...Algae and Friends 1. Why are algae important in nature? How are algae, fungi and lichens related and how is this relationship defined? Explain how the presence of algae can indicate either pollution or productivity of a body of water. Algae are a very large and diverse group of eukaryotic organisms, ranging from unicellular genera such as Chlorella and the diatoms to multicellular forms such as the giant kelp. Most are autotrophic and lack many of the distinct cell and tissue types found in land plants such as stomata, xylem and phloem. The largest and most complex marine algae are called seaweeds, while the most complex freshwater forms are the Charophyta, a division of algae that includes Spirogyra and the stoneworts. Algae has several uses in nature and for mankind. Agar is a jelly-like substance, obtained from algae, which is derived from red algae, has a number of commercial uses. It is a good medium on which to grow bacteria and fungi as most microorganisms cannot digest agar. Alginic acid, or alginate, is extracted from brown algae. Its uses range from gelling agents in food, to medical dressings. Alginic acid also has been used in the field of biotechnology as a biocompatible medium for cell encapsulation and cell immobilization. Molecular cuisine is also a user of the substance for its gelling properties, by which it becomes a delivery vehicle for flavors. Algae fuel or algal biofuel is an alternative to fossil fuel that uses algae as its source of natural...
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...in the simulation, list the type of organism it is (phytoplankton, zooplankton, and primary producer, primary consumer, or secondary consumer): Green algae ___Phytoplankton____________________________________________________________________ Cyanobacteria _Secondary Consumer______________________________________________________________________ Bosmina _____zoo plankton__________________________________________________________________ Daphnia ____Primary Producer___________________________________________________________________ Trout fish ___Primary Consumer____________________________________________________________________ 2. Changing concentration of phosphorous, a common limiting nutrient (15 pts.) Data Table for Phosphorus Input Experiment (3 pts.) Phosphorous input Green Algae Population Size Dissolved O2 (mg/L) 1x 191 7.3 2x 334 4.2 3x 463 1.0 Draw a line graph of your green algae population size data (use the Drawing tool or Insert, Shapes) in your word processing program) to show how green algae relate to phosphorus input levels. (2 pts.) - a. Explain if the relationship in the above graph indicates whether phosphorus was a limiting nutrient for green algae. (2 pts.) You also have recorded date from the oxygen meter at the bottom of the lake. Draw a line graph showing the relationship of phosphorous input...
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...Formal Lab Report The Effect of the Amount of Detergent on Algal Color Change After a factory that produces various types of phosphate containing products opened near a neighborhood, the residence began to notice a change in the rivers color. They noticed that a green film was covering areas of the river and some residents blamed pollution from the factory. This seemed like a reasonable claim since phosphates and nitrates are nutrients that increase algae growth and help cause blooms. So we decided to test if these claims could be true. We set up our experiment by setting up 7 cups, then we labeled them 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, and control. Next we filled each cup with 50ml of algae infused water. Now to act as runoff from the factory we put...
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...Negative impacts of Dinoflagellate algae: economic, ecologic, and human health hazards ABSTRACT Increasing pollution both atmospheric and oceanic are encouraging algal growth and increasing the frequency and geographic range of high density dinoflagellate blooms. Public health and economic impacts, as well as negative ecological effects of the aquatic environment are increasing the scientific research done on toxic dinoflagellate species. Contaminated bivalves are causing paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and diarrhetic shellfish poisoning in humans (DSP); with the number of cases increasing steadily in the last 40 years. Toxins released by certain species of the phylum dinoflagellate are the cause of this spreading contamination. Algal bloom locations are dictated by water currents and synaptic weather patterns, and their movement makes it difficult to pinpoint the origin of these blooms. Measuring the level of toxins in shellfish is currently the best way to chart the growing density of these blooms, and to prove the masses of algae are of growing concern. In this review the negative impact dinoflagellate algal blooms are having on aquaculture, human health hazards, and reasons for the increasing frequencies/densities of blooms will be covered; additional information on the shortcomings of incomplete scientific data complied on algal blooms and why scientific research is now being sought after will be reviewed. BACKGROUND Few species of phytoplankton produce...
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...Name: ____________________________ Revision A student decided to investigate respiration in algae. Figure 1 shows how she set up her apparatus. Figure 1 [pic] The student completed the whole experiment in a dark laboratory. The student placed the algae in the boiling tube, filled it with water and placed the boiling tube in a water bath. Bubbles of gas were released from the algae, slowly at first then steadily. Once the release of bubbles became steady she placed the bung in the boiling tube and the drop of coloured liquid moved. Answer all questions in the spaces provided. 1 (a) (i) Name the gas in the bubbles released by the algae. ………………………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark) 1 (a) (ii) Which way did the liquid move? Explain your answer. ………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (2 marks) 1 (a) (iii) What measurements would the student need to make to compare the rate of respiration of different algae? ………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark) 1 (b) What is the syringe used for? ………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark) 1 (c) Explain why the student placed the boiling tube in the water bath. ………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark) 1 (d) Explain why the...
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...marine biome consist of the pelagic realm, the intertidal zone, the photic zone, the aphotic zone, and the benthic realm. The pelagic realm is the part of the marine biome that includes all open water. (Dickey, Reece, & Simon, 2010) explains “the intertidal zone is the part where the ocean surface meets land, or fresh water (pp.383).” The level of the marine biome is home to sedentary organisms such as algae, mussels, and barnacles. The photic zone was named mainly because of the fact that light is available for photosynthesis, and known as the upper or shallow layer of the marine biome. In Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology, (2010), the aphotic zone is the layer of the marine biome where the light levels are too low to support photosynthesis (pp.380). The benthic realm which exists in all aquatic biomes is the area of the seafloor, made up of sand, and organic and inorganic sediments. There are many organisms that exist in a marine biome, and each one exists at different levels to serve different purposes. As mentioned above, organisms such as algae and mussels exist in the intertidal zone, as well as a sea star. In the photic zone, there are organisms such as phytoplankton, zooplankton, fishes, and marine mammals. According to (Dickey, Reece, & Simon, 2010) the aphotic zone or sometimes called the “twilight zone”, because of its poor exposure to light have...
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...Isolation and Purification of Lyngbya majuscula on Nutrient-enriched Agar Plates A Special Problem ABSTRACT Lyngbya majuscula samples were obtained from the Phycology Laboratory stock culture of the UPV Institute of Aquaculture. Five (5) mm fragments of these were inoculated into agar plates that used 1% agar concentration enriched with varying concentrations (1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%) of Hughes, et. al. (1958) Mineral Medium No. II. After ten (10) days of culture, the Trichome Length (TL), Trichome Width (TW), Sheath Width (SW) and Total Length of the Lyngbya filaments were measured from photomicrographs of the samples using Image Tool (Version 3.00) developed by the University of Texas Health Science in San Antonio (UTHSCSA). Lyngbya filaments in all cultures enriched with the Hughes medium obtained significantly higher TL and TW over those of the control treatment. But enrichment of the agar medium did not result in an increase of sheath widths. Filaments cultured in 1.5% and 2% enriched agar showed contamination. Those in 1% nutrient concentration had comparable growth, but no contamination. Furthermore, Lyngbya cultured in enriched agar did not grow beyond the area of inoculation. Isolation was also more difficult in agar than in the liquid control medium. INTRODUCTION As early as the 1900s, Lyngbya sp. blooms were documented in the areas of Eastern Moreton Bay and Bribie Island in Australia (Abal & Lawn, 2004). Lyngbya is a genus which is...
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... Mary Corrigan, Ph.D. As any lake Cheney Lake Reservoirs ecosystems begins with the sun, for without the sun there is no life. This is true because the sun is what provides the energy that is needed for the start of a food chain. At Cheney Lake Reservoir there is no difference than any other lake. Phytoplankton is the start food chain; it is mostly made of algae. Phytoplankton needs a sufficient amount of sunlight and temperature to grow, not only does it need sunlight it also requires phosphorous and nitrogen to flourish. In order to have an ecosystem that is productive and healthy there must a proper amount of phytoplankton at all times. If there is not enough phytoplankton there will not be enough to go around, if there is too much there not be enough light to support life. Phytoplankton is considered to be a producer. Zooplanktons are considered to be the animal in the free floating particles in the water. Their perpose is to eat algae, bacteria, and sometimes other zooplankton. Zooplanktons are considered to be a primary consumer in this food chain. Next to come is known as the secondary consumer. They are made up from bottom feeding fish and invertebrates; their source of food is zooplankton. Also falling in this section of the ecosystem at Cheney Lake Reservoir is sunfish and perch because their main source of food is also zooplankton. The next step in this lakes ecosystem...
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...COMMUNICATION STRATEGY: REVEAL THE CDEP FINDINGS TO THE PUBLIC [MANCOM Memorandum Assignment] Prepared by Ekaterina Afanasyeva Prepared for Dr. Steve D. Ugbah Managerial Communication California State University, East Bay Marketing 6210.01 March 22, 2013 MEMO Plan SUBJECT: Communication strategy: revealing the CDEP findings to the public DUE DATE: March 13, 2013 PURPOSE: ( Direct RESOURCES: Mr. Martinson’s Company profile; The GDEP Case File; Minutes of Mr. Martinson’s meeting with GDEP Officials; the GDEP preliminary feedings. DOCUMENT TYPE: ( Memorandum AUDIENCE: Readers Needs and Priorities 1. Walter Martinson, President His priorities are the reputation AEI, maintaining good relations with the local authorities, the CDEP and other independent organization that can influence the sustainability of his business, ensuring that the company has reliable partners (sub-contractors, suppliers, etc.). In particular he is worried about the possibility that the pollution in Atlanta area could be connected to his company directly and then he needs to know how to deal with the problem or indirectly and then he needs to know how to prevent the gossips. In any case he needs to know how to deliver the news to the public without damaging the reputation of his company. 2. The Executive Committee Avoid leakage of the information and activities that can negatively influence the IPO...
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...Marine Ecology, May 9 -16, 2008 Lecture 8 & 9: Biological interactions in the intertidal I. Overview: Effects of biological interactions on zonation/distribution of intertidal organisms. A. Joe Connell (1972) proposed that physical factors (especially tolerance to desiccation) were most important in setting UPPER limits of species distributions, while biological interactions were more important in setting LOWER limits. 1. More recent studies show that upper limits can also be modified by biological factors, but still many cases where upper limits are related to physical factors. B. A variety of interspecific interactions and other biological processes have been studied to determine how they influence intertidal zonation, as well as distribution within a zone (for different microhabitats). This lecture focuses on those interactions and processes. II. Competition for space A. Example: Vertical distribution of the barnacles Chthamalus and Balanus/Semibalanus. Classic work of Joe Connell (1961) 1. Key observations a) Patterns of larval settlement: overlap in higher zones (see diagram) b) Patterns of adult distribution: Chthamalus higher than Semibalanus; no overlap at sites where both are found c) If Semibalanus is removed/excluded, the lower limit of Chthamalus is extended into the upper-mid-intertidal, but no further. •...
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...daphnia. One such change is the increasing appearance of blue-green and green algae blooms in many ecosystems. Algae blooms are very toxic to multiple creatures in the ecosystem. Thus bringing up the question: If blue-green and/or green algae blooms become prevalent will the mortality rate of daphnia increase? There have been many experiments done which show that it could be possible that certain strands of blue-green and green algae create substances that are highly toxic to daphnia while some strands produce substances that are not toxic at all. If algae blooms produce substances that are toxic to daphnia...
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...ecosystem reliably. It will also show the differences in variation and distribution between species in exposed and sheltered areas of the shoreline – while considering the variation and distribution at varies heights below the water line. Analysis Within a sheltered/exposed intertidal habitat, zonation is an extremely common occurrence. Duration of immersion with regards to seawater has a direct effect on the extent of desiccation, temperature and salinity stress an organism experiences (Gilman et al, 2006)[1]. Different species flourish in different levels of protection from the physical environment; wave activity frequently being the most crucial. (Ballantine, 1961)[2]. Therefore it can be assumed that the degree of exposure to wave action can directly affect these environmental factors. The more exposed areas will encounter more frequent immersion and much more constant action from harsh tides, leading to increased dislodgement from the rock surfaces and damaging of organisms, which leads to the absence of the weaker organisms. The prevailing wind will also have an effect on the degree of exposure to desiccation in exposed areas. In comparison, the more sheltered areas of the...
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...Blooms Coloring the Tides Raymond A Martin College of Central Florida Abstract There are large, toxic blooms of dinoflagellates that leave a red coloration in the water. This rouge discoloring has become known as a red tide. Red tides have many damaging effects on the coastal environment and the ecosystem of the seas. They occur naturally as far north as southern Alaska to date. This paper will discuss what a red tide is and some of its causes. It will also explore the environmental impacts as well as health risks associated with these large toxic blooms. Next, we’ll look at the economic effect and the sociological impact of a red tide. Lastly, we can examine what to do to protect yourself from its harmful effects. Red Tide/Red Algae Effects What is Red Tide? Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, occur when colonies of algae—simple plants that live in the sea and freshwater—grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds. The human illnesses caused by HABs, though rare, can be debilitating or even fatal. While many people call these blooms 'red tides,' scientists prefer the term harmful algal bloom. (NOAA 2012) Algal blooms, during which algae become so numerous that they discolor the coastal waters, visibly seen as reddish-brown. The algal bloom may also deplete oxygen in the waters and/or release toxins that may cause illness in humans and other animals. Species in the United States that release these...
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...Lake Erie : Causes and Effects of the Algal Blooms Over the years, Ohio’s largest body of water has been plagued with a plethora of environmental issues. Lake Erie has suffered from invasions of nonnative species, harmful factory pollutants, and waste water from nearby coal industries. Each form of pollution has depleted the the lake’s environment in some way, but none of these environmental hazards have been equal in severity to Lake Erie’s immense algal blooms. These blooms are caused by rainwater that drains into nearby streams, rivers, and eventually Lake Erie. This draining water is referred to as runoff. Not all rainwater runoff that makes its way into Lake Erie will cause algae to bloom at a quicker rate. It is the runoff from...
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...Bleaching occurs often when the coral undergoes specific stress normally to do with environmental factors. Due to the enhancement of the greenhouse effect mass bleaching events are becoming an ever growing population with all the coral being bleached all at once (Parry et al., 2007; Lough 2008; Hoegh-Guldberg et al., 2007). Coral's live in warm, shallow waters so even an increase in sea surface temperature of 1 degrees can cause the coral to expel their symbiotic algae, in future years to come scientists expect a 2+ degree rise in sea temperature by 2050-2100, more mass bleaching events are expected to occur (Hoegh-Guldberg et al., 2007). Not only is oceanic temperature an issue, ocean acidification is another harmful factor towards corals. Oceanic pH has started to lower due to oceans absorbing about one-third of the atmospheric carbon dioxide, making it more acidic. Changes in pH therefore cause problems for coral as their capability to create their calcium carbonate skeleton deteriorates, as a more acidic pH lowers the saturation state of calcium...
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