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In this lab experience
we will create an environment for a population of marine zooplankton and
study their population dynamics and general life history.
Brine shrimp ( Artemia salina
) are adapted to live in a wide range of
salinities which
reflects the fact that annual and long term cycles of rain fall in the
areas they live in fluctuate. Presently there is a drought in the NA west
affecting the farms as well as the salt concentrations of the
Great Salt Lake which is one
of the homes of large brine shrimp populations.
We will attempt to replicate some of the following ideal conditions for
hatching :
Sea salt concentration = 23 g/
litre or .4 M |
Specific
Gravity = 1.02
- we will use sea salt as
table salt has enough iodine to harm the
nauplii
pH about 8 is ideal or 2 g/litre
NaHCO3 (sodium
bicarbonate) a buffer
temperature = 25 - 28 C* might be hard
to achieve in class
light = bright light
full
spectrum artificial or natural sunlight
water = we will use mineral water (tap
water has to much chlorine)
HOW TO CALCULATE MOLARITY
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2 |
Hatch time
should be about 24 hours at optimal temp. and a little longer for less
than ideal conditions
Oxygen concentration - we will aerate
the water using an air pump + stone
Procedure - measure
the amount of water needed to 2/3 fill your hatching tank and then
calculate the amount of salt required to make a .4M concentration salt
solution and add it to your tank and dissolve totally
- add the baking soda mix
- add a scoop of eggs (cysts) stir and aerate
- place under lights and wait for hatching
Feeding - brine shrimp never
sleep and as they swim about they filter out unicellular bacteria,
phytoplankton, and organic debris from the water column
- we can feed them yeast cells and spirolina (phytoplankton)
- believe it or not marine algae spores from the Atlantic can blow right
into our class and set up house in our tanks
(strange but true) and are a source of food for the shrimp
Complete the following Inquiry sheet and
submit to your teacher|
Prelab Quiz
Inquiry and References >>>> |
Hatching