VIRTUAL URCHIN LAB.
Marine Science: Virtual Urchin Lab (Ocean Acidification)
http://virtualurchin.stanford.edu/AcidOcean/AcidOcean.htm
Essential Question: The ocean covers 2/3 of the planet- Is it really
possible that humans are changing the chemistry of the ocean?
Apparently.
1: Carbon in the Air: What does the graph of atmospheric Carbon
Dioxide tell us?
The graph tells us that the amount of C02 in the atmosphere has increased from 315 ppm- 400 ppm. in 45 years
2: pH Scale: Where do some common items fall on the pH scale? Take a screen shot of your
final answers and paste below:
ok.
3: Ocean pH: How might it change? A change from 8.2 to 8.1 on the pH scale is a _______ %
increase in acidity.
A change from 8.2 to 8.1 is a huge 30% increase.
4: Carbon in the Water: Explain what happens to Carbon in ocean water.
Carbon is absorbed in and dissolves into ocean water from the atmosphere or surface pollutants. It acidifies it.
5: Exploring Carbon Levels and Effects: Look over the interactive and describe what happens
at each of the levels:
Scenario 1: Optimistic (2070)
C02 is only 500 ppm and shells have only shrunk about 30%, thanks to greener tech. and conservation. ph of 7.8
Scenario 2: Middle Ground
C02 is at 611 ppm, and coral and shells are almost 50% thinner, marine life struggles, so do we. Ph of about 7.7
Scenario 3: Pessimistic
C02 is at 700 parts-per-million, and we are all going to die because plankton can't form shells. Ph of 7.4
6: Diversity of Life in the Sea: Sort each of the organisms into Calcifiers or Non-Calcifiers.
Take a screenshot of your final answer and paste below:
ok!
7: Echinoderms Life Cycles and Skeletons: Describe the life cycle of Echinoderms and explain
why they are so sensitive to changes in pH.
Echinoderms (starfish) start out as bi-cellular embryos, and are released into the ocean. as they develop, they become larger larvae and eat algae like phytoplankton. It is at this stage that Starfish begin to take calcium and ions from the water and develop skeletal-like shells around them. If the surrounding water is too acidic, then they will not have enough calcium to grow shells. And they would die.
8: How to Study Ocean Acidification in the Lab- How may ocean acidification impact Sea
Urchins in the larval stage? Can you think of any other possible acidification impacts on marine
organisms other than calcification?
The acidic water will not allow the formation of skeletal structures, so the urchin will not grow.
Welcome to the Ocean Acidification Lab!
1: Complete the pre-lab certification.
.
2: Look at the first slide under the microscope- Describe what you see.
I see a few very small cells in the drop of algae. Nothing else.
3: Fill two flasks with sea water and label them with “pH 7.7” and “pH 8.1”. Explain why we are using these two pH values for this experiment.
We are using these two numbers because 8.1 is today's ocean's acidity, and 7.7 is the future's.
4: What happens to the pH of the first sample when Carbon Dioxide is added? Explain.
the Ph goes down, making it more acidic.
5: Complete the rest of the procedures to prepare slides for study
done.
After Preparing All Slides Correctly:
GO to: Urchin Larval Measurement Exercise
6: After making measurements- Find the AVERAGE of each data set
Average: 460 for the 7.7 pH set
and 510 for the 8.1 pH set.
Take a screen shot of the data data/graphs and paste below:
ok.
Discuss what your data showed: So What?
My data showed that the size of the larval arms (which are used for feeding) shrunk significantly when the acidity is increased. This means that it will be harder for se urchins to eat, disrupting the marine food chain.
Conclusion: What would these changes do to the adult Sea Urchin population?
These changes would ultimately cause the extinction or at least mass decreases in the Sea Urchin population.
How would that effect other organisms that depend on these organisms as a source of food?
(Sea Otters)? Organisms that eat Sea Urchins would die also.
What did you learn about Ocean Acidification? Discuss.
I learned that when even a tiny part of the ocean's delicate ecosystem is disrupted, it effects all living organisms. (sometimes). ENJOY THE SLIDESHOW. (congrats one is pre-lab checklist)
http://virtualurchin.stanford.edu/AcidOcean/AcidOcean.htm
Essential Question: The ocean covers 2/3 of the planet- Is it really
possible that humans are changing the chemistry of the ocean?
Apparently.
1: Carbon in the Air: What does the graph of atmospheric Carbon
Dioxide tell us?
The graph tells us that the amount of C02 in the atmosphere has increased from 315 ppm- 400 ppm. in 45 years
2: pH Scale: Where do some common items fall on the pH scale? Take a screen shot of your
final answers and paste below:
ok.
3: Ocean pH: How might it change? A change from 8.2 to 8.1 on the pH scale is a _______ %
increase in acidity.
A change from 8.2 to 8.1 is a huge 30% increase.
4: Carbon in the Water: Explain what happens to Carbon in ocean water.
Carbon is absorbed in and dissolves into ocean water from the atmosphere or surface pollutants. It acidifies it.
5: Exploring Carbon Levels and Effects: Look over the interactive and describe what happens
at each of the levels:
Scenario 1: Optimistic (2070)
C02 is only 500 ppm and shells have only shrunk about 30%, thanks to greener tech. and conservation. ph of 7.8
Scenario 2: Middle Ground
C02 is at 611 ppm, and coral and shells are almost 50% thinner, marine life struggles, so do we. Ph of about 7.7
Scenario 3: Pessimistic
C02 is at 700 parts-per-million, and we are all going to die because plankton can't form shells. Ph of 7.4
6: Diversity of Life in the Sea: Sort each of the organisms into Calcifiers or Non-Calcifiers.
Take a screenshot of your final answer and paste below:
ok!
7: Echinoderms Life Cycles and Skeletons: Describe the life cycle of Echinoderms and explain
why they are so sensitive to changes in pH.
Echinoderms (starfish) start out as bi-cellular embryos, and are released into the ocean. as they develop, they become larger larvae and eat algae like phytoplankton. It is at this stage that Starfish begin to take calcium and ions from the water and develop skeletal-like shells around them. If the surrounding water is too acidic, then they will not have enough calcium to grow shells. And they would die.
8: How to Study Ocean Acidification in the Lab- How may ocean acidification impact Sea
Urchins in the larval stage? Can you think of any other possible acidification impacts on marine
organisms other than calcification?
The acidic water will not allow the formation of skeletal structures, so the urchin will not grow.
Welcome to the Ocean Acidification Lab!
1: Complete the pre-lab certification.
.
2: Look at the first slide under the microscope- Describe what you see.
I see a few very small cells in the drop of algae. Nothing else.
3: Fill two flasks with sea water and label them with “pH 7.7” and “pH 8.1”. Explain why we are using these two pH values for this experiment.
We are using these two numbers because 8.1 is today's ocean's acidity, and 7.7 is the future's.
4: What happens to the pH of the first sample when Carbon Dioxide is added? Explain.
the Ph goes down, making it more acidic.
5: Complete the rest of the procedures to prepare slides for study
done.
After Preparing All Slides Correctly:
GO to: Urchin Larval Measurement Exercise
6: After making measurements- Find the AVERAGE of each data set
Average: 460 for the 7.7 pH set
and 510 for the 8.1 pH set.
Take a screen shot of the data data/graphs and paste below:
ok.
Discuss what your data showed: So What?
My data showed that the size of the larval arms (which are used for feeding) shrunk significantly when the acidity is increased. This means that it will be harder for se urchins to eat, disrupting the marine food chain.
Conclusion: What would these changes do to the adult Sea Urchin population?
These changes would ultimately cause the extinction or at least mass decreases in the Sea Urchin population.
How would that effect other organisms that depend on these organisms as a source of food?
(Sea Otters)? Organisms that eat Sea Urchins would die also.
What did you learn about Ocean Acidification? Discuss.
I learned that when even a tiny part of the ocean's delicate ecosystem is disrupted, it effects all living organisms. (sometimes). ENJOY THE SLIDESHOW. (congrats one is pre-lab checklist)