Field Study Focus Questions:

Week 1
1. What California biome is your area and why? - My area is the California biome called
temperate woodland and shrubland because the various plants in my area are those found in
temperate woodlands and shrublands. Examples of these plants are foxtails, scrub oak, poison,
oak, and evergreen shrubs. Also, the climate has little rain and plants that can store as much
water as possible.
2. What type of relationships do you see between organisms in your area? Name each
relationship you see and explain it. Name at least 3 of them. - The types of relationships I
see in my area are herbivore/plant predation, predation, and interspecies competition. The
herbivore/plant predation relationship was seen when the squirrel ate the acorns from the oak
tree, the bees take the pollen from plants, the deer eating the oak scrub, and the ladybugs ate
the leaves off the plant. The predation relationship can be seen between the birds and the
insects, and the spider and the flies. In my area, a spider had spun a web to catch flies for food.
The interspecies competition can be seen between the grasses. Each is competing for soil,
water, and nutrients in order to grow and live. Some of the grasses in my area were much
shorter and drier than other tall weeds.
3. Describe a food chain in your area. - One food chain in my area starts with the insects like
the ladybug eating the grass. Then the bird eating the insects. Since the feces droppings
showed signs of deer, the deer could eat the grass, as well.
Week 2
1. What is a mans impact in your area? (Name two specific examples of types of
pollution) One example of a mans impact in my area is the walking trail. The dirt has faced
erosion from people walking on it and the weeds do not grow in the path since it receives much
wear from the walkers. A second example of mans impact in my area was a fallen down branch.
At first, I thought it was caused by the wind. However, the branch was irregularly separated from
the tree and the coyote bush and the point of breakage on the branch was split as if it was done
by brute force. For example, someone could be messing around hanging on the branch and it
broke from the exceeding weight.
2. What are the limiting factors in your area for plants? For animals? The limiting area in
my area for the plants is on the path and near the oak tree. The path faces a lot of damage from
walkers and the roots of the tree prevent the various grasses from growing. This is because the
oak trees roots absorb all the water and nutrients from the soil leaving known for any plants.
The limiting areas in my area for animals is near the taller weeds especially the ones with spikes
on them. First, it is hard to see a predator in long grass and ticks could stick to the animals.
Secondly, in order for an animal to create a home, the grass would be pushed to the ground.
The thorns on the weeds would hurt the animals and possibly cause infection, and ruin a safe
hiding place for prey.

Week 3

1. Why are bacteria important for plants in your area? For animals? For soil? (What role
do they play?) Bacteria are important for plants in my area because when they decompose
organic material, nitrogen is converted into a usable form for plants to grow (part of the nitrogen
cycle). This is also why it is good for the soil because bacteria can decompose material
enriching the soil with nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen. My soil is low in
nitrogen (discovered in the soil testing), therefore the bacteria allow plants to thrive with the
greatest amount of nitrogen my sites soil can offer. Bacteria is good for the animals in my area
because they decompose material to give usable nutrients to the soil, then the plants, and then
to the animals that eat the plants. For example, the deer eat the grass that receives the
phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium released into usable forms by bacteria.
2. In general, where are fungi found? What is their role in the world? In general, fungi are
found in acidic areas (a pH of about 5 - mine is 6), where there is low moisture. The role of fungi
in our world is predominantly to recycle dead material. They can recycle the material like
bacteria to convert into usable nutrients. Also, fungi provide us with food (like mushrooms), but
they also can spoil our food by recycling material (like with bread). Fungi are the main reason
for plant growth and success.
3. Do you have any in your area? Where? Why? If no, why not? I do have some fungi in my
area amongst the grass, which makes sense. My soil is very dry due to the California drought
and exposure to sun, and it is slightly more acidic than basic (pH of 7 and above). These are
preferable conditions for fungi, as explained in focus question #2.
Week 4
1. Research the invertebrates in your area. The invertebrates in my area are the three
beetles and the two earthworms. Beetles, or Coleoptera, are part of the phylum Arthropoda and
the class Insecta. Beetles live for only about half of a year. They eat a wide range of food to
break down plant and animal debris. Earthworms, or Lumbricina, are from the phylum Annelida
and the class Oligochaeta. The earthworms average life expectancy is about six years.
Earthworms create soil fertility by eating and digesting organic materials and depositing them in
casts in their burrows. This makes a rich humus that benefits the soil.
2. What is their role? The beetles found in the soil create more fertile soil by acting as nutrient
recyclers returning organic matter to the soil. Earthworms also contribute to the fertility of the
soil through recycling organic matter and returning it to the soil through their feces. Also,
earthworms burrow through the soil. These holes in the soil create pores that allow oxygen and
water to enter and carbon dioxide to leave the soil. This describes the crumbling structure of the
soil.
3. Where are they found and why? Beetles are found on land and in fresh water all around the
world. They like to live amongst plants or under rocks because that is where the most food is
available to them and they can burrow or swim in these areas. Earthworms are found all over
the world by rivers or in trees. However, their favorite place to live is in rich soil where they can
burrow. They live deep under the soil during winter months while they live near the soils surface
in the summer months since it is warmer. These burrows allow water and air to enter the soil,
which is essential to plant growth and survival.
Week 5

1. Identify any bryophytes, seedless vascular plants, gymnosperms, or angiosperms

(monocot or dicot) that you have in your area. (At least 5 different plants) The first plant I
identified is about 4 feet tall, it has branched out green leaves off its stem, and it has white
flowers growing off the top. This is an angiosperm and a dicot. The second plant in my area is
foxtail grass that is about 3.5 feet tall and grows rapidly. This is an angiosperm and a monocot.
The third plant in my area is a weed with purple flowers and is about 3.5 feet tall. This is an
angiosperm and a dicot. The fourth plant in my area is a foot tall grass with small buds on the
end. This is an angiosperm and a monocot. The fifth plant in my area is about 2.25 feet tall with
brown fuzzy ends on the grass. This is commonly seen in swamps. This is an angiosperm and a
monocot.
2. For each explain why you classified then the way you did. For the first plant, it is an
angiosperm because it contains flowers. It is a dicot because if you see in the pictures below,
the leaves off the stem have branched out veins. The second plant is an angiosperm because it
as well buds, but it is a monocot because it is a grass, therefore the bulb does not split. The
third plant in my area is an angiosperm because it grows flowers. It is a dicot because the bulbs
split to form several flowers and branches off the stem. The fourth plant is an angiosperm
because there are visible buds. It is a monocot because it is known as a type of grass, meaning
the bud did not split. The fifth and final plant is an angiosperm because the brown fuzzy ends on
the grass are signs of budding. It is a monocot again because it is a type of grass where the bud
does not split.

Week 6
2. What are the essential nutrients needed in soil? Why are each important? The essential
nutrients needed in soil are phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen. Phosphorus is important
because it affects rapid growth, is essential to photosynthesis, and helps with the the creation of
chemical energy while withstanding maturation and stress. Potassium is important because it
helps the building of protein, photosynthesis, fruit quality, and reduction of diseases in the form
of organic materials and fertilizer. Nitrogen is important because as part of all living cells, it is a
necessary part of proteins, enzymes, and metabolic processes (synthesis and energy transfer).
Also, nitrogen is a part of chlorophyll, which is responsible for photosynthesis. Nitrogen helps
rapid growth and comes from fertilizer and the air (no water needed).
3. Explain different methods of pollination you see in your area. Give at least 3 examples.
Three methods of pollination seen in my area are wind pollination, animal pollination, and cross
pollination. In the past six weeks, my area has experienced a lot of wind in one of our coldest
Mays. Due to the variety of plants in OHair Park, pollen has been transferred through the
heavy wind from different plants. OHair Park also is the home to a variety of animals like certain
insects, birds, and squirrels. Specifically, we have seen birds and bees in our area interacting
with the plants. This is animal pollination because the animals are carrying pollen from one plant
to another. Lastly, I have seen cross pollination in my area. There are a variety of weeds,
grasses, flowers, and bushes in my area. Especially with the grasses, the plants are very close
together, growing in a crowded manor uncontrollably. Therefore, I can safely say cross
pollination occurs, meaning pollen from the anther of one plant is transferred to the stigma of
another plant of the same species.
4. What are some adaptations the plants in your area have? (At least 3 examples) Three
adaptations of the plants in my area have occurred. First, a branch from a coyote bush fell off at
about Week 2. I have noticed that the branches that were broken are amending to prepare
themselves to grow more branches with more leaves to fill in the gap. Second, the plants
towards the back of my area are much shorter than the ones at the front of my area because it
is obvious an animal sleeps there, and it stamps down the grass. Subsequently, the new weeds
and grasses have grown back much shorter than most of the other plants in my area. Finally,
the weeds have developed much thicker roots due to the California drought. The thick roots
allow the weeds to store the maximum amount of water they can.