Winogradsky Column Setup

DAY ONE:

Introduction:

I decided to make two columns for this project, a control column and an amended column. I was very interested to see how a simple column with just mud and water would look because several resources mentioned how well the columns turn out if you don't add anything to them. I was also interested in seeing what effect adding just one thing would have so I didn't use a sulfur source at all. My first column is simply mud and water from the lake I live next to and my second column is exactly the same except I added a oatmeal as a carbon source. I used a combination of protocols from two sources: http://www.lyon.edu/webdata/users/dthomas/BIO100L/Winogradsky_column.pdf and http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/j/e/jel5/biofilms/winogradsky.html .
I'm curious to compare my two columns and also to compare them with the columns other people made to see if a simple column does encourage a significant amount of growth.

Materials:
~Bucket for collecting the mud
~Two 1.5 L clear, plastic soda bottles
~Mud collected from the lake shore
~Water collected from the same location~
~A long dowel
~Oatmeal (carbon source)
~Plastic wrap
~Rubber band
~Newspaper

Procedures:
I collected an adequate amount of mud and water from the lake shore, removing as many twigs and stones as I could. Then I laid out newspaper on my work surface and cut the tops off the soda bottles. I then filled one bottle (control) 3/4 full, using the dowel and tapping the bottle to remove any air bubbles. Once it was 3/4 full I topped it off with lake water and then covered the top with plastic wrap and a rubber band. To the second column (amended) I followed the same procedures except that I added oatmeal to the mud before I put it in the bottle. I then set both bottles under a window that does not receive any direct sunlight. I photographed the columns after I set them up and will check on them periodically over the next few months to observe any changes.

Predictions:

By the end of the growth period, I predict that:

-There will be more growth in the amended column (the column with the oatmeal) than the control column

-Aerobic phototrophs will be numerous near the top of the columns where they can access oxygen and more light

-Microbes that are anoxygenic will be more numerous near the bottom of the columns

-Photosynthetic bacteria will be more concentrated on the side of the columns facing the window