blog post #4

    Our plants have many biotic and abiotic factors effecting them. A few examples of abiotic factors our Broccoli is depending on are gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide that the plants depend on for respiration and health.  The broccoli needs to in decent soil so it can receive all its vital nutrients needed.Nitrogen produces amino and nucleic acids and gives the plant its color which is very important. Some distinct biotic factors effecting include decomposers like fungi, bacteria and insects in soil break down nutrients, making it accessible to our plants to absorb. Many different insects have a symbiotic relationship with plants. Depending on the insect, some will feed on the plant, while others provide nutrients and water to our plants. 
           
       Our Romanesco plants have been in the planter boxes for a few weeks now and grown significantly. The three plants are all only a few inches apart from each other and the other organisms around them. Because the space is so limited, every plant will compete against each other and weeds for nutrients in the soil as well as water. Plants aren't the only thing our plants are competing against. Due to the fact that plants source of food for animals and insects, it looks as if something has been eating our plants. There is evidence of competition for resources by the different heights of the plants. The leaves with signs of an animal feeding are weaker and not growing as fast as the ones that haven't been eaten. Just like in the real world, there are winners and losers. The plants or organisms that continuously get more water and nutrients will grow larger and take more and more from the smaller ones. Overtime, plants that don't get the resources they need will eventually die because there is no fuel to create proteins, participate in chemical reactions and support plant cells. The remaining plants will grow larger and no longer have to compete for that plant for resources.
                 
      Our Broccoli interacts with many other factors. An example of a mutualistic relationship is between fungi and our plant. Fungi absorbs nitrogen from the soil. Larger organisms feast and get nutrients from our plants  is an example of parasitism with our plant and larger organisms. Each plant is growing each day and some have holes or missing pieces. This is an example of succession. The plants are all getting the necessary nutrients because they are all growing. An example of secondary succession is the other animals feeding off the broccoli. Primary succession is occurring between the plants and soil containing the organisms.