Ecosystem in a bottle
Background
The ecosystem in a bottle is one of the most fun science fair experiments around. You can watch your ecosystem take shape in front of you and at the same time learn so much about how real ecosystems work. Let's do science...
The Experiment
The Aim
To make an ecosystem in a bottle. Equipment Needed A 2 liter plastic soda bottle.A pair of scissors or a sharp knife.Some gravel and some potting soil.Water.Some seeds (grass, beans or anything else interesting).Insects and other creepy crawlies such as caterpillars, ants, worms, snails (be careful that they are not insect that are going to eat the plants). Method Cut the top of the soda bottle off just below where it statrs tapering to the mouth.Place about half an inch of gravel into the bottle. (This is for good drainage.)Then add between three and four inches of potting soil and shake the bottle gently so that it settles.Sprinkle some grass seeds onto the soil and place other seeds such as bean seeds in shallow holes before covering them up.Sprinkle water over the top – not too much bt enough to make the plants germinate.You can add some insects such as earth worms straight away, but others you will have to wait a bit until the plants have germinated – just think about it!!!Place the lid (with the cap on) upside-down in the bottle.Keep note in your
Logbook
as to what happens every day.Results
The plants will grow and you will see an interaction between the plants are the various creepy crawleys which will make for an interesting, original project. The Conclusion
Observations of how plants and animals in an ecosystem affect each other can be made.
For an ecosystem in a bottle experiment with a "bit more to it" - click here.
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