Lab #6: Forest in a Jar Starter Materials: quart jar or clear 2-L plastic soda bottle per group;

water; soil; aquatic plants; 2 cups of bird and sunflower seeds, containers to transport water and soil. Procedure: 1. Create a data sheet to record your observations over the next several weeks. 2. Place 2 inches of soil and 3 inches of water in the jar. Place the jar in a sunny window or under a grow light to settle overnight. 3. Plant one aquatic plant in the jar. It should grow well in this environment. Why? 4. Place the jar in a sunny window or under an artificial grow light. 5. Predict what will happen to the plant and the environment in the jar if seeds are added on a continuous basis but water is not. Record your prediction on your data sheet. 6. Observe your forest in a jar daily for the next 10-12 weeks. Record your observations of the soil, water, and plants in your data sheet. 7. Two to three times a week, add three or four seeds to the jar. Do not replace the water that evaporates from the jar. 8. Continue adding seeds even after all the water has evaporated. 9. Photograph your jar on a regular basis and include the pictures in your report, with labels.