Species of Interest

Species of Interest

Willow Tree

Unit 1-Classification

Unit 8-Evolution

Blue Whale

Scientific Name: Salix(alba)

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Tracheophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Salicoles

Family: Salicaceae

Genus: Salix

Species: Salix

Unit 4: Photosynthesis

Blue whales evolved 45 million years ago. They evolved from terrestrial hoofed mammals such as cows, camels, and sheep. The blue whale specifically evolved from finback whales. They are closely related to the Mink whale and Sei whale.

Unit 3-Cell & Organelles

Unit 4- Cell Respiration

-Melampsora fungi: Fungus that affects the willow tree. This fungus causes the tree's leaves to leaf rust. It also causes the leaves to die off sooner(about 6 weeks) then their suppose to in autumn. This decreases the rate of photosynthesis because if they're aren't leaves for the sunlight to go through, than photosynthesis can't occur

Finback whale

Unit 5- cell division

A form of a mitochondrial disease found in all mammals is called LHON. It causes blindness and is found midlife. This disease is a result from failures of the mitochondria, and organelle in the cytoplasm that functions in cell respiration. Mitochondria are responsible for more than 90% of the energy needed in the body. When the mitochondria fails, cellular respiration can't be completed.

-Gametes: Male and female blue whales produce haploid gametes. Male gametes are sperm, while female gametes are eggs.

-Reproduction: Blue whales reproduce by sexual meiosis. A sperm and egg fertilize and form a diploid zygote. The fetus develops in the mother whale. After 12 months, the blue whale is born.

Unit 2:Chemistry of life

Unit 6- DNA and

Protein Synthesis

Mitochondria

Unit 5: Cell Division

Keratin- Found in blue whale's mouths. It makes up plates in the whale's mouths that are like their "teeth". Keratin is held together by hydrogen bonds. It's job is to protect the epithelial cells( cells outside of the body) from damage and stress that could kill the cell.

Vitamins are critical for a willow tree's survival because they need it for growth and survival. A willow tree gets vitamin D from the sun. This vitamin allows the tree to produce photosynthesis and other needed materials for the tree

Unit 1- Classification

Keratin Protein

Unit 7: Genetics and Heredity

Unit 2-Chemistry of Life

Unit 9-Ecology

When grown diagonally, willow trees extract five times as much bio fuel as they would when grown regularly. An unknown genetic trait in willow trees creates an excess of strengthening sugar molecules in willow's stems, which try to straighten the plant upwards. These high energy sugars are fermented into bio fuels when the trees are harvested in a process that would benefit from higher efficiency to rival fossil fuels.

-Gametes: A willow tree produces it's own gametes through a process that starts with the tree's haploid spores. The haploid spores germinate and grow into a haploid gametophyte. Once it's matured, the gametophyte produces gametes through mitosis.

-Reproduction: A willow tree reproduces asexually, although it can reproduce sexually. A willow tree grows its branches straight into the ground. When the branches reach the ground, they take root and eventually become their own tree. Since this process is creating a clone of the tree, sexual reproduction is needed if

the plant hasn't found its niche or

expect to be moved.

Scientific name: Balaenoptera musculus

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Cetacea

Family: Balaenopteride

Genus: Balaenoptera

Species: B. musculus

Unit 8: Evolution

-Blue whales need protein because it functions as enzymes and hormones and also helps fight diseases. Blue whales receive protein from their main source of food, krill, and other crustacean species. Proteins allow the whale to grow and stay healthy.

-Scientists assume willow trees evolved about 543 million years ago

-Evolved from Saliceae trees

-Closely related to Salix acmophylla and Salix alpina.

Cycles

Phosphorus Cycle

-Blue whales are carnivores

-feed on crustaceans, plankton, and small fish.

-Found in the north Atlantic Ocean, North Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and South Pacific Ocean.

-Adaptations

1. Blue whales can't sleep. If they would, they would drown. Instead they take

short naps.

2. Since they are so big, they

have an extremely large

fluke(tail). This allows the whale

to propel itself through water at

speeds of 30mph.

-Obtain phosphorus from food

-came from the food that consumes phosphorus

-Releases phosphorus through waste

Nitrogen Cycle

Unit 6: DNA and Protein Synthesis

-Obtain nitrogen from food.

-come from plants the food of the whales ate

-The Whales' waste passes nitrogen back into soil and plants

Carbon Cycle

- Rebuilding populations:

accumulate carbon

-Exploited populations:

release carbon

Water Cycle

-Take in water through the ocean in which they live in.

-Excrete water.

saliceae tree

-Salicylic Acid Binding Protein 2(SABP2):

-When plants are attacked with bacteria or disease, the cells around it die and send off warning signals called methyl salicylate. SABP2 takes methyl salicylate, off the methyl group, and releases the salicylic acid. This stimulates the production of defensive proteins in the target cells.

Unit 9: Ecology

Unit 3- Cells and organelles

Unit 7- Genetics and Heredity

Cycles

Nitrogen Cycle

Carbon Cycle

-Captures nitrogen from the soil

-When the tree dies and decomposes, the nitrogen gets passed back into the soil

-Captures carbon through photosynthesis

-Willow trees are autotrophs

-they make their own food using sun and photosynthesis

-Found on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere

-Adaptations:

-tough roots which grow both underground and from aerial parts of the plant to obtain as much water as possible

-thick, scaly bark which offers protection from the elements and contains salicylic acid, which is toxic in large amounts

Phosphorus Cycle

Water Cycle

-Takes phosphorus through roots from soil

-Returns phosphorus to soil when the tree dies and decomposes

-Takes water up from roots

-Gives off water from transpiration

SABP2 Protein

Blue Whales can get tan after receiving levels of melanin in their skin from sun exposure. Scientists have found that melanin appeared to protect against damage to the blue whale's pigmentation increased seasonally as UV light intensified