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Unitary and Modular Organisms: Their Response to
Environmental Changes and Perturbation1
Casey Jon VeaGroup 3 Section U-2L
August 3, 2011
1A scientific paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in Biology
150, Principles of Ecology laboratory under Mrs. Charina Grace B. Banaay , Ist semester
2011-2012
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ABSTRACT
Every individuals or organisms dwell in a place where well suited for
their growth and development, survival and reproduction. When
changes happened to their environment expected changes will also
be observed and adaptation mechanisms are produced. This studyfocuses on the responses of modular and solitary organisms under their
normal environmental condition and on their disturbed or changed
environment. The study further focuses on how long the unitary
organisms respond to certain disturbances and how modular organisms
respond to lessen the effect of environmental changes happening on
their surroundings. Ant’s behavior in three different activities under
normal conditions was observed and their response also under
disturbed conditions was also observed by inducing commotion to their
environment. Moreover, ants were also tested on which food they are
most likely be attracted, results showed that they prefer sweeter foodsources rather than the salty ones. On the other hand, two sets of
modular organisms were subjected to environmental changes, a set for
the sun-loving plants (Cyperus and Althernanthera) and shade-tolerant
plants (Zebrina and Talinum) were interchangeably exposed to each
other’s environment. Results generally showed that when plants are put
into an environment where they are not used to, they tend to grow
poorly and vice versa. But some developed mechanisms to lessen the
impact of the stress applied to them. In conclusion, unitary animals
adjust faster than modular organism because they communicate and
work with each other but modular organisms have unique ways of
adjusting to environmental changes as well.
INTRODUCTION
Ecology was coined by Ernest Haeckel back in 1869. It was derived from two
Latin words originally “Oikos” ” which mean house or place to live and “Logos” that
means a discussion or study. Literally, ecology means the study of organism “at home”
in their native environment. Also, it is the study of the interaction of the organism in its
environment.
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Every organism, either modular or unitary, has a specific medium or environment
where they live and thrive in and which they are continually adapted.
Particular organism’s habitat or the locality that surrounds it is part of its
environment. The said habitat has also an abundance of different organisms, plants,
plant-like organisms and animals, in which they continually interact ecologically with
each other. This habitat sustains life by giving food, shelter and climatic conditions that
are finely suitable for its survival, growth and reproduction.
Different conditions contribute different factors on the development of the
organism. Climatic factors like Temperature, humidity, wind, rainfall, water and some
atmospheric gases are essential on the growth of the organism. These factors
contribute by giving resources such as nutrients water source and many others that are
essential to their growth and development.
So when one of these climatic factors fails to give its vital role and contribution,
the organism needs to adapt rapidly and figure out on how to maintain homeostasis
with its environment. Also, organisms also need to encounter the variations happening
in nature. Adaptations on other organism have also evolved in response to their harsh
environment.
Many organisms have also preferred such conditions that can give exactly what
they need in their development. Some plants favor, for example, shady environment
where there is less exposure to sunlight. While others, they prefer the full effect of the
said environmental factor. This only mean one thing, even though they are of the same
structures and needs, they still opt for what is better for their development.
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This exercise uses the two kinds of organism namely unitary and modular.
Modular organisms are characterized by indeterminate and unpredictable growth and
development. While, unitary organisms, on the other hand are organisms that have
highly determinate forms governed by their genetic make-up. Their growth patterns
from fertilization to maturity until death are continuous and predictable.
The responses of modular organisms, specifically plants, to changes in
environment were observed. Two sets composed of two plants each were observed.
The sun-loving plants, Alternanthera and Cyperus and the shade-tolerated plants,
Zebrina and Talinum, are used as experimental species of each categories of plant
environment.
Althernanthera reaches a height of 5 to 15 inches and grows lowly.
Alternanthera needs plenty of light to grow and form dark leaves. In open aquariums it
grows willingly up the surface, and like other difficult plants growth improves
considerably if CO2 is added
Cyperus is a species of sedge native to Africa, southern and central Europe and
southern Asia. It is a perennial plant that may reach a height of up to 40 cm. Cyperus is
one of the most invasive weeds known, because it’s a tough competitor for ground
nutrients and it releases substances harmful to other plants. The underground tubers
caused the problem because of its intensive system and resistance to herbicides. On
the other hand, it has a lot of uses, despite its bad reputation it has benefits on
medicine especially for wounds, bruises and some digestive system infection. It has also
a nutritive value and being eaten on some part of Africa.
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Zebrina is more commonly known as Inch plant or wandering Jew. It has a zebra-
patterned leaves at the axial side, while on the abaxial side is uniformly deep magenta.
It has also uses, it is very easy to cultivate and even can be an invasive species if not
maintained. For it medicinal uses, it is commonly used by Mexicans as a cold herbal
tea, and also used as lubricant in china. Its sap can cause skin irritation when prolonged
handle.
Talinum is easy to reproduce and very economical since anyone can plant it in
any kind of soil. In university of Ilorin, Nigeria, they have done experimental work on
Talinum on its value to protect the liver, able to reduce cholesterol on experimental
animals. On the other hand, Talinum absorbs all type of metals where it planted,
including heavy metals more than any plants as well as Arsenic.
These set of plants have different conditional or environmental environment.
Some of them grow comfortably with the full effect of sunlight directly overhead them,
while some downgrades and can’t handle the stress being applied to them when
being subjected to direct sunlight, instead they prefer being on shade where they are
well adapted to.
Majority of the plants grow suitably to the extent of full sunlight and some opt the
minimum effect of light but in anyway all plants need light in order to survive. The
amount of shade or light a plant is growing under wholly and directly affects the mass
of vegetation and as well as the flowering and fruiting features (Nuss, 2004)
Likewise, Nuss (2004) also stated that plants that have grown under shaded
conditions will not be as dense or thick compared to plants that have grown under the
full sunlight effect. Usually, flowers of plants under shaded circumstances are fewer.
Frequently according to him, the unique foliage colors of plants or the fall colors of
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leaves like maroon color of Weigela and red leaf color of Maple will not be as intense
as or maybe even greener in color when subjected to shaded conditions.
Meanwhile, according to Grime (2001) oh his experiments on modular organisms,
plants’ response to shady environments have affected their metabolism and
production of structures. Such of these structures that have adapted to this kind of
environment are the shoot appendages like the large thin leaves and long internodes
and petioles. In addition, plants subjected to this kind of habitat produce a small
amount of dry matter, retain photosynthate in the shoot and the expense of root
growth. Furthermore, he also noted that shade-tolerant plants have low respiratory
rates.
On the other hand, Bjorkman and Jurik’s work (Bjorkman et al. 1972a, 1972b; Jurik
et al. 1979; Bjorkman 1981, as cited in Givnish 1988) on identifying traits as adaptations
on irradiance level based on a detailed study of the photosynthetic light response of
leaves showed that leaves of plants that have grown under, or even naturally limited to
high irradiance levels normally have higher “photosynthetic rates per unit area at those
levels than do leaves of plants restricted or acclimated to low irradiance levels, and
vice versa.”
In response to photosynthesis, plants also have adapted to the availability of
light used to produce their own food. Abundance of light has affected the color of
leaves of some plant where photosynthetic pigments change the color of the leaves of
plants.
As stated by Gilbert et.al. (1953) this is because, when a series of fluctuating
warm temperature, sunny days and cool, crisp but not freezing bring the color change
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in some leaves of plants like the autumn leaves of plants in America. During these
alternating days, sugars are produced in the leaf but the cool nights and the continuing
closing of the veins; prevent the said sugars from moving out. As a result of this
condition, leaves produce colorful Anthocyanin pigments, which give it a hint of red,
purple and even crimson.
Also, Carotenoid pigments, helps in fueling photosynthesis. Carotenoids function
by absorbing wavelengths of light not easily and readily absorbed by chlorophyll.
Therefore, in dark colored leaf plants that used Anthocyanins and Carotenoids
are sun-loving plants and can easily photosynthesize using different wavelength of light
producing photosynthates. But when these plants are transferred to a shaded region
where there is less effect of light and less stress to leaves, chlorophyll can easily function
thus being dominant over the other two pigments, as a result the color of the leaves
change from its original dark colors into green.
Another characteristics that plants have is that plant leaves secrete a waxy film
or membrane that covers the leaves and other dermal tissues above the ground. As a
result the leaves of the plants are shiny and look like plastic.
The cuticle functions much like the human skin; it protects the plant from losing
too much water and serving as a barrier against certain bacteria as well. The film
covers both the top and the bottom of leaves but the concentration of plant cuticle is
more concentrated on the top or the axial side of the leaves because this side of the
plant is more exposed to sun, wind and pests more than the other part of the plants.
(Gilbert et.al., 1953)
These kinds of characteristics and adaptations are naturally occurring for plants
or modular organisms in general but take a lot longer of time to respond so compare to
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unitary organisms. This is possible because of the many unique abilities of unitary
organisms that they use to thrive and adapt to their environment.
There are two types of adaptations done by animals; these are structural
adaptation and behavioral adaptation. Structural adaptation is the kind of adaptation
where physical features are formed in response to the nature of their environment,
while, behavioral adaptation, on the other hand, are the things the organism do to
survive.
Unique behavior of animals has a great contribution on their survival, growth and
development. Characteristics such as communication, defense, learning, food
cultivation, locomotion, cooperation and competition and most importantly
relationship with other organisms help them adapt to their environment faster and
survive successfully.
In this study, ants were used to demonstrate the behavior of animals, specifically
insects, in their natural and normal environment. Also, stress induced factors such as
disturbances were also given and their responses and the way they deal with the stress
were observed.
Ants are social insects, living in colonies. They are one of the major subgroups of
the insects order Hymenoptera, which also includes bees and wasps (Hickman et al,
2004).. Ant societies have division of labor, communication between individuals, and an
ability to solve complex problems. These parallels with human societies have long been
an inspiration and subject of study.
Ants have the ability to communicate through the use of pheromones.
Pheromones in ants serve as chemical signals which their antennae distinguish as smells.
Through the intensity of scents and smells, ants can determine direction and provide
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information. For example, when hunting food, they leave traces of pheromones on the
surface of the soil from the food source to their colony to serve as direction for other
ants to follow. When the food source is consumed, trails were no more left by returning
ants until the scent disappears (Shorey. 17976).
Behavior such as communication present in ants allows them to deal with the
change in their environment. Such instances were displayed when a recognized route
to the food source is obstructed, the hunter of food abandon the path to establish new
and better routes until slowly finding the best trail. But more than trail making, when
crushed, an ant releases pheromone to alarm closely nearby ants from the danger and
attracts more ants to stay away and keep distance.
In the Philippines, we can’t deny that our country is very r ich in terms of
biodiversity. A lot of still unknown plants and insects or maybe animals are waiting there
for discovery. This study concentrates on the responses of organism, either unitary or
modular in terms of artificially and naturally induced stresses, where organisms are
tested on how well they receive the stress given to them. Organisms have the skills to
perfectly adapt to their new environment but not all, some of these organisms die when
the stress applied to them were too much for them. So it is very important and
necessary to gain insight on the effect of not only naturally induced stresses but also
artificially or human induced stresses.
This study focuses on the responses of modular and solitary organisms under their
normal environmental condition and on their disturbed or changed environment. The
study furthermore focuses on how long or how fast unitary organisms adopt or adjust to
their surroundings when disturbances are stimulated to their environment, also it focuses
on the response of modular organisms when subjected to other environmental
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conditions other on what they are used to and the noticeable changes on their
morphological characteristics. Specifically the objectives were to:
1. observe forms and features that differentiate unitary from modular
organisms; and in modular organisms, genets from ramets; and
2. differentiate the responses of a unitary organisms from that of a modular
organism and compare some aspects of their physical and biological
environments.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A. Responses of Modular organisms to change in the environment.
Two prepared potted samples of each type of experimental plants that naturally
inhibits open grassland (Cyperus and Althernanthera sp.) and forest interior (Talinum
and Zebrina sp. )were obtained, one set served as the control sample and the
other set sample for the experimental part. Some characteristics like leaf area, leaf
angle, internode length, leaf color, and herbivore damage were observed for each
two samples of each type of plant on its natural environment.
Five (5) young leaves of each type of experimental plants were measured for its
leaf length and width and by using Cain and Castrol’s (1959) formula, the leaf area
was determined using a ruler. Using the same leaves, leaf angle was also measured
with the use of a protractor from the insertion of the leaves comparative to the stem.
Also internode lengths were measured relative to the five (5) young leaves .These
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measurements were repeated five (5) times on each characteristic, where
measurements were taken for quantitative data, then were summed for the mean.
The leaves’ morphological features like leaf color and the presence or absence
of herbivore damage were additionally noted.
One set or one of each type of the shade tolerated plants was transferred from
their natural environment to an open sunlight environment. The same is true with the
sun-loving plants where they were transferred to the forest interior. Another set of
the experimental plant were left to their natural environment that served as the
experimental control.
For the whole duration of the experiment that lasted for two weeks, changes
were observed and other characteristics of the transferred plants were noted and
compared with the experimental controls by measuring the same measurements
done on the earlier part of the experiment. Weather conditions were also noted for
the whole period of the experiment.
Observations on the responses of sun-loving plants were noted on table 1.5 and
the responses of shade-tolerant plants were noted on table 1.6.
B. Responses of ants under undisturbed conditions
Group of ants were located at the back of the Institute of Biological Sciences
building and was used as the experimental species for the experiment. Their habitat
was described.
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The duration on how long they execute their three activities such as walking,
carrying their food and the touching of their antenna were measured using a
stopwatch and was noted on table 1.1.
C. Responses of ants under disturbed conditions
Different disturbances such as dropping of water in their habitat, putting a
matchstick in their pathway and throwing a stone to their hill were stimulated to
observe their response under disturbed conditions.
Ants’ ways of dealing with the disturbance were observed. Time was also
measured and noted from the start of the disturbances until the time they resume to
their normal activities.
All observations were noted on table 1.2.
D. Responses of ants to different food source
Tuna flakes placed on a tissue paper served as bait and were placed
near the colony of the ants. When the bait was taken notice by the ants, it was
removed and other food sources, fish food, powdered energy drink, Coffeemate,
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powdered juice, salt and white sugar, were placed in different places around the
colony of ants.
The baits were observed and time was noted until the first ant or the “scout
ant” had taken notice of the food sources.
The food sources were still observed and the recruitment rate or the number
of ants that followed the “scout ant” in the said food source was counted using a
counter and recorded every 5 minutes within 30 minutes.
Data observed was documented on table 1.3.
RESULTS
Table 1.1. Behavior of ants under undisturbed conditions
Normal activities
Time Elapsed (sec)
Trials
Mean
1 2 3
Walking 18 18 33.09 23.03
Carrying food 56.41 56.30 26 46.24
Touching of antenna 0.18 0.32 0.81 0.44
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Table 1.2. Behavior of ants under disturbed conditions
Table 1.3. Food response of ants based on the number of workers recruited to the food
source for the first 30 minutes.
Food Response
(+ / -)
Time
ants
firstnoticed
the
food
(min)
Number of visiting workers every after five minutes
for 30 minutes
5 10 15 20 25 30
Fish Food - 97 1 0 5 0 0 0
Milo + 49 2 17 18 26 26 32
Coffeemate - 43 0 0 0 0 0 0
Powdered
Juice
+ 79 0 3 2 1 2 2
Salt - 89 0 0 0 0 0 0
White sugar + 35 0 5 15 24 30 39
Nature of Disturbance Response Time elapsed from start of
disturbance to resumption
of normal activities
(sec)
1. Dropping ofwater
Their line was broken; theypanicked; they scattered
63.97
2. Putting
matchstick
along their trail
They stop from advancing;
ants seem confused; after
sometime they found
another route
112.88
3. Throwing stone
to their hill
The colony scattered; they
panicked
80.40
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Scientific name of test plant 1 Cyperus Scientific name of plant 2 Althernanthera.
Table 1.5. Responses of sun plants under natural and modified conditions.
{C}- Control Plant, {E}-Experimental Plant
Scientific name of test plant 1 Zebrina Scientific name of plant 2 Talinum.
Table 1.6. Responses of shade plants under natural and modified conditions.
{C}- Control Plant, {E}-Experimental Plant
Parameter
Observed
Test
Plant
At the start of the
experiment
One week after Two weeks after
{C} {E} {C} {E} {C} {E}
Leaf Area
(cm2)
1
2.93 2.3654 3.064 2.856 3.41 2.064
2
6.802 4.36 6.162 3.67 4.85 5.452
Leaf Angle
(˚)
1
- - - - - -
2
17.2 44 24.4 38.8 50 40
Internode
Length (cm)
1
- - - - - -2
1.66 1.7 1.76 1.7 1.68 1.88
Parameter
Observed
Test
Plant
At the start of the
experiment
One week after Two weeks after
{C} {E} {C} {E} {C} {E}
Leaf Area
(cm2)
15.12 26.17 6.384 19.98 6.058 10.65
2
11.604 14.86 12.65 20.384 13.472 21.344
Leaf Angle
(˚)
1
38 64 47.8 45 59.2 61.2
2
13 30 28 40 33 55
Internode
Length (cm)
1
2.7 5.5 3.4 4.9 3.4 5
2
1.24 4.42 1.34 4.5 1.42 4.62
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DISCUSSION
This study focuses on the responses of modular and solitary organisms under their
normal environmental condition and on their disturbed or changed environment. The
study furthermore focuses on how long or how fast unitary organisms adopt or adjust to
their surroundings when disturbances are stimulated to their environment, also it focuses
on the response of modular organisms when subjected to other environmental
conditions other on what they are used to and the noticeable changes on their
morphological characteristics.
As seen on table 1.1, the behavior of ants normal conditions were observed. The
time that they perform and execute an activity under the normal condition were also
noted. Based on the results, the touching of antenna is the activity they perform the
fastest with a mean time of 0.44 seconds. Next is the walking (23.03 sec) and because
ants can carry 10 to 50 times heavier than their body weight the activity that they
perform least fast is carrying their food (46.24sec).
We all know that ants communicate and use pheromones and scents to build
trail leading to their food source (Shorey, 1976). Disturbances can cause confusion to
ants when new scent was added on their trail or that the scent was lost. The responses
made by ants to such disturbances were also studied. Results showed (table 1.2) that
when a matchstick was used as a blockage to their trail, they stop and found another
route; this took them 112.88 seconds to accomplish.
Other form of disturbances such as threat to their hill was similarly surveyed. First
was dropping of water to their hill, responses of ants was that their line was broken, they
panicked and they scattered to different directions. The disturbance cost them 63.97
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seconds before they continue to their normal activity. When threatened, ants secrete
pheromone to alert nearby ants to not come close to them and should go away
(Shorey, 1976). This response was observed when a stone was thrown to their hill, as
expected the colony scattered and panicked once the stone hit the center of their hill.
80.40 seconds passed before the ants went back to their normal activity.
The ability of ants to relay information to other ants about an existing food source
was studied. Results showed that white sugar was preferred by most of the ants, with a
35 total number of recruited ants, and it was the first food bait to be noticed by the
colony (35 seconds). Meanwhile, the salt was the least of the colony’s favorite food bait
with the least number of recruitment rate after 30 minutes of 0. Same is true with the fish
food, it took about 97 seconds for the scout ant to took notice of the bait and even
though after 30 minutes of observation was done, 0 number of ants were observe to like
the said food bait.
This incident where ants choose their food can be further explained by the
composition of food. White sugar is composed mainly of sucrose. Sucrose is a sugar,
when decomposed yields to two simpler sugar molecules: glucose and fructose.
Sucrose is the most soluble among disaccharide sugars. Thus, ants prefer sugar than any
of the other food source because when sucrose decomposes, glucose and fructose
are the easiest and fastest sugar that can enter the bloodstream or the system thus
giving the ants calories for energy at a very short span of time.
On the other hand, responses of modular organism under natural and disturbed
conditions were also observed and noted. Two sets of sample plants were used with
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two plants per se, Talinum and Zebrina for the shade-tolerant set of plants and
Althernathera and Cyperus for the sun-loving set of plants.
Based on the data gathered for the responses of sun plants under their natural
and modified environment on table 1.5, modifications or adjustments were generally
done by the plants. The leaf surface area of Cyperus increased at its normal
environment, from 2.93 cm2 from the start of the experiment to 3.41 cm2 2 weeks after.
Meanwhile, when the experimental plants were subjected to environmental stress or
change, the surface area generally decreased (from 2.3654 cm2 to 2.064 cm2). As
stated by Grime (2001), shady environments have affected the plant’s metabolism and
production of structures, thus explaining that the control plant for Cyperus continues to
grow under its normal condition while the experimental Cyperus on the shade grows
slowly due to the effect of low sunlight which the plants are not used to naturally.
Althernathera under the normal condition decreased its leaf surface area from
6.802 cm2 to 4.85 cm2 and from after two weeks of observation. The experimental
Althernathera plant, on the other hand, increases its surface area increasing from 4.36
cm2 to 5.452 cm2 after two weeks of experiment. Also, some physical changes were
also observed, after a week of transfer from its natural environment, the experimental
Althernanthera changes color from its dark red and maroon color to totally green
colored leaves. Like Nuss (2004) noted, plants natural dark foliage color changes to
green when subjected to shaded regions. Dark colored plants like Althernanthera uses
pigments like Anthocyanins, Carotenoids and a small amount of Chlorophyll which
absorbed different light wavelength at different light intensity (Gilbert et.al., 1953).
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The Althernanthera plant under normal condition uses the two dark pigments
which utilizes light wavelengths not easily absorbed by Chlorophyll, thus being
dominant explaining the color of the leaves. This also explains why the leaves of the
plant decreases because it does not need any larger surface area to absorbed light
since it originally uses the dark pigments to produce photosynthates. On the other
hand, the surface area of the experimental plant increases because it shifted from the
dark colored pigments to Chlorophyll. The intensity of the light under shaded conditions
is very low thus Chlorophyll can then easily absorbed light wavelengths to produce
photosynthates thus becoming dominant over the two dark pigments. The increase in
surface area was due to the competition of light under canopy. There is a very low light
intensity under shaded condition, so in response the plant increases its leaf surface area
to catch more light needed in the production of the plant’s food.
Experiment was also conducted to determine the responses of shade tolerant
plants when subjected to environmental stress. Based on the results showed on Table
1.6 for Zebrina’s leaf area, leaf angle and internode length increases under normal
conditions. This means the plant under normal condition grew successfully, its
metabolism is very active and the development of other structures is not affected. On
the other hand, the Zebrina plant under modified environment exhibited backward
growth. The leaf area, leaf angle and internode length decreases over the two week
experiment. Also, observations showed that the experimental plant’s leaves were shed
and was dehydrated. This is due to the large original large area and the thickness of
leaves. With this composition of leaves, it is expected that faster rate of transpiration will
occur, dehydrating the plant and wilting the leaves. The plant still maintains its color.
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Oppositely, the Talinum plant both experimental and control exhibited natural
growth. Characteristics such as leaf area, leaf angle and Internode length all increased
in size (Table 1.6.). Observations on the other hand showed that the leaves of the
control plant are greener compared to the control plant. This is because the Talinum
plant is very well adapted to the shaded environment, also presence of plant growth
was observed on the bottom of the plant. On the other hand the experimental plant
after two weeks of exposure to the sun, some of the stems are withered, presence of
growth was also noted on the upper portion of the plant and lastly the experimental
plant’s leaves are shinier compared to the control plant’s leaves. The shiny component
is believed to be cuticle. According to Gilbert et.al, (1953), a cuticle was secreted
mostly on the top portion of the leaves to compensate for the water loss. Cuticle is film
that lessens transpiration rate on the leaf area.
All in all, unitary organisms respond more quickly to stimuli induced to their
environment. This is because to the reason that they can move, they can communicate
and they can work with each other in order to survive. Contrary, modular organisms are
less developed compared unitary organisms. Instead of working with each other to
lessen the impact of the stress applied to them they developed structures that can
compensate to their loss. They adapt very well, in order to survive but unlike unitary
organisms, they are less fast in doing so.
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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
This study focuses on the responses of modular and solitary organisms under their
normal environmental condition and on their disturbed or changed environment. The
study furthermore focuses on how long or how fast unitary organisms adopt or adjust to
their surroundings when disturbances are stimulated to their environment, also it focuses
on the response of modular organisms when subjected to other environmental
conditions other on what they are used to and the noticeable changes on their
morphological characteristics.
Ants were used to represent unitary organisms. There behaviors under normal
conditions were observed. Among the three chosen normal activity of the ants, the
antenna touching is the fastest activity with a mean time of 0.44 seconds while the
carrying of their food is the longest activity they do with a mean time of 46.24 seconds.
Ants were also subjected to disturbed conditions. Different disturbances such as
throwing stone to their hill, putting matchstick to their along their trail and dropping of
water was stimulated. There responses were they panicked and their line was broken.
When putting a matchstick along their trail they tend to build a new path, thus longer
time for them to overcome the said disturbance with a time of 112.88 seconds.
Ants were also offered with different food source and their response to these
food sources was noted. Among the many pool of choices of foods, the ants tend to
eat more the white sugar. This is because of the component of the sugar. The ants tend
to choose the easiest to digest and the source of energy.
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Modular organisms were also subjected to stresses. Such stress is subjecting sun
loving plants (Cyperus and Althernanthera) into shaded regions and the Shade-tolerant
(Zebrina and Talinum) plants were subjected to a place where there is a maximum
exposure of sun. Generally, when plants are subjected to the environment where they
are not used to or adapted they tend to grow poorly, they lose leaves and they wilt. But
when subjected to their normal environment, they grow healthy. But some plants, they
produce adapting mechanism, such as the cuticle of Talinum and the color changing
of the Althernanthera, to still live and get use of the environment.
In conclusion, organisms when subjected to environmental perturbation they
have the tendency to overcome the stresses either by developing new ways or to
produce adaptive mechanisms in response to the changes in their environment. Unitary
organisms are most likely the fastest organisms to adapt to a certain changes because
of their ability to communicate, group and work with each other. On the other hand,
modular organisms have a very unique way of adjusting to their changing environment,
thy develop features that can help them overcome the stress applied to them.
REFERENCES
Aligui, G. Talinum (Talinum triangulare). Retrieved July 9, 2011, from
http://gonatural.com.ph/herbalblog/talinum-talinum-triangulare/
Cyperus rotondus. (n.d.). In Wikepedia. Retrieved July 10, 2011, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyperus_rotundus
Gilbert, S. et al. (1953). A textboopk on general botany. (5th ed.). New York: The
McMillian Company.
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Grime, J.P. (2001). Plant strategies, vegetation processes, and ecosystem properties (2nd
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Hickman, J. et al. (2006). Integrated principles of zoology (13th ed.). Cleveland;
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Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Horticulture. (2009). Shade
tolerant trees, shrubs, and groundcovers. University Park, PA: N. Robert. Retrieved
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http://consumerhorticulture.psu.edu/files/shade_tolerant_plants.pdf
Shorey, H.H.(1976). Animal communication by pheromones. New York: Academic press.
Tradescantia zebrine. (n.d.). In Wikepedia. Retrieved July 10, 2011, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tradescantia_zebrina