside the bottles.

Method:

1) First its going to be taken and washed a plastic bottle, cutting the top of the bottle neck, leave it aside.
2) 300gr of soil will be added to the bottle, and squeezed until the soil is settle at the bottom.
3) Thirty (30) grass leafs will be added in a balanced through all the bottle ecosystem, so that all the inside
bottle is filled with leaves, so when the sow bugs are introduced they can adapt easily.
4) Six (6) rocks will be added in a balanced way through the bottle ecosystem.
5) With a beaker of 500ml, 700ml of water per bottle will be supplied to the soil to avoid it to dry or die.
6) Fifteen (15) sow bugs will be added to the ecosystem.
7) Introduce at the top, the removed part with the cap, inserting it upside down.
8) Seal it so that the stuff dont run away.
9) Do the same with another plastic bottle.
10) Plastic bottle #1 is going to be placed on a sunny place and plastic bottle #2 is going to be placed on a
dark area.
11) Four (4) times a week, a sample of soil of each plastic bottle will be taken to determine the amount of
moisture on each ecosystem, with an incubator and a balance they will be measured, determining the
amount of soil with the balance and with the incubator the soil moisture.
12) The temperature of both ecosystems will be taken also four (4) times a week with a thermometer of
40C.

Variables table:

Variables How it will be controlled.

Independent variable Level of sunlight: Bottle #1 is going to be placed in
a sunlight area while bottle #2 is going to be placed
in a dark area.
Dependent variable Temperature: Four times a week its going to be
introduced a thermometer in the bottles to know
the changes ecosystems have experienced.

Soil moisture: Four times a week its going to be

taken a sample of soil, to determine the amount of
moisture in both ecosystems, with a balance and an
incubator.

Controlled variable Amount of water: With a beaker of 500ml its

going to be added 700ml per each bottle to the
ecosystem, two times per week.

Amount of sow bugs and grass: Counting each sow

bug and grass leafs, then putting them inside the
bottles.

Diagram:

Effects on the moisture of the soil with the absence

and presence of sunlight in an ecosystem.
 Objective: Determine the changes that soil
moisture on a bottle ecosystem can
experience if there is absence of sunlight.

Materials:

- 2 plastic bottles of 2 litters capacity each

- 300 gr of soil*
- 700 litters of water*
- 30 grass leafs*
- 15 sow bugs*
- 6 rocks*
- 2 digital Thermometers of 40C
- Scissors
- 2 beakers of 500ml
*For each one of the bottles.

8) First its going to be taken and 3) Fifteen (15) sow bugs 1) Four (4) times a week,
washed a plastic bottle, cutting the will be added to the a sample of soil of each
top of the bottle neck, leave it ecosystem. plastic bottle will be
aside. 4) Introduce at the top, taken to determine the
9) 300gr of soil will be added to the the removed part with amount of moisture on
bottle, and squeezed until the soil
is settle at the bottom. the cap, inserting it each ecosystem, with
10) Thirty (30) grass leafs will be upside down. an incubator and a
added in a balanced through all 5) Seal it so that the stuff balance they will be
the bottle ecosystem, so that all dont run away. measured, determining
the inside bottle is filled with 6) Do the same with the amount of soil with
leaves, so when the sow bugs are another plastic bottle. the balance and with
introduced they can adapt easily.
7) Plastic bottle #1 is the incubator the soil
11) Six (6) rocks will be added in a
balanced way through the bottle
going to be placed on moisture.
ecosystem. a sunny place and 2) The temperature of
12) With a beaker of 500ml, 700ml of plastic bottle #2 is both ecosystem will be
water per bottle will be supplied going to be placed on taken also four (4)
to the soil to avoid it to dry or die. a dark area. times a week with a
thermometer of 40C.

Observations:
Observations: