Morgan+Gabbert+and+Autumn+Anzell's+ISP

The Cannon Fungi: Morgan Gabbert and Autumn Anzell 7th Hour Honors Biology

This experiment was performed to test the difference of the distance that the sporangia travel with a light source of florescent light, or a light bulb. Pilobolus is asexual and consists of a transparent stalk which rises above the excrement to the subsporangial vesicle. Which is like the end of a balloon. On this, a single black sporangium will develop. The sporangiophore is able to point itself at a light source. As the fungus matures pressure builds up in the stalk until the tip explodes. The reason it points itself at a light source is because the sporangia have a better chance of reproducing in the light since plants grow better in the light. 
 * Purpose:**

If the Pilobolus fungus is exposed to high amounts of light, then the cannon effect will shoot more sporangia.
 * Hypothesis: **

-2 sheets Aluminum foil -1 tube culture Pilobolus crystallinus -4 plates dung agar -2 cotton swabs
 * Materials:**
 * Pilbololus culture kit:
 * Florescent light
 * Light bulb
 * graduated cylinder


 * Procedure:**

Day 1 Using a sterile cotton swab we will transfer a few sporangia to two dung plates. We will then invert both plates in room temperature overnight.

Day 2 We will place the plates agar-side down under florescent light. We will let it sit and incubate for 2 days.

Day 3 Let the plates sit.

Day 4-7 Remove cover from one plate and place in light proof container. We will put the plates underneath a graduated cylinder and cover it up with aluminum foil. Will make a hole 1-2 millimeters in diameter in the aluminium foil and place the container under the florescent light.

Then repeat procedure but with a light bulb as the light source.


 * Will observe the other plate culture daily. After 4-7 days we should see black sporangia adhering to the 1-2mm hole in the foil. At this time we will remove the foil and observe.


 * Because of the phototropic response sporangia should be present in a narrow (4cm) one surrounding the hole.


 * Data:**


 * Florescent Light ||  |||| 70 Watt Bulb ||
 * Day || Amount || Day || Amount ||
 * 1 || sitting || 1 || sitting ||
 * 2 || sitting || 2 || sitting ||
 * 3 || sitting || 3 || sitting ||
 * 4 || sitting || 4 || sitting ||
 * 5 || 0 cm || 5 || 0 cm ||
 * 6 || 0 cm || 6 || 0 cm ||
 * 7 || 0 cm || 7 || 0 cm ||
 * 8 || 0 cm || 8 || 1.5 cm ||
 * 9 || 1.5 cm || 9 || 2.7 cm ||
 * 10 || 2.6 cm || 10 || 3.5 cm ||
 * 11 || 3.2 cm || 11 || 5 cm ||
 * 12 || 4.3 cm || 12 || 5.6 cm ||

The first 4 days we followed the instructions of the procedure and the fungi was "sitting". Both fungi during the florescent light and 70 watt bulb didn't shoot sporangia the first 3 days. It took the fungi under the florescent light one more day longer to shoot than the fungi under the 70 watt light bulb. The fungi under the 70 watt bulb shot more sporangia as well which is what we thought would happen considering that the florescent light is not as strong as the 70 watt light bulb.
 * Analysis:**

Our hypothesis of: " If the Pilobolus fungus is exposed to high amounts of light, then the cannon effect will shoot more sporangia." was correct. According to our data the more light the fungus is exposed to the more sporangia is shot towards the light.
 * Conclusion:**

__Problems__ 1.)We couldn't see the sporangia through the 1-2 mm hole so it was difficult to know when it was shot to the top of the graduated cylinder. 2.)There were snow days so we were set back a few days and were not able to finish before spring break. 3.)Mr. Kerwin's classroom is colder than the inside of Morgan's house and the experiment needed to be finished in the same temperature.
 * Limitations:**

__Solutions__ 1.)We lifted the graduated cylinder to look at the other side of the 1-2 mm hole more clearly. 2.)We finished the project at Morgan's house. 3.)We put the fungus in Morgan's garage which is still room temperature but colder than the inside of her house.

__New Hypothesis__ If the Pilobolus fungus is exposed to higher quantity (watt) of light, then the cannon effect will shoot more sporangia.


 * Bibliography:**

Whyte, David B., PhD. "The Cannon Fungus: Grow a Fungus That Fires Objects at Light Sources!" //The Cannon Fungus: Grow a Fungus That Fires Objects at Light Sources! // N.p., 07 Dec. 2012. Web. 17 Mar. 2013. 

Why did you pick a month for the amount of time?(Schrock) Which soils do you plan to use? (Bailey Meiner) How often are you going to record your data? (Angela Kelley) Where are your sources? (Zoe Bannan) Explain more on the background information. Maybe some history behind it or results someone else has already got? (Kate Mauschbaugh)