Adirondack Leaf Pigment Experiment
Lauren
Lake Placid High School

Abstract - The purpose is to determine the leaf pigment concentrations through the fall. My hypothesis is the leaf pigments changed because of the amount of daylight.

Background information - The importance of sugar maples in the Adirondacks affects soil, pH, and nutrient levels. It is also used for food for birds, bees, and suirrles and their habitats. Part of the community that is able to grow quickly in times of stress., Fungi and parasites of the sugar maples. The economic importance is $5 million in revenue from syrup sales and 800 syrup producers. The tourists also come to see the leaves change colors in the fall. The spectrum of light is pockets of energy called photons from the sun which consists of different wave lengths. Photosynthesis is the process in which food is made. The main role of pigments are absorbing all colors of sunlight. The abiotic factors of the pigment production are water, sunlgiht, co2, and the temperature.

Materials and Methods - We hold punched two sectiosn from six leaves. We chose leaves from each side of the tree. We stored the leaf samples in zip-lock bags and then put them in the freezer. We lavbeled the bags with the date. We labeled one chlorophyll extraction, and the other one anthocyanin extraction. We collected the samples once a week on the same time and day, for eight weeks. Then we added three ml to a test tube and labeled it chlorophyll with the date. Then stored it in the fridge overnight. Then for the anthocyanin extraction we added 3 ml and stored it in the fridge overnight also. Then a twenty-four hour spin down with the centrifuge at high speed. Then measure the absorption by using a spectophotometer. Then add the A470 chlorophyll A and the A647 chlorophyll B and the A663 carotenoid and the A530 Anthocyanin. The abiotic factors were monitored with a thermomter, rain gauge, and sunrise to sunset.

Results
Leaf pigment graph - over the eight weeks the concentrations of the pigment mostly went down.
Sunlgiht graph - over the eight weeks the amount of daylight went down.
Precipitation graph - over the eight weeks the precipitation was low then went hgih then went back down to low.
pH of precipitation graph - over the eight weeks it started low but went up and styaed up.
Cholorphyll A graph - over the eight weeks it started high and gradually went down.
Cholorphyll B graph - over the eight weeks it started hight then went down to low.
Anthocyanin graphy - over the eight weeks it started low, went high, then went down again.
Carotenoid graph - over the eight weeks it started high then it also went down.

Conclusions - The relationship betwen the pigments and abiotic factors are wehn the chlorophyll went down the temperature, sunlight and anthocyanin went down, but the preciptiation was mostly up and the pH of precipitation was mostly up. The carotenoid concentration had no relationship towards the chlorophyll's changes. Having only one variable is better than having many variables because if we had more than one if would be confusing to tell what happened to our experiment.

Concluding hypothesis - The closest effect to the leaf pigments was the amount of sunlight.


1. Hours of sunlight (Sept. - Nov.) 2005
daylight hours/weeks
13




















x






12
 x































x




11

x
x









x









x









x
10






































9









1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9

2. Fall Precipitation (Sept. - Nov.) 2005
ml of rain/weeks
750







700




x

650







600







550







500







450







400







350







300



x


250







200

x




150







100
x



x
50






x
0
 x

x




1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8

3. pH of Precipitation (Sept. - Nov.) 2005
pH/weeks









7















x
6
















5





x









4
x
 x
x
 x










3
















2
















1
















0
 x

x




1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8

4. Chlorophyll Concentrations
amounts of chlorophyll A and B/weeks
1600








1500








1400








1300
A






1200


A




1100

A





1000
 A


A



900




A
 A

800








700








600








500








400






A
300
 B
 B
 B
 B
 B



200




B
 B
 B
100









1
 2
 3
 4
 5
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 7
 8
 9

5. Anthocyanin Concentrations
amounts of Anthocyanin/weeks










0.150








0.140



x



0.130








0.120








0.110








0.100








0.090








0.080








0.070

x
 x
x
 x
 x
0.060
 x
 x






0.050








0.040








0.030








0.020








0.010









1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9

6. Caratenoid Concentrations
amounts of Caratenoid/weeks
1600


x




1500








1400

x





1300



x



1200








1100
x






1000








900








800
 x







700




x


600





x

500








400








300








200








100






x

1
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 9

7. Fall Air Temperatures (Sept. - Nov.) 2005
temp F/weeks










80


















70
 x
x









x




60










x

x

x
50


















40




x









x

30

















x
20


















10









1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9

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