AP Biology

Stomata Counting Lab Applying Microscope Skills

Ms. Fossaceca adapted from Ms. Meldru
Leaves are specialized organs found on the stems of plants. The most important
function of the leaf is to carry out the process of photosynthesis. Leaves are
composed of three types of tissue: dermal, vascular and ground as broad
categories. The epidermises, both the upper and lower side of the leaf are the
epidermis or epidermal layer, part of dermal tissue. The ground tissue does the
work of the organism. In the leaf, the ground tissue is the mesophyll or middle
tissue. The vascular tissue is the tissue that transports water and minerals or
sugars.
The plant epidermal layer has pores. A single pore/opening is called a stoma and
the plural of that term is a stomata. The location and density of these pores is
interesting and relates to plant adaptations to its environment. Stomata are the
most numerous on leaves and are more numerous on the underside of the leaf.
Stomata are very numerous ranging from 1000 to more than 1.2 million per
square cm. An average sunflower leaf has about 2 million stomata on its lower
epidermis. The pores are surrounded by guard cells. They resemble little
footballs.

The purpose of this lab is to apply the microscope and measurement skills we
have learned to observing and quantifying stomata in various leaves. Each
student pair will work with their own leaf and share the collection of data. I will
provide you with a slide that has the leaf epidermis ready for you to view. I will
also provide you a tracing on graph paper of the leaf that this slide is made from.
Procedure:
1. You will need to calculate the surface area of the leaf that you have received.
This is far easier than it first sounds using a metric ruler note the number of
boxes that equal a centimeter. Then using this information calculate the leaf
surface area in cm2.
2. Each leaf will be prepared to allow you to visualize the stomata.
3. As we did in our microscope lab, measure the field of view on the microscope
you are using. Divide the magnification of high power by the magnification of
low power. This gives you a ratio of the field of view in low and high power.

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4.

5.

6.
7.

8.

Now, divide the low power field of view by this ratio number and you will know
the diameter of the field of view in high power. These numbers can be
converted from millimeters to micrometers by dividing this number by 1000.
Examine the leaf at low and high power. Look for the guard cells. Depending
on the specific leaf type, some stomata will be counted under low power and
some under high power.
Now observe and count how many stomata you can find in the appropriate
power in four different fields of view. This will allow you to arrive at a number
of stomata (average) for a particular diameter of field of view.
Observing the stomata under 100X, using the measurements of field of view,
what do you infer the length from top to bottom for the guard cell?
Here is the challenging part of the calculations and where you can use the
geometry that you have learned.
a. Calculate the number of stomata on the surface of the leaf you were
given. Here is the hint: you now know the number of stomata in a circular
area for which you know the diameter of that circle. (thats your field of
view) These numbers can become very large. An average maple leaf
can have 2 10 million stomata. Dont make this problem more difficult
than it needs to be; its all about ratios. Just make certain to use your
average number of stomata for these calculations.
b. Calculate the number of stomata per square centimeter of leaf surface
with the information that you have.
Complete the data on the answer sheet below. Included will be:
o Average # of stomata per square cm
o Average # of stomata on entire leaf surface
o Inferred size of stomata in micrometers

What do you turn in? Submit the answer sheet as well as graph paper with your
leaf tracing. On your graph paper, list the math calculations you completed to
calculate the total number of stomata on the leaf surface list the steps and
formulas below as if you were writing a set of directions to complete the
calculations? Include your reasoning, why you chose each formula or operation
to use? This can be in bullet form but must be neat and legible.

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AP Biology
Leaf Lab Answer Sheet
Name _________________________________
Partner Name __________________________
Period _______

Leaf Viewed common name :_________________________________

Surface area of leaf side shown in cm2 ________________________
Measurement of the field of view:
40X diameter - mm _______ in micrometers _______ surface area cm2 _______
100X diameter-mm _______ in micrometers _______ surface area cm 2 _______
Inferred length of guard cell
__________mm

____________ in micrometers

Data Table
Trial

Leaf

# stomata 100X

1
2
3
4
AVG

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Total number
of stomata
entire leaf
surface

Inferred size of
stomata
longest side

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