Amy Alter Erika Pike

Lake Shore High School

Background Information

• Elodea densa– Water plant

• Carassius auratus– Common goldfish

Background Information

• Nitrogen cycle

Fish Waste NO2

Nitrite

NO3

Nitrate

Plant Fertilizer

Nitrate Buildup

NO3

Ammonia

Plant Waste

Problem Statement

• How does the presence of a goldfish (Carassius auratus) affect the percent of chloroplasts in Elodea densa?

Hypothesis

• If a goldfish (Carassius auratus) is placed with Elodea (Elodea densa), then the elodea will have more chloroplasts than elodea grown without a goldfish

Materials

• 60 Goldfish• 84 Regular-Quart

Mason Jars• 150 Pieces of Elodea

densa• Centrifuge• 0.5M Sucrose Solution• Metric Balance• Mortar

• Pestle• Cheese Cloth• Glass Funnel• Centrifuge Tubes• Sharp Sand• 25mL-Graduated

Cylinder• 10mL-Graduated

Cylinder

Goldfish

Materials

• 60 Goldfish• 60 Regular-Quart

Mason Jars• 150 Pieces of Elodea

densa• Centrifuge• 0.5M Sucrose Solution• Metric Balance• Mortar

• Pestle

Mortar and Pestle

Cheese Cloth

Glass Funnel

Materials

• 60 Goldfish• 60 Regular-Quart

Mason Jars• 150 Pieces of Elodea

densa• Centrifuge• 0.5M Sucrose Solution• Metric Balance• Mortar

• Pestle• Cheese Cloth• Glass Funnel• Centrifuge Tubes• Sharp Sand• 25mL-Graduated

Cylinder• 10mL-Graduated

Cylinder

10mL-Graduated Cylinder

ProcedureJar Preparation

1. Label 30 jars with “Control” and the jar number, 30 jars with “Experimental” and the jar number, and 24 jars with “Experimental extra” and the jar number

2. Dechlorinate tap water following the directions on the bottle of Insto-Chlor and add 1 quart (800mL) of water to each jar.

3. Mass out approximately 4.0g of Elodea and place in all jars

4. Mass out the goldfish, place goldfish weighing between 1.0 and 2.0 grams in all 30 of the experimental jar and all 24 of the experimental extra jars

5. Place all 60 jars near a light source, such as under a light or near a window.

Procedure1. Place centrifuge tubes, graduated cylinders,

and sucrose solution in an ice bath to keep them cold

2. Mass the test tube to be used in the trial3. Grind plant into a paste

Procedure

4. Slowly add sucrose solution

Procedure

5. Filter the pulp into centrifuge tube

Procedure

6. Place the centrifuge tube in the centrifuge

7. Spin for five minutes

8. Decant the top 5mL

9. Spin for fifteen minutes

10. Pour off any remaining liquid

Procedure

11. Mass the test tube with the chloroplast pellet

12. Subtract the mass of the test tube from the mass of the test tube with the pellet to find out the weight of the chloroplast pellet

Data and Observations

• Day 7: all Experimental and Control jars moved

• After day 11, when fish died the jar was removed and replaced by an experimental extra jar

• All fish were fed approximately every other day

Data and Observations

• Plants in experimental jars were greener and crisper than those in the control jars– The pulp was also greener that the pulp of the

control jars

Data Analysis and Interpretation

Data Analysis and Interpretation

• t=((mean1)(mean2))/√(((SD1)2/N1)((SD2)2/N2))

• Our Formula– t=((6.07)(4.97))/√(((4.31)2/30)((1.68)2/30))

• null hypothesis (H0)

– µ1= µ2

• Alternative hypothesis (Ha)

– µ1< µ2

Error

• Lack of time– Bacteria did not build up to complete the

nitrogen cycle• Ammonia build-up

• Insufficient light

• Centrifuge speed

• Fish are not predictable

• Feeder goldfish

Conclusion

• How does the presence of a goldfish (Carassius auratus) affect the percent of chloroplasts in Elodea densa?

• If a goldfish (Carassius auratus) is

placed with Elodea (Elodea densa), then

the elodea will have more chloroplasts

than elodea grown without a goldfish

Real Life Applications

• Low-maintenance planted aquariums

• Nitrogen Cycle

• Fertilizers

• Goldfish’s ability to survive in small environments

Further Experimentation

• Different fish with the same set-up– Betta splenden

• Larger containers

• Filtration on containers

• Different comparisons– Fertilizers– Fish

Acknowledgements

• Ms. DeMaria

• Mrs. Moore

• Ms. Pike

• Cynthia Anthony

• Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder

• Mr. Supal

• Mr. Estapa

Picture Acknowledgements

• http://www.dewinters.nl/english/fishes/Betta%20splendens.htm

• http://www.goldfishutopia.net/gallery/kablah/• http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?

PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441776829&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030112&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1104255833546

• http://www.hoftiezer.net/personal/aquaria/images/20030428_front_04_small.jpg

• http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=28603&category_id=3349&pcid1=

• http://www.hebs.scot.nhs.uk/library/img/chiMaA01.jpg