Pre-Lab: Abiotic Factors and Plant Selection
Problem How can you decide which plants will thrive in a garden?
Materials plant hardiness zone map, plant catalogs, graph paper, tape measure
Lab Manual Chapter 4 Lab
Skills Focus Classify, Analyze Data, Use Models
Connect to the Why are white birch trees abundant in Minnesota, but not in the Florida Keys? Why do coconut palms grow in the Florida Keys, but not in Minnesota? Simply put, white birch trees could not tolerate the hot summers in the Keys and coconut palms could not tolerate the cold winters in Minnesota. A plant's habitat is determined by its range of tolerance for temperature and other abiotic factors. In other words, abiotic factors limit where a given plant can live.
In this lab, you will plan a garden for a specific location. You will select plants for the garden that can tolerate the abiotic factors in this location.
Review What is an abiotic factor? List three examples other than temperature.
Review What kinds of resources do plants need?
Relate Cause and Effect Give an example of an adaptation that helps a plant survive in a biome with low precipitation.
Preview the procedure in the lab manual.
Predict How will knowing the plant hardiness zone for your area help you plan a garden?
Relate Cause and Effect What is the relationship between the last frost and the length of the growing season?
Form a Hypothesis A plant species grows well in one location in a small garden but does not grow as well in another location. Suggest one possible reason for this difference.
Visit Chapter 4 online to test yourself on chapter content and to find activities to help you learn.
Untamed Science Video Join the Untamed Science crew as they explore succession after a volcanic eruption on Hawaii.
Visual Analogy Compare Earth's atmosphere to a greenhouse.
Data Analysis Look at data on tolerance of intertidal zone species and use your analysis to explain the zonation patterns of intertidal species.
Art in Motion View a short animation that brings succession to life.
Art Review Review your understanding of ocean zones with this drag-and-drop activity.