College of Charleston Journal of Undergraduate
Biological Investigations (JUBI) An web-based
journal of biological
investigations conducted in general education
introductory biology at the College of Charleston
This on-line journal
provides a forum for students to present the results
of biological investigations and projects conducted in
Introductory Biology lab at the College of
Charleston. The laboratory allows students to
explore important biological concepts and processes in
the context of how science is done. The lab
curriculum is structured to gradually give students
practice doing various aspects of science, and
culminates in a team project in which students
propose, design, conduct, write, and present a
scientific research project. Moreover,
peer-review of research proposals and articles allows
students to experience how the scientific community
establishes and agrees upon the validity of scientific
knowledge. In this way students experience the
power that science has to reveal the workings of the
natural world, and also the limitations, and
tentativeness of this knowledge. These aspects
of science literacy are essential if citizens are to
use and evaluate scientific knowledge in order to make
informed decisions about science-related issues.
Each
semester,
exemplary articles or project papers are nominated by
the lab instructors for publication. All articles
submitted for publication in JUBI have been
reviewed/edited by a team of the author's peers, the
author's lab instructor, and at least one CofC Biology
Department faculty member. The planning, design and
implementation of each investigation was completed by a
team of students; however, each article is in large
measure written by a single author (the first author on
the paper). Subsequent authors are the first
author's teammates who participated in the planning and
execution of the project.
Articles from Concepts & Applications
of Biology (BIOL 101L) & Introduction to Cell &
Molecular Biology (BIOL 111L) (consult with
your instructor for the passwords to the full articles) Brice,
Tiffany, The
Effect of Pigmentation/Color on Productivity in Ornamental Kale,
College of Charleston, SC
Studies have shown that color and pigmentation do not have a
significant effect on plant productivity on a sunny day, which
could mean that color is not a significant advantageous trait for
a plant’s ability to survive. This study investigated the effect
(or lack thereof) that a differing color other than green,
such as purple, has on net primary productivity in
Ornamental Kale (Brassica Oleracea var. viridis).
16 Ornamental Kale leaves (8 green and 8 purple) were then
collected and placed into a Vernier biochamber one at a time. CO2
gas sensors were used to measure the rate of change in CO2
concentration during a series of 10-minute light and dark trials.
The data were then used to determine NPP. The purple leaves’ NPP
was not significantly difference from the green leaves’ NPP
(t-test). This study demonstrates that leaf pigment color has no
significant relationship to plant productivity, and that color is
not an advantageous trait in plant survival. McCuen,
William, Effects
of Leaf Angle on Net Primary Productivity in Cycas revoluta
(Sago palm), College of Charleston, SC
The cycad, Cycas revoluta, has considerable variations in
leaf angle within a single individual plant, and even along a
single frond. The goal of this study was to ascertain
whether leaf angle has an effect on the photosynthetic activity of
the cycad, specifically measured in gross primary production (GPP)
per gram of leaf mass. It was hypothesized that a lower leaf
angle would have a higher rate of GPP because geometry would
dictate that a tilted leaf intercepts less vertical light than a
leaf in a horizontal position. The hypothesis was tested by
isolating C. revoluta leaves in biochambers with vertical
light for 10 minutes while tracking their NPP (net primary
productivity) and R (respiration) with carbon dioxide sensors. A
one-tailed t-test was performed and found a statistically
significant (p-value of 0.017) difference between the GPP in
leaves left flat and leaves propped up at a 60° angle. There
was no significant difference in respiratory rates, but the lower
GPP of angled leaves resulted in significantly lower overall
NPP.
Photosynthesis is
an important biological process that occurs in plants that
removes harmful toxins from the atmosphere while at the same
time providing vital, life-sustaining nutrients for it as well
as many other organisms. Unfortunately, the worldwide
population of photosynthesizing organisms is on the decline as
a result of humans and deforestation. The purpose of this
experiment is to determine how the photosynthetic rate of a
plant is affected as the amount of time it has been removed
from its source of nutrients increases. A Vernier CO2
gas sensor was used to measure the photosynthetic rate of four
samples of Chokecherry leaves that were recently removed from
the plant and compared their photosynthetic rate against four
samples of Chokecherry leaves that were removed three hours
prior. The photosynthetic rate of the recently removed leaves
was nearly 300% higher than the photosynthetic rate of the
leaves removed three hours prior. This suggests that as
photosynthetic organisms are removed from their source of
nutrients, they will cease to continue photosynthesis and the
amount of CO2 removed from the atmosphere and the
amount of O2 released into the atmosphere
decreases.
Bishop,
Jessica. A comparison of the photosynthetic
rates of wetland plants vs. non-wetland plants based on the
uptake of CO2, College of Charleston, SC
There are several varying soil types in the Low country of South
Carolina. Each of these soil types has different nutrients
to offer many different species of plants. This experiment
investigated the difference between the photosynthetic rates of
non-wetland plants and wetland plants. In this experiment,
samples from a common non-wetland plant, Liriope muscari,
and samples from a common wetland plant, Spartina alterniflora,
were taken. Then, the photosynthetic rates of the
non-wetland plant and the wetland plant were determined. The
results of the statistical analysis determined that there was not
a significant difference between the photosynthetic rates of the
non-wetland plant and the wetland plant (P(T<=t) one tail was
0.42). This suggests that the soil type of the common
location for a plant does not significantly affect the overall
photosynthetic rate of the plant. However, upon subsequent
analysis of the data, we did discover a significantly greater cell
respiratory rate in Spartina (p<0.01). This difference
may be due to the energy costs of salt extrusion salt marsh
plants.
Fuenfstueck,
Laura, The Effect of Color on Gross Primary Productivity
in Palmetto Tree Leaves, College of Charleston, SC
Chlorophylls are the main pigments in photosynthesis; thus, color
might be an indicator of photosynthetic productivity and possibly
a helpful tool for decision-making in horticulture. This study
investigated the effect of color on gross primary productivity
(GPP) in palmetto tree leaves. Leaves were collected,
categorized into two groups (yellow and green) and gross primary
productivity was determined using the CO2 uptake method.
There was no significant relationship between the GPP rates and
leaf color in palmetto trees (p = 0.66). This suggests that leaf
color has no effect on photosynthetic productivity, and that
palmetto leaves must have mechanisms for maintaining high
photosynthetic rates even when leaves change color.
There are a
variety of native and invasive plants in the downtown
Charleston area. Our study examined why invasive/nonnative
species of plants flourish in a different environment than the
natural ecosystem in which they are meant to thrive? This
investigation examined the differences in productivity between
native and invasive species. Our hypothesis was that
nonnative/invasive plant species thrive in a non-native
environment because they have higher GPP then native plants.
In this study we examined one native species; palmetto trees,
and one invasive species; bamboo trees. GPP rates were
calculated using the CO2 uptake method by measuring the rate
of CO2 uptake and release in light and dark environments. The
results from the study revealed that the invasive bamboo
species had significantly higher GPP levels then the native
palmetto plants. Further exploration of the metabolism of
these species showed that bamboo had higher respiratory rates
and rates of NPP compared to palmetto. Research has suggested
that because invasive species metabolize more quickly than
native species in the same ecosystem, invasive species are
able to thrive and flourish in regions that are considered
atypical ecosystems for that plant.
Pirkkala, Rachel, Effect of Leaf
Surface Area Color on Photosynthetic Rate of Solenostemon
scutellarioides, College of Charleston, SC
The rate of photosynthesis (Gross Photosynthetic Productivity
(GPP)) in plants can be affected by many factors. This
experiment explores the effect of leaf surface area color in
plants having more or less red pigment on the rate of
photosynthesis of the Solenostemon
scutellarioides. CO2 probes were used to measure the
amount of CO2 given off and taken in by the plant in light and
dark environments. This was used to calculate GPP occurring
within the chloroplasts. Plants
with more anthocyanin or red pigment were found to undergo
photosynthesis at a slower rate than plants with less of the
pigment present. The mean rate of CO2 absorption for the
leaves with a greater red surface area was found to be
significantly greater than that of leaves with a greater
surface area of green (t= 1.93; p = 0.0426). These values
suggest that the color of the leaves of a plant can affect the
way that it grows, and that leaves with a greater surface area
of red undergo photosynthesis at a slower rate.
Jones,
Emily,
Elle Rich, Esther Kim, Chris Philips, The Effect of
Pigmentation on Photosynthetic Rate in Two Species of Caladium:
C. candidum and C. bicolor, College of
Charleston, SC
This study investigated the possible relationship between leaf
pigmentation and photosynthetic rate in two varieties of Caladium.
Since plants come in all different colors, can the survival of a
plant be influenced by the amount of pigmentation (which is a
reflection of the amount of chlorophyll)? Along with other
needs for survival, do plants also need a certain amount of
pigmentation on its leaves to help it absorb light from the
sun? CO2 uptake for four trials of each species of Caladium
was measured over a twenty-minute interval where the leaves were
exposed to ten minutes of full-spectrum fluorescent light
(simulating sunlight) and then ten minutes of darkness. The
total photosynthetic rate was calculated and then divided by the
mass of the leaf being used. We found that there was no
statistical relationship between leaf pigmentation and total
photosynthetic rate. This suggested that in the case of
Caladium, the two species contrasting colorings has no affect on
their total photosynthetic rate. Bishop,
Jessica,
A comparison of the photosynthetic rates of wetland plants vs.
non-wetland plants based on the uptake of CO2, College of
Charleston, SC
There are several varying soil types in the Low country of South
Carolina. Each of these soil types has different nutrients
to offer many different species of plants. This experiment
investigated the difference between the photosynthetic rates of
non-wetland plants and wetland plants. In this experiment,
samples from a common non-wetland plant, Liriope muscari, and
samples from a common wetland plant, Spartina alterniflora,
were taken. Then, the photosynthetic rates of the
non-wetland plant and the wetland plant were determined. The
results of the statistical analysis determined that there was not
a significant difference between the photosynthetic rates of the
non-wetland plant and the wetland plant (P(T<=t) one tail was
0.42). This suggests that the soil type of the common
location for a plant does not significantly affect the overall
photosynthetic rate of the plant. However, upon subsequent
analysis of the data, we did discover a significantly greater cell
respiratory rate in Spartina (p<0.01). This difference
may be due to the energy costs of salt extrusion salt marsh
plants. Extended
Abstracts from Concepts & Applications in Biology (BIOL
102L) & Evolution, Form & Function of Organisms
(BIOL 112L)
Kazlauskaite,
Karolina, The Effect of Butterfly Size on
Thermoregulation, College of Charleston, SC.
Thermoregulation is the maintenance of an optimum temperature
range by an organism. The primary way butterflies regulate
their body temperature is through basking, a behavioral mechanism
(Kingsolver, 1985). Butterflies bask in sunlight to warm up
in order to prepare their muscles for flight (Masters et al.,
1988). The faster a butterfly is able to warm up, the sooner it
can fly, potentially away from predators or towards a food source,
thus increasing its survival (Masters et al., 1988). The
relationship between butterfly size and thermoregulation has been
investigated to some extent, but there is minimal evidence on how
varying sizes of butterflies relate to how quickly they are able
to absorb heat. Kemp et al. (2004) discovered that small
butterflies were able to absorb heat more quickly compared to
larger butterflies but did not retain the heat as well as the
larger butterflies. In contrast, Gilchrist et al. (1990)
examined a species of butterfly that are sexually dimorphic and
found that the larger females required higher wing temperatures to
initiate flight, thus a longer basking time, but were able to
maintain the heat for a greater length of time compared to the
smaller males. The focus of the present study was to test the
effect that butterfly size has on its capacity to absorb heat.
Medium-sized butterflies served as the control group, with small
and large butterflies serving as the two experimental
groups. It was hypothesized that when subjected to solar radiation body temperature and size would show a negative
proportional relationship, with smaller butterflies gaining heat
faster due to their smaller mass.
Brooks,
Catherine, The Effects of Caffeine on Blood
Pressure, College
of Charleston, SC.
Caffeine is one of the most widely used drugs in the United
States, an estimated eighty five percent of Americans consume it
on a daily basis (Mitchell et al., 2014). Because caffeine
is such a prevalent substance and many of its effects are still
unknown, it is a important topic in the fields of medicine and
public health. Previous studies have indicated caffeine can
cause a short-term increase in blood pressure, though the reason
for this is uncertain (Sheps, 2017). It is also
unclear whether caffeine can lead to long-term hypertension, a
dangerous health condition that has been associated with a higher
risk of a heart attack and stroke. In an effort to gain a
deeper understanding of the impact of caffeine on blood pressure,
the current study investigated whether caffeine affects systolic
pressure, diastolic pressure, or both. By determining which
pressure is impacted, it may be possible for scientists to learn
more about the way caffeine works in the human body and thus
develop a further comprehension of its health implications.
Based on evidence from studies, it was hypothesized that if
subjects consume one cup of coffee, then their systolic and
diastolic pressures will be higher than their blood pressure prior
to caffeine consumption.
