The Effects of Motor Oil On Algae Growth By Sean Farrell Grade 9 Central catholic High School

Rationale Over 1.3 million gallons of oil leaks into our water ways every year How does this affect aquatic life?

Motor Oil’s effects on the Environment Motor oil destroys the water repellence of mammals like sea otters’ fur and water birds feathers causing hypothermia Ingesting oil causing poising, effecting an organisms’ entire body Enters the water through leaks, carelessness dumping, and human disposal Biological Magnification  

Motor Oil Valvoline Premium Conventional SAE 10W-30 motor oil No extreme detrimental health effects unless large exposer Contains durable anti-wear additives Provides enhanced oxidation control Most motor oils are made from a heavier, thicker petroleum hydrocarbon base stock derived from crude oil Typical motor oil consists of hydrocarbons with between 18 and 34 carbon atoms per molecule.

Contains durable anti-wear additives that stay in the oil longer to improve protection Resists oil thickening by providing enhanced oxidation control Provide thorough anti-wear protection exceeding current U.S., Japanese and European wear tests for gasoline engines where each grade is specified

Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii Flagellated, unicellular green algae Found all over the world, in soil, water, and even in snow on mountaintops There are about 500 different types of Chlamydomonas, but only a few are used for research Autotrophic Do not have a cell wall

Euglena Gracilis Unicellular algal-like protist Possesses a single flagellum There are over 1000 species Lives in saltwater and freshwater Autotroph and Heterotroph

Purpose To test the effects of 1% and 0.1% of stock in a 5 mL test tube on Chlamydomonas and Euglena

Hypothesis Null Hypothesis- the motor oil will NOT have a significant effect on the growth rate of algae Alternative Hypothesis- the motor oil WILL have a significant effect on the growth rate of algae

Materials Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Euglena gracilis Soil water, Spring water Spectrophotometer Motor oil Pipets Test tube rack 60 borosilicate test tubes (100 x 13 mm) Wax paper Light bulb

Procedure A stock of motor oil was added to the test tubes to create three concentrations (0%, 0.1%, 1%). Each concentration was added to twenty test tubes, ten for each type of algae. Every test tube contained 2 mL of algae, 1 mL of soil water, and a various volume of spring water. The absorbance of the test tubes was recorded at 430 nanometers on a spectrophotometer every day for the next 16 days. The tubes were placed under a light bulb after the absorbance was recorded.  

Tube Composition Algae 2 mL Soil Water 1 mL Motor Oil 0 mL 0.05 mL 0.005 Spring Water Total Volume 5 mL Final Concentration 0% 1% 0.1%

Chlamydomonas Results P value (day 8) 0.58368 P value (day 16): 0.01721 Absorbance

Dunnett’s Test Final Chlamy Concentration T Value T crit. Value Conclusion .1% 2.8966 2.57 Sig 1% .5517 Not Sig

Euglena Results Absorbance P Value Day 8 0.00028 P Value Day 16

Dunnett’s Test Day 8 Sig Concentration T Value T Crit Value Conclusion 0.1% 4.19 3.77 Sig 1% 4.37

Dunnet’s Test Euglena Final Concentration T Value T crit. Value Conclusion .1% 9.087 2.42 Sig 1% 9.383

Conclusion The data for Chlamydomonas .1% stock and both .1% and 1% stock for Euglena had a significant effect on algal growth 1% of the stock did not have a significant effect on the algal growth for Chlamydomonas

Conclusion The Null Hypothesis can be Rejected for when the concentration of stock was 0.1% for Chlamydomonas and for Euglena 1% and 0.1% after 16 days After 8 days there was No Significant effects it the growth of the Chlamydomonas, but there was Significant effects for Euglena

Limitations Health of Algae? Light/Dark cycles not exact Motor oil pipetting problems Optimal lighting? Small amount of tubes were used

Extensions Test more algae species Wider ranges of concentrations Have the light on a timer Use fresh algae Optimal lighting

Resources http://www.metamicrobe.com/chlamy/ https://www.chlamycollection.org/resources/about-chlamydomonas/ http://omnigp.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Valvoline-Premium-Conventional-SAE-10W-30-Motor-Oil.pdf http://www.amazingfacts.in/2010/06/amazing-facts-euglena.html#!/2010/06/amazing-facts-euglena.html https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/oilimpacts.html http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-biomagnification-definition-examples.html

Chlamydomonas Anova Day 8 Anova: Single Factor SUMMARY Groups Count Sum Average Variance Column 1 8 1.176 0.147 0.000864857 Column 2 1.634 0.20425 0.0005365 Column 3 1.652 0.2065 0.000805714 ANOVA Source of Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit Between Groups 0.018194333 2 0.009097167 12.36548108 0.000282549 3.466800112 Within Groups 0.0154495 21 0.00073569 Total 0.033643833 23

Chlamydomonas Anova 16 Days Anova: Single Factor SUMMARY Groups Count Sum Average Variance Column 1 16 2.537 0.158563 0.00066 Column 2 2.484 0.15525 0.000344 Column 3 2.214 0.138375 0.00026 ANOVA Source of Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit Between Groups 0.003751 2 0.001875 4.451875 0.017213 3.204317 Within Groups 0.018957 45 0.000421 Total 0.022707 47  

Euglena Anova Day 8 Anova: Single Factor SUMMARY Groups Count Sum Average Variance Column 1 8 1.176 0.147 0.000864857 Column 2 1.634 0.20425 0.0005365 Column 3 1.652 0.2065 0.000805714 ANOVA Source of Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit Between Groups 0.018194333 2 0.009097167 12.36548108 0.000282549 3.466800112 Within Groups 0.0154495 21 0.00073569 Total 0.033643833 23

Euglena Anova 16 Days Anova: Single Factor SUMMARY Groups Count Sum Average Variance Column 1 16 2.121 0.132563 0.00067 Column 2 4.305 0.269063 0.00135 Column 3 4.064 0.254 0.000921 ANOVA Source of Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit Between Groups 0.179233 2 0.089617 91.40216 1.42E-16 3.204317 Within Groups 0.044121 45 0.00098 Total 0.223354 47