Blog designed for my science students but also open to anyone interested in basic experimental science. A place to read more about science, go over the experiments we do in the class, read about new and old science discoveries, publish your topics and projects and lots more.
Check out this video made by Paula Flores (E1B) of various ophiura specimens on the beach in Portugal. Ophiura are echinoderms closely related to starfish. They have 5 long, thin arms and a small, central body. The species in the video is most likely to be Ophiura albida often found in the Atlantic ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
Thanks Paula for sending this video to Science Magazine so we can all see an ophiura.
The science E2 resit exam is on the 16th January. You must revise units 1,2,3 and 4. I recommend that you concentrate on the summaries in the text book that appear under the title "What should you know". These will you help you revise the basic concepts to pass.
For extra knowledge, read the units in the book and the notes in your notebooks. Some of the activities we have done will help you too. You will find the information we have organised in tables and diagrams also useful for revision, for example, "Components and functions of biomolecules".
The science E1 resit exam is on the 15th January. You must revise units 1,2,3 and 4. I recommend that you concentrate on the summaries in the text book that appear under the title "What should you know". These will you help you revise the basic concepts to pass.
For extra knowledge, read the units in the book and the notes in your notebooks. Some of the activities we have done will help you too. You will find the information we have organised in tables and diagrams also useful for revision, for example, "Characteristics of the five kingdoms" or "Differences between animal and plant cells".
Mauremys leprosa is also known as the Spanish pond turtle or Mediterranean turtle. This turtle is an autochthonous species in the Iberian Peninsula, very common in the south of Spain. It is found in rivers and ponds and usually lives in large groups. They are carnivorous, they feed on other animals like frogs , insects, worms, small crustacean although they can sometimes feed on plants. They are excellent swimmers, very strong, fast turtles. Although they spend most of their time in the water, they can often be found lying in the Sun. They are poikilothermal animals and therefore need the heat form the Sun to regulate their body temperature. They have sexual dimorphism, that is the external anatomy of male and female is different. The male is slightly smaller than the female, they have a longer and wider tail and the lower part of the shell is slightly concave. Female´s are bigger than males, they have a thinner tail and the bottom part of the shell is flat.
Arturo Pérez has been doing excellent field work in River Pudio, near the school. He has been working on this project for various months. He has been taking samples of Mauremys leprosa, measuring, weighing them and labelling them. He has been able to see the growth rate of some samples. He presented all his data in the Science fair and also brought along two big sized turtles from River Pudio. All samples are carefully returned to their habitat by Arturo. We were able to observe the behaviour of these turtles, which are suprisingly strong and fast.
These turtles are affected by habitat destruction and introduction of exotic species. Arturo has experienced this, as a frequent visitor of River Pudio and a great observer of its fauna and flora, he has noticed the decrease in number of samples due to the road constructions nearby. Arturo has also studied the freshwater lobster or crayfish, very common in rivers in the area and has experienced seeing many dead samples since the roadworks started. He has often brought samples to the laboratory too.
Congratulations Arturo! You have a very mature and caring approach to your work.
In the photographs you can see some of the samples Arturo brought to the laboratory.
CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO OF THE TURTLES IN OUR LABORATORY.
Read more about Nicolas Copernicus and the Heliocentric theory. Copernicus was born 541 years ago today.
