Title: The effects of phytoplankton on CO2 absorption and Eutrophication. Independent variable is the different type of solution that was added into the phytoplankton. Dependent variable is the solution that will stay the same.
Background: Nutrient Fertilization is a type of geo-engineering that is based on purposely putting nutrients to the upper part of the ocean. It will increase marine food production as well as removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Phytoplankton's population is essential since small fish and other organisms eat them as food. Soon large animals eat the smaller fishes. And in the fishing industries find good fishing spots by looking into the ocean to locate areas rich in phytoplankton.
Materials:
Hypothesis: If we add more nutrients to the phytoplankton solution, then more phytoplankton will grow.
Brief Protocol: Groups of 2 or more will get separate phytoplankton treatment. One pair in the group got a control, another will add nutrients and the other added nutrients and iron. All the variables were monitored. The control variable was the only solution that didn't have to add anything to it. In the nutrients variable, nutrients were being added into the solution. In the nutrients and iron variable, nutrients and iron were being added into the solution.
Background: Nutrient Fertilization is a type of geo-engineering that is based on purposely putting nutrients to the upper part of the ocean. It will increase marine food production as well as removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Phytoplankton's population is essential since small fish and other organisms eat them as food. Soon large animals eat the smaller fishes. And in the fishing industries find good fishing spots by looking into the ocean to locate areas rich in phytoplankton.
Materials:
- 5 ml of phytoplankton
- 50 ml of filtered
- 100 ml of filtered seawater
- 50-250 ml flask
- Cotton ball
- A light source
- 3-300 µl pipettes
- Nitrate, Phosphate and Iron nutrient solutions
- Microscopes and microscope slides
- Spectrophotometer
Hypothesis: If we add more nutrients to the phytoplankton solution, then more phytoplankton will grow.
Brief Protocol: Groups of 2 or more will get separate phytoplankton treatment. One pair in the group got a control, another will add nutrients and the other added nutrients and iron. All the variables were monitored. The control variable was the only solution that didn't have to add anything to it. In the nutrients variable, nutrients were being added into the solution. In the nutrients and iron variable, nutrients and iron were being added into the solution.
My hypothesis was correct, if we add nutrients to the solution there will be more phytoplankton. I believe the solution that will grow the fastest would be nutrients and iron but ask you can see it started to go down percentage wise. Phytoplankton need a boost in nutrients to help them grow mainly nitrogen and phosphorous. I learned that nutrients is an essential factor to the ecosystem but in this experiment mainly to phytoplankton. Phytoplankton need a lot of light so the make/produce oxygen. In the data I noticed the difference of not adding nutrients and adding nutrients. If people were to stop adding nutrients to phytoplankton then their population will decrease and if one species is decreasing it will eventually destroy the entire ecosystem making a drastic change in our lives. Some of the pro's of iron fertilization would be that it eradicates the atmospheric carbon cycle, phytoplankton will grow and algae will receive iron nutrition and absorb carbon dioxide. Some of the cons of iron fertilization is that algae species that give species a rise to red tides will disturb marine ecosystem. Another con is that the increase of phytoplankton can produce toxics thus killing some aquatic animals.