Ecocolumn Lab
Purpose: This lab will provide an opportunity to explore several types of ecosystems, the
components within each ecosystem, the conditions required for the sustainability, and the
interconnections between the various chambers composing the column.
Materials (per lab group):
• 5 – 6 two liter plastic soft drink bottles (empty, clean, the labels neatly removed)
• 3 caps to go with bottles, follow the diagram to drill the appropriate holes.
• rocks for aquatic chamber
• 1 straw
• clear mailing tape
• soil, leaves, grass clippings, fruit pieces, 4-6 seeds,
• filter paper or cotton
• 1 aquatic plant
• water
• seeds
• utility knives, exacto-knives, razor blade and/or scissors.
Procedure:
1) See diagram on reverse side of this page.
2) Go to each station to complete the column. Each station will have additional instructions.
a. Bottle Station
i. Clean bottles, remove labels, cut bottles as shown in diagram, drill holes
b. Aquatic Station
i. Add aquarium rock, water, aquatic plant.
c. Decomposition Station
i. Add filter paper to the cap, add additional segments to the column, mix
soil and waste, place in the column and add worms. Tape column
together.
d. Terrestrial Station
i. Add additional segments to the column add soil and place in the column
and add seeds. Tape column together.
e. Data Collection Station
i. Conduct test on a regular basis.
Monitoring:
Over the next 10-12 weeks, you will monitor all possible abiotic and biotic factors pertaining to
your ecosystem column. Data is to be recorded regularly and is to be included in the final lab
report.
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Points to ponder
• Differences between the chambers
• Food chains and food webs present
• Biogeochemical cycles in action
• Compare and contrast your simulated ecosystems with a natural ecosystems.
• Is this an open or closed system? Which applies to your ecosystem column?
• Describe the available niches
• Is there any evidence for competitive exclusion or resource partitioning?
• Have you observed the law of tolerance in action?
• What limiting factors exist?
• Discuss evidence of ecological succession taking place in your column
• Compare and contrast your lab group’s column with others in the course.
• Discuss the stability and sustainability of your ecosystem column
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Ecocolumn Lab Questions
Answer the following questions in complete sentences, providing sufficient detail and
explanations. Response should be clear, organized, and as comprehensive as possible. If your
handwriting is difficult to read, it may be difficult to find points in your responses. You may
type your responses. Each question is worth 10 points, total of 60 points.
1. Propose three possible reasons why there are such large differences between the
Ecosystem Columns in the lab.
2. Identify and briefly discuss the biogeochemical cycles which are taking place/which are
present in your Ecocolumn. Do not merely state that “they are all present”; instead,
provide more specific information.
3. Compare your lab group’s somewhat “contrived” or “manufactured” ecosystems with
ecosystems found outside the classroom. Describe (i) three similarities and (ii) three
differences.
4. Is your ecosystem column a closed or open system? Or is it something in between a
closed or open system? Explain how this (closed, open or other) influences the
ecosystem column overall.
5. Discuss five limiting factors in your habitats, clearly stating which chamber(s) you are
referring to.
6. Explain what eutrophication refers to and how this occurs. Apply this explanation to
your ecosystem column. How might eutrophication take place in your column? Explain
fully.
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