1. By: Kevin Costello Pittsburgh Central Catholic PJAS 2012 Grade 9

2.  Occurs when large quantities of nutrients enter an aquatic environment. Nutrients often come from fertilizer.  Possible causes: sewage, agricultural runoff, or animal wastes  Algal bloom: ◦ Consisting of:  patches of algae near the surface of the water  Light attenuation  light dependent organisms stressed, massive die offs, increased

3.  Large diverse group of simple and usually autotrophic organisms  Base of aquatic food chain  Used as a bio-indicator for aquatic environments

4.  Generally cylindrical in shape with many flagella  Common algal like protist  A partial heterotroph can attain food through endocytosis and photosynthesis  Nutrient-rich freshwater or in sewage systems  Capable of survival in both salt and water environments  Frequently employed as an experimental model

5.  Independently moving, unicellular, green, algae  Swims with its two flagella  Commonly found in fresh water and sometimes even in soil or in snow on mountain tops  Can grow on a simple medium of salts in the light, using photosynthesis to provide energy.

6.  To discern the effect(s) of nitrogen based fertilizer on the survivorship of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Euglena

7.  Null: The presence of fertilizer will NOT have a significant effect on algal growth.  Alternative: The presence of the fertilizer WILL significantly alter algal growth.

8.  Chlamydomonas reinhardtii  Euglena gracilis  Soil water (sterile)  Spring water  Miracle Grow® brand fertilizer  32 test tubes (13 x 100 mm borosilicate culture tubes)  Pipettes (macro + micro)  Pipette tips  Science Kit Educator spectrophotometer  Test tube rack  Desk lamp

9. 1. A desk lamp was placed in experimental site a)approximately 45 centimeters away from the test tube racks b)Kept on a 12 hour on 12 hour off cycle c)Kept at 60 degrees °F throughout the duration of the study 2. Created a stock solution (assigned 100%) of fertilizer according to recommended application dose. Created the concentrations of 0%, 5%, 10%, 20% by mixing ingredients in borosilicate culture tubes as follows: 3. Tubes were mixed by inversion daily and readings were taken using a spectrophotometer set to wavelength of 430 nm once a day on days 1-10

10. 0%5%10%20% Algae2mL Soil Water1mL Spring Water2mL1.9mL1.5mL1mL Fertilizer0mL0.1mL0.5mL1mL Total5mL

12. P value: 1.44E-21

13.  Was the algae significantly affected by the presence of fertilizer in it’s environment? ◦ Chlamydomonas reinhardtii  P value: 9.04E-05 SIGNIFICANT ◦ Euglena gracilis  P value: 1.44E-21 SIGNIFICANT

14. Variable Concentration T ValueInterpretation 5% Miracle Grow® 8.61Significant 10% Miracle Grow® 10.92Significant 20% Miracle Grow® 13.49Significant T Critical = 3.29 (significant) Alpha = 0.05

15. Variable Concentration T ValueInterpretation 5% Miracle Grow® 8.93Significant 10% Miracle Grow® 18.15Significant 20% Miracle Grow® 32.06Significant T Critical = 3.29 (significant) Alpha = 0.05

16.  The ANOVA stat analysis allowed the null hypothesis to be REJECTED  The Dunnett’s test showed that all concentrations of fertilizer SIGNIFICANTLY affected algal growth

17.  Limitations ◦ Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Euglena gracilis not fresh, 2 day travel time. ◦ Cultures not mono-culture ◦ Algal health and longevity might vary  Extensions ◦ Use more diverse groups of algae ◦ Use a higher concentration of the fertilizer ◦ Cell counts with hemacytometer ◦ Use different kinds fertilizer  Both organic and non-organic  Synergistic effects of agents?

18.  http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/eutrophi cation.aspx  http://www.amazingfacts.in/2010/06/amazi ng-facts-euglena.html http://www.amazingfacts.in/2010/06/amazi ng-facts-euglena.html  http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/Biology/botsyl01 /microalg/euglenaf/euglena.html http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/Biology/botsyl01 /microalg/euglenaf/euglena.html  http://www.metamicrobe.com/chlamy/ http://www.metamicrobe.com/chlamy/  http://www.chlamy.org/info.html http://www.chlamy.org/info.html