How and why is our eco
column self-sustaining?
Our Eco column is self-sustaining because
there are many abiotic factors that are in the eco column and they balance well
with the biotic factors of the eco column making it a balanced eco column with
the right amount of biotic and abiotic factors living in the eco column. We
have tried to create an ecosystem of three different trophic levels with the
aqua zone, the decomposition zone and the terra zone.
The terra zone
Our eco column will be kept
in the sunlight so our bean plant that has been planted in the terra zone will
be able to produce food through photosynthesis. Will have a small aqua zone
above the terra zone to keep the bean seed healthy with water over a long
period of time.
Decomposition zone
This will be self-sustaining
because the fruit will decompose due to the fungi growing on the fruit for an
extended period of time. It will be decomposing in and be surrounded by the
same soil that is used for the terra zone.
Aqua Zone
The water plants will have a
constant supply of Oxygen so it will not die straight away. The plant will
survive for a period of time before it stagnates.
Processes
Terra Zone:
We first placed some small
stones onto the bottom of the terra zone so that it just covered a few
centimeters above the lid. We then placed normal garden soil into the zone. The
soil was not dry but still quite moist. We then planted a simple bean seed into
the terra zone and it should and it will be placed in the sunlight so that it
can grow.
Decomposition Zone
We placed the same type of
garden soil into the zone and then placed the compost into the zone. We then
mixed it well with a knife so that it was nit just a layer of compost then
soil, they were both mixed together.
Aqua Zone
We got some pond water and
placed it into the bottle through our inlet point at the base of the structure.
We then placed a water plant into the zone.
