Artificial Ecosystems

An artificial ecosystem meets all the criteria of a natural ecosystem but is made and controlled by humans Examples: Orchards Aquariums

Project You will research a type of artificial ecosystem and tell me What it is What makes is an artificial ecosystem You may work in groups of 2 Create a presentation (prezi, google slides, etc) This is due at the end of class today

Hydroponics

What is it? Growing plants in something other than soil

Hydroponics Martian Martian clips: 21:00 – 29:00 (cuss word at 23:21-23) 41:20 – 42:00 59:40 – 1:01:30 1:02:35 – 1:11 The 2 videos are ~25 minutes total

Why do we need it? Imagine we’re living on the space station… Food Air Water What else? Plants make food – less weight for travel Plants use CO2 and produce oxygen

6 types of Hydroponic systems

Wick Simplest system nutrient solution is drawn into the growing medium from the reservoir with a wick No moving parts Drawback: plants that are large or use large amounts of water may use up the nutrient solution faster than the wick(s) can supply it

Water Culture platform that holds the plants is usually made of Styrofoam and floats directly on the nutrient solution An air pump supplies air to the air stone that bubbles the nutrient solution and supplies oxygen to the roots of the plants Drawback: it doesn't work well with large plants or with long-term plants

Ebb and flow (Flood and drain) temporarily floods the grow tray with nutrient solution and then drains the solution back into the reservoir This action is normally done with a submerged pump that is connected to a timer Drawback: vulnerability to power outages and timer failures

Drip Most widely used a timer controls a submersed pump, it turns the pump on and nutrient solution is dripped onto the base of each plant by a small drip line Excess solution is collected to reuse Requires less maintenance

NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) constant flow of nutrient solution so no timer required nutrient solution is pumped into the growing tray (usually a tube) and flows over the roots of the plants, and then drains back into the reservoir This is usually the system people think of when they think of hydroponics.

Aeroponic Most high tech roots hang in the air and are misted with nutrient solution Every few minutes Timer controlled

Your Job: We are going to design a planting system to use in space You need a Partner 2 liter bottle Safety glasses Xacto knife (Ms Kerr has these, wait until she gets them for you) Wick material Lava rocks (10 – 15 of any size rock) Seed starter (will be here tomorrow) Seeds (Ms Kerr has – she’ll give them to you tomorrow)