Environmental Science

What do organisms need in order to survive?

The Big 4 needed for survival Water Light Temperature Nutrients or food

Sustaining Life Each type of organism needs certain kinds and quantities of nutrients to survive (to live). If only one key nutrient is missing, it will die. Even if one key nutrient is minimal (low), it’s growth can be stunted.

Food “Web” What do you know?

Food “chain” or Web First the producers – Then consumers - Made up mostly of plants (also some bacteria) – they get their energy from the sun and simple chemicals. Then consumers - - Which use energy from the green plants (and other consumers) Last is the decomposers - – Mainly bacteria and fungi (they break down complex chemicals into simpler ones that can be used again by the producers)

Range of tolerance Organisms can survive only within their range of tolerance for a particular environmental factor. Outside of their range of tolerance they fail to reproduce or grow. There is a maximum and minimum limit (for example, if it is too hot or too cold a plant or animal will die).

Environment Environment the objects (things), organisms, and conditions that exert an influence on an organism. Environmental factors – any one part of the environment (either living or non-living).

For aquatic organisms (such as brine shrimp) They breathe in oxygen and breathe out CO2, just like we do. CO2 + H2O H2CO3 (weak carbonic acid) The problem is carbon dioxide in water turns the water a little acidic without plants. Plants take in CO2 in and turn it into sugar and O2. Acid is reduces (or keeps the acidic effect of CO2) in water from building up. It helps keep water neutral (pH 7)

Brine shrimp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0gxZELt-30&feature=fvwp&NR=1 microscopic larvae microscopic adult brine shrimp eating blue-green algea brine shrimp butterfly movement deans “sea monkeys” more dean's "happy sea monkeys"

Photosynthesis Photosynthesis Photosynthesis rap rap 2 (same song diff picts)

The brine shrimp life cycle Each spring as Great Salt Lake warms, masses of brine shrimp cysts begin to hatch. Newly hatched brine shrimp larvae, called nauplii (NAW-plee-eye), dominate the water by late April. As they grow and develop, brine shrimp go through a series of 14 to 17 different stages. Each stage is separated from the next by a molt. Molting involves growing a new larger exoskeleton and shedding the old one. When the water is warm, food is plentiful, and oxygen levels are high, brine shrimp can develop to adulthood in as little as 8 days. The conditions in Great Salt Lake aren't quite ideal, so it normally takes 3 to 6 weeks for brine shrimp to reach maturity. When conditions are good, mature females release developing embryos or free-swimming nauplii into the water. But when temperatures drop and food is scarce, the females release dormant cysts. Inside the cysts, the embryos are arrested in development. The surrounding shell protects them from the elements. When conditions improve, the embryo resumes development, and the life cycle continues.

Brine shrimp facts Facts The Great Salt Lake brine shrimp population can produce four or more generations per year. Brine shrimp are crustaceans. Their closest relatives include fairy shrimp, triops and water fleas. More distant relatives include crabs, lobsters and shrimp. Brine shrimp are used in the laboratory for testing the toxicity of chemicals. Brine shrimp cysts have been found in Great Salt Lake geologic core samples up to 600,000 years old, so we know they've been in the area for a long time. Brine shrimp cysts are packaged and sold as Sea-Monkeys. Brine shrimp cysts can remain viable for up to 25 years. Brine shrimp come in many colors. From white to pink to green, the different colors are probably an effect of diet and environmental conditions.