Final Product Science Lab Write-up

SCIENCE LAB WRITE-UP
Introduction:Shanti Gould
8-23-07
We are going to be testing the abundance of plankton between the Kihei Boat Ramp and Ho’okipa. There are two major types of plankton, zooplankton and phytoplankton. Zooplankton is animal plankton and phytoplankton is plant plankton. There are many different types of zooplankton and phytoplankton. Copepods and worms are species of zooplankton and in our experiment we will be comparing the number of copepods and worms with the temperature in each testing area. We are doing this to see whether Ho’okipa or the Kihei Boat Ramp has a higher abundance of zooplankton and what role the temperature of the water plays in this. The abundance of plankton will help us to discover which testing area has a higher food supply for marine animals. Studies have been done regarding the plankton amount and water temperature and it was found that the amount of picophytoplankton is greatest in warm nutrient poor water. This study was conducted by Nona S. R. Agawin, Carlos M. Duarte, and Susana Agusti in May of 2000.

Question and Hypothesis:
From doing this study I hope to learn the temperature of the water that plankton thrive in.
After researching this topic I believe that plankton will be more abundant in warmer waters were nutrients are low. So I believe that there will be more plankton at the Kihei Boat Ramp.

Procedure:
1. Collect samples by dragging plankton net through water by dock, walk along the dock three times back and forth at Kihei Boat Ramp.
2. Pour sample from plankton net into sample bottle by opening the bottom of the net.
3. Record water temperature in degrees Celsius by using thermometer.
4. Record salinity using hand held Refractometer in ppt.
5. Record turbidity using turbidity tube and Secchi disk.
6. Take sample bottle and supplies back to lab.
7. Put sample bottle in refrigerator for overnight storage.
8. Retrieve sample bottle from refrigerator.
9. Turn sample bottle upside down two times.
10. Pour sample into Petri dish so that entire bottom of Petri dish is covered.
11. Set up digital microscope and turn on.
12. Place a blank white sheet of paper under microscope lens.
13. Place microscope tray under lens but on top of blank sheet of paper.
14. Put two drops of Detain into microscope tray.
15. Put 200 mag. lens onto microscope.
16. Adjust microscope so that picture is clear.
17. Observe sample of plankton from Kihei Boat Ramp.
18. Record data of findings.
19. Take sample out from under microscope and pour sample into beaker.
20. Repeat steps 5-13 for Hookipa plankton sample.
21. Observe sample of plankton from Hookipa.
22. Record data of findings.
23. Take sample out from under microscope and pour sample into beaker.
24. Create data chart (in personal science journal)

Data and Results:
Our results showed that the average number of copepods at the Kihei Boat Ramp was 564 copepods per tray and that the average number of copepods at Ho’okipa was 12 copepods per tray. The salinity at Ho’okipa was 35ppt and the water temperature was 25.2 degrees Celsius. The salinity at Kihei Boat Ramp was 32ppt and the water temperature was 28.3 degrees Celsius.

Discussion:
Copepods are more plentiful at the Kihei Boat Ramp. Our results showed us that plankton are more abundant were the water temperature is warmer. The water temperature at the Kihei boat Ramp was warmer than the water temperature at Ho’okipa. Our study agrees with the study done by Nona S. R. Agawin, Carlos M. Duarte, and Susana Agusti in May of 2000. This agrees with my hypothesis that was based on the previous study.