How Does Our Garden Grow?

   Our plant is definitely getting bigger and adding biomass day by day. It is also using mitosis because it is making cells for the plant to use. It is also using photosynthesis, to not only make energy for itself, but to also make food. Lastly, it uses cellular respiration to release energy that it has used, back into the atmosphere to make a cycle. 
   Since enzymes belong to the protein category, it would most likely be easy for them to start mitosis. Enzymes are catalysts, so the process can go by very fast. The enzymes can go quickly back to the nucleus to help. 

Characteristics of a Plant

   So far our plant is doing very well. It is growing bigger and bigger each time we visit. Our plant is in fact living because it has almost all the characteristics. A characteristic that it has is that it made up of cells. All living things are made of cells, including us. Another characteristic is that it grows and develops over time. We can tell it grows because the size only gets larger. A last one is that it uses and obtains energy. We know that because it uses a process called photosynthesis to capture sunlight/energy to make food for itself. 

Interactions With Our Plants

   Some abiotic factors that our plants depend on for survival are temperature or rain. They depend on temperature because they can only grow in certain weather, so if it anything other than colder water, then it will affect their growth. They depend on rain the most for survival because without it, they would most likely die a little. A biotic factor that affects our plants is the caterpillars or butterflies that are around. The butterflies lay their eggs on them which hatch into caterpillars who eat the plants.

   Our plants are definitely in competition. They are in competition with other plants for space. Since there is limited space, plants usually compete for the spot to grow. 

   Winners and losers are determined by who got there and is growing there first. If one plant gets there before the other, then the one that lost will most likely not survive or will have to find another spot.

   Another type of interaction that our plant goes through is interaction with animals. Certain animals want the bark or leaves for their homes such as birds. This affects our plants because it takes some of their homes out.

   Evidence that there is succession happening in the garden is the fact that as time goes by, more and more of the plants, as well as ours, are growing. Succession is the process of change in an ecological community. It seems more like secondary succession. 

Cycles of Plant Life

   This week, our plants has definitely grown at least 2 inches in size. Our plants has gotten stronger leaves and stem. On the leaves, it has gotten a couple of bites, most likely from the caterpillars. 
   Our plants is involved with the water cycle Transpiration. Transpiration is essentially water evaporated from the plants leaves. The Romanesco's role in the water cycle relates to it's appearance because since the water is falling into the small pores in the leaves, it is making the plant stronger. 
   The Romanesco is involved with the carbon cycle because of Photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is when a plant uses sunlight to make food with carbon dioxide and water. This relates to our plants appearance because it is giving our plant food to eat. 
   The plants are very involved in the nitrogen cycle, in fact it is the main part of it. Our plants consume nitrogen in the form of nitrates. Nitrates are minerals needed by plants, to produce protein in order for the plant to grow. It relates to our observations because they are consumed by the plants.