Measurements?
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- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2013 4:53 pm
- Occupation: Student: 9th grade
- Project Question: I am doing a science fair project on the effect of pollutants (dissolved in water) on the water species Daphnia magna. I need to know how to measure the different pollutants (motor oil, fertilizer, et cetera) and proportion them to the water. The solution with the pollutants must have enough of it to have an effect on the specimen, but can't be so much as to kill it (there are regulations, and the kill rate must be relatively low). I'm not sure how to go about this part and really need help!
- Project Due Date: Data collection and experimentation should be done or near completion by November 14, 2013.
- Project Status: I am conducting my experiment
Measurements?
For my project I'm going to be testing the effects of pollutants on a species. I need to find a way to measure the pollutant and water that will dilute it in a way that will have an effect on the species (daphnia magna) but not kill them. What amount should I use and how should I measure it? Any help would be great!
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- Occupation: Space Test Analyst
- Project Question: "To explain all nature is too difficult a task for any one man. 'Tis much better to do a little with certainty and leave the rest for others that come after you, than to explain all things by conjecture without making sure of anything." - Sir Isaac Newton
- Project Due Date: N/A
- Project Status: Not applicable
Re: Measurements?
17CKieley,
Thank you for your questions. Water toxicity can be measured in its acidity level, known as pH. Your culture can be made more acidic or basic based on your pollutants which can be directly measured easily. As for affecting your organisms, I'm not sure you'll get away without harming any, but I would have several cultures ranging from no pollution (your control) up to significant increase or decrease in pH such that you see a difference in population growth, possibly indicating an effect on reproductive rates. I found several scholarly articles on Google scholar by typing daphnia magna in the search line.
Thank you for your questions. Water toxicity can be measured in its acidity level, known as pH. Your culture can be made more acidic or basic based on your pollutants which can be directly measured easily. As for affecting your organisms, I'm not sure you'll get away without harming any, but I would have several cultures ranging from no pollution (your control) up to significant increase or decrease in pH such that you see a difference in population growth, possibly indicating an effect on reproductive rates. I found several scholarly articles on Google scholar by typing daphnia magna in the search line.
Hope this helps.
theborg
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Science Buddies science fair guide:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_guide_index.shtml
Science Buddies project ideas:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml
theborg
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Science Buddies science fair guide:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_guide_index.shtml
Science Buddies project ideas:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml