a) Nick Denk, James Larson, Gabbi Korrow

b) Fern Spore Reaction Under Increasing Heat Conditions.

c) In our project we will compare the sporangium and spore ejection of Polystichum minimum, Polypodium glycyrrhiza, and Pteridium aquilinum under varying heat conditions. In our research we plan to look at the various levels of heat needed to release the spores and various distances the spores reach at initial ejection under zero wind conditions. We will measure the ejection with a high speed camera in order to better analyze our findings. With this research, we also hope look at how the heating climate will effect the release of fern spores.

d) We chose to research fern spores because we wanted to understand more about the native flora out our backdoors. We will be using motion calculations to help determine different accelerations of ejection. We believe this research is relevant because of the changing heat conditions in the PNW.

e) Our methods will include time in lab observing the ferns, analyzing the three different fern varieties at five different heat levels, and applying physics motion calculations to better understand acceleration.

f) Our research will culminate in graphs of Acceleration vs. time and Acceleration vs. heat, and a high speed video of three species of fern ejecting their spores at various heat levels.

g) Morphology, development, and systematic relevance of pollen and spores M. Hesse; Friedrich Ehrendorfer; International Botanical Congress (14th : 1987 : Berlin, Germany)