Is the Growth of Microcystis and Lake Water Protists Affected by Phosphorus Concentration?
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Purpose
The purpose of this experiment is to determine if algae will grow more if fertilizer is added to the water where the algae is growing.
Background/ Introduction
An algal bloom is an increase and accumulation of algae in freshwater or salt water systems. Most algae blooms are caused by blue-green algae. Blue-green algae is actually not algae at all, it is a cyanobacteria. A bloom can lead to a green, blue-greenish or reddish discoloration of the water, and if the algae bloom lasts long enough streaks or scums may appear on the water surface. (UBA. 2016) One harmful element of algae blooms is that they …show more content…
Repeat step 4, 3 times after refocusing the microscope to see a different pane of bacteria.
6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 for each of the conical tubes.
Study 2 - Lake Water Experiment
1. Repeat steps 4 through 9 from Study 1 if more of the stocks is needed.
2. Label 12 separate conical tubes with the following: Control-1, Control-2, Control-3, 5 µ/L-1, 5 µ/L-2, 5 µ/L-3, 25 µ/L-1, 25 µ/L-2, 25 µ/L-3, 100 µ/L-1, 100 µ/L-2, 100 µ/L-3, 80 mg/L-1, 20mg/L-1. These tubes will be where the lake water protists will grow. These labels represent the different concentrations of phosphorus and the condition tube number.
3. In the 5 µ/L tubes, place 2 ml of the 0.25 mg/L stock, and 8 ml of lake water.
4. In the 25 µ/L tubes, place 2 ml of the 1.25 mg/L stock, and 8 ml of lake water.
5. In the 100 µ/L tubes, place 2 ml of the 5 mg/L stock, and 8 ml of lake water.
6. In the 80 mg/L tubes, place 2 ml of the 80 mg/L stock, and 8 ml of lake water.
7. In the 16 mg/L tubes, place 2 ml of the 16 mg/L stock, and 8 ml of lake water.
8. Let these grow in indirect sunlight for 1 week.
Measurement Procedure
1. Shake the conical tube to ensure that all matter is equally distributed within the water.
2. Place one drop of the water on a glass slide, and place the slide under the …show more content…
In both of the experiments there was a positive trend as more concentrated fertilizer stock was added. Although very little Microcystis and other types of cyanobacteria were seen in the lake water experiment, there was an increase in the number of organisms that eat this bacteria, suggesting that there was an increase in the amount of cyanobacteria in the water.
Works Cited
"UBA: Background Information Toxic Cyanobacteria." Cyanocenter UBA, UBA, toxische- cyanobakterien.de/en/literature/. Accessed 28 Apr. 2017.
"UBA: Recognizing Cyanobacterial Blooms." Cyanocenter UBA, UBA, toxische cyanobakterien.de/en/literature/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2017.
TOCH. Field guide to algae and other "scums" in ponds, lakes, streams and rivers. Town of Chapel Hill, www.townofchapelhill.org/home/showdocument?id=28866. Accessed 28 Apr. 2017.
St. Johns River WMD. "Understanding Algal Blooms." St. Johns River Water Managment District, www.sjrwmd.com/algae/. Accessed 26 Apr.
_______________________________________
Purpose
The purpose of this experiment is to determine if algae will grow more if fertilizer is added to the water where the algae is growing.
Background/ Introduction
An algal bloom is an increase and accumulation of algae in freshwater or salt water systems. Most algae blooms are caused by blue-green algae. Blue-green algae is actually not algae at all, it is a cyanobacteria. A bloom can lead to a green, blue-greenish or reddish discoloration of the water, and if the algae bloom lasts long enough streaks or scums may appear on the water surface. (UBA. 2016) One harmful element of algae blooms is that they …show more content…
Repeat step 4, 3 times after refocusing the microscope to see a different pane of bacteria.
6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 for each of the conical tubes.
Study 2 - Lake Water Experiment
1. Repeat steps 4 through 9 from Study 1 if more of the stocks is needed.
2. Label 12 separate conical tubes with the following: Control-1, Control-2, Control-3, 5 µ/L-1, 5 µ/L-2, 5 µ/L-3, 25 µ/L-1, 25 µ/L-2, 25 µ/L-3, 100 µ/L-1, 100 µ/L-2, 100 µ/L-3, 80 mg/L-1, 20mg/L-1. These tubes will be where the lake water protists will grow. These labels represent the different concentrations of phosphorus and the condition tube number.
3. In the 5 µ/L tubes, place 2 ml of the 0.25 mg/L stock, and 8 ml of lake water.
4. In the 25 µ/L tubes, place 2 ml of the 1.25 mg/L stock, and 8 ml of lake water.
5. In the 100 µ/L tubes, place 2 ml of the 5 mg/L stock, and 8 ml of lake water.
6. In the 80 mg/L tubes, place 2 ml of the 80 mg/L stock, and 8 ml of lake water.
7. In the 16 mg/L tubes, place 2 ml of the 16 mg/L stock, and 8 ml of lake water.
8. Let these grow in indirect sunlight for 1 week.
Measurement Procedure
1. Shake the conical tube to ensure that all matter is equally distributed within the water.
2. Place one drop of the water on a glass slide, and place the slide under the …show more content…
In both of the experiments there was a positive trend as more concentrated fertilizer stock was added. Although very little Microcystis and other types of cyanobacteria were seen in the lake water experiment, there was an increase in the number of organisms that eat this bacteria, suggesting that there was an increase in the amount of cyanobacteria in the water.
Works Cited
"UBA: Background Information Toxic Cyanobacteria." Cyanocenter UBA, UBA, toxische- cyanobakterien.de/en/literature/. Accessed 28 Apr. 2017.
"UBA: Recognizing Cyanobacterial Blooms." Cyanocenter UBA, UBA, toxische cyanobakterien.de/en/literature/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2017.
TOCH. Field guide to algae and other "scums" in ponds, lakes, streams and rivers. Town of Chapel Hill, www.townofchapelhill.org/home/showdocument?id=28866. Accessed 28 Apr. 2017.
St. Johns River WMD. "Understanding Algal Blooms." St. Johns River Water Managment District, www.sjrwmd.com/algae/. Accessed 26 Apr.