Student Blog Assignment #3- Jenny

       The plants this week were considerably taller than the last time we had seen them. Although, there were bite marks on some of the leaves which shows that there is some predation taking place. There is also some other plants that are competing for the space that our plants are using. These other plants are competing for resources that they need, such as soil, water, sunlight, and other things. The stems of our plants have started to turn purple when they were previously green and white. Overall, our plants have changed a lot since we last saw them.
     Our plants participate in the movement of water in the water cycle in many ways. Our plants take in water through the ground which is then transferred throughout the plant. Some of the water is stored inside the plant and some of it forms on the leaves. The water on the leaves is transferred back into the atmosphere by transpiration or evaporation. The whole process is repeated when it rains and the water is transferred back to the ground. When we checked on our plants this week, I noticed some water on the leaves of them, which means that our plants are participating in the water cycle.
      Our plants also take part in the carbon cycle as well as the water cycle. Carbon is cycled between the atmosphere and the ocean. This carbon is also filtered through our plants. Plants "breathe" in the carbon dioxide and "breathe" out oxygen. Us as humans, breathe in the oxygen and exhale the carbon. It flows through our plants and then goes back to the atmosphere or the ocean.
       The nitrogen cycle is another cycle that our plants take part in. Just like the carbon, nitrogen flows through the atmosphere and the ocean. When plants die, other plants break it down into nitrogen and other materials. That nitrogen is then transferred into the ground, which is then filtered back into the air.
       This week, our plants have been participating in all of these cycles.