1. Mom, Where Did the Light Go?
Laticia Stewart, Michael Philippe-Auguste, Wendy Stewart, Jared Robbins,Yves Jodesty, Gerard DiChara

2. Purpose of Experiment
To singly see the effects of eutrophication of water (addition of nutrients) on Aiptasia.
To singly see the effects of decrease in sunlight on Aiptasia

3. ~* And Now the Procedures*~
Hypothesis
Aiptasia growth will be hindered more so by lowering the light levels than increasing the nutrient factor.
~* And Now the Procedures*~

4. Reduced Light – 1st Week
We covered the tanks with light blockers to see how algae growth effects zooxanthelle
Corals are completely dependent on the symbiotic algae. They would not be able to survive without them since they can’t produce sufficient amounts of food. The zooxanthellea can provide all the nutrients necessary, in most cases.

5. Eutrophication – 2nd Week
Eutrophication is a process where water bodies receive excess nutrients that stimulate plant growth (algae). This enhanced plant growth, often called an algal bloom, reduces dissolved oxygen in the water when dead plant material decomposes and can cause other organisms to die.
Last week we added .040 g of NO3 to the Aiptasia to increase the nutrient factor to 50μM.
The average nutrient factor in the ocean is 0.5μM – 1.2μM.

6. This Week
Test the effects of both eutrophication and cytoplasm bloom together.

7. Mommy, can we turn on the light now?
~*More to Come*~
Mommy, can we turn on the light now?