PHYITOPLANCTON & ZOOPLANCTON SAMPLING

On 31st October 2001 we went to the banks of the river Brentella near the school with our teacher prof. Cani. There we picked lots of samples from different plants and some animals typical of that habitat, using specific apparatus(some plastic containers with cotton tips wet in Ether acetic).

We works in 2 groups. The group searching for plants could recognize the typical vegetation of the country: "Picea excelsa" (Spurce), "Robinia pseuduacacia" (False acacia), "Platanus" (Plane tree), "Ailanthus altissima", "Populus alba" (White poplar), "Salix alba" (willow), "Broussonetia papirifera" (mulberry), "Paulonia tormentosa" (Paulownia). All these plants are typical of Pianura Padana, as a matter of fact its ecosystem is plain oak grove.

Looking at the underwood, we found "Rubus ulmifolius", "Humulus lupulus" (Hop), "Sambucus nigra" (elder), "Helianthus tuberosus" (topinambur). Among the recognized herbaceous plants, there were: "Cirsium vulgare" (Thistle), "Salvia pratensis" (Salvia), "Ranunculus acris" (Meadow buttercup), "Silene vulgaris" (bladder champion), "Trifolium pratense" (red clover), "Taraxacum officinale" (Dandelion), "Achillea millefolium" (yarrow) and "Urtica diodica" (Nettle).

The other group searching for animals could enjoy the help of the expert Mr. Vallebruna. They took photos of Mole's and Nutria's tunnels, Water hens, Seagulls, Swans.

We found and recognized some species of hemipterons, Lepidopterans, Beetles and other species that we haven’t been able to recognise yet.

Nevertheless we found some Invertebrates like Shellfish and Gasteropods, Anellids, Myriapoda, Arachnida, Crustacea.

When we got back to school Mr. Villabruna taught us to indentify and classify the animals looking up in our library books. He also taught us to label each sample with name and finding time and place and finally to stick the insects on a board in different lines according to their size and species. Though the results weren’t so pretty to admire (all dead animals!), we were very happy for the work we had done.

By 2^g form

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