My project is about observing the shape of bird beaks and then observing their seed preferences when multiple types of seeds are provided.
Last year, I wanted to know the preferences of the ground squirrels that eat from our quail block. This made me curious about the birds, too. I chose this project because the birds seem to select certain seeds from our feeder.
My conclusion is that the bird’s beak does affect the bird’s food preference. The size and shape of the beak allows them to eat certain seed types as part of their diet.
My project is important because it tells bird watchers who feed birds what seeds attract the birds they may want to see.
In my project, I tested how soil being burned affects the germination of seeds in it. My idea sprouted when I thought about how farmers burn their fields with soil in them. I wondered if it could negatively affect the survival of the seeds in the soil.
Investigating the Impact of pH on Struvite Phosphorus-Removal Efficiency in Agriculture Water
Chemistry
Savannah Botello
Grade:
12
Teacher:
Patricia Garcia
Agricultural fertilizer runoff water contains high phosphorus concentrations, which directly correlates with eutrophication and, ultimately, the depletion of marine life and ecosystems. Often overlooked, agricultural phosphorus pollution has minimal availability of practical solutions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Struvite (MAP) Recovery in solutions of different pHs. Struvite is a compound of magnesium, ammonium, phosphate, and therefore can be used to remove excess phosphorus from runoff field water by adding magnesium and ammonium. Struvite has been shown to increase in P-removal efficiency as pH increased, but this has not been tested in an agricultural environment.
Examining the relationship between microbes and rye grass through soil chemistry
Plant Science
Jenna DonahueYanyxa SarmientoEsteffi Rodriguez
Grade:
12
Teacher:
Ty White
We designed an experiment using four groups to monitor differences in soil chemistry resulting from the presence of microbes and plants. The expectation was that the plants used (rye grass) would indicate some sort of symbiotic relationship with the inocula microbes, whether mutual, commensal, or parasitic/pathogenic.
We studied the effect of nursery shrubs on the soil chemistry beneath them. We used LaMott NPK kits and pH sensors to measure this relationship. This would be useful for people consider how to manage rangeland, or converting rangeland for other agricultural purposes.
Outstanding Use of International Metric System, U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize
HS-ENV31
Acid Rain
Environmental Studies
Karissa Riggs
Grade:
11
Teacher:
Ty White
I tested the effect of acid rain on soil, measuring the pH changes of the soil. This is relevant with the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, as well as more power plants being brought online that still use fossil fuels (NOx and SOx). Acid rain with a low pH is regularly measured and reported around the world, and this project is to demonstrate the effects it will have on soil, and how that may affect plants and communities.
I built my devices to measure humidity in the air using hair. When it gets humid outside, mom says her hair frizzes. I found instructions in a Star Wars Science Book to measure air moisture using hair. We built some with my hair, and some with mom's hair. We can check how correct they are using a reliable hygrometer.
