Algae Research Supply Understanding Algae Blooms: 25 Students, 7-21 Days, 3 Student

Description

Size:NO Culture Tubes Objective: Students will use the scientific method to learn about the importance of algae in aquatic systems: the process of photosynthesis, algae's role in the food web, algae's sensitivity to water quality, and algae's impact on water quality through events like harmful algal blooms (HABs). This lesson offers endless opportunities for discussions on topics like nutrient acquisition, effects of climate change, human impacts and nutrient pollution, dead zones and HAB’s, aquaculture, resource limitations, trophic transfers, predator prey interactions, and much more. Activity: This can be a multi-day (3-20 days) activity that, after the first day, can be touched on each day for as little as 10 minutes or as long as 30 minutes each time depending on the age and attention of your audience and the amount of time available. For this activity, each student will have their own culture tube to grow their own algae. The first day will be an introduction to their algae culture, their process of photosynthesis, the way algae grow and the ways we measure growth. Following days activities include a discussion on algae as well as data collection. At the conclusion of the project the student will plot data showing classic "batch culture" cycle of an algae bloom and be able to discuss changes in physical, chemical, and biological properties in water.