Acid Rain vs Daphnia E Fair Ideas for Science Fair Projects

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Acid rain vs daphnia e fair ideas for science fair projects begins at acid rain impacts science fair projects.

Name: Michelle
Grade Level 7th
Awards: Mid-Columbia Science Fair. Award of Distinction for Scientific Thought. Washington State Science and Engineering Fair,first place trophy .

PURPOSE

The 1st purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of acid rain exposure time on the survival rate of daphnia.

The 2nd purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of different pH levels on the survival rate of daphnia.

I became interested in this idea when we studied acid rain last year and went on a field trip in which I learned that the burning of coal is one way that acid rain forms.  

The information gained from this experiment will benefit power plant and factory owners because they will be aware of the effect of the chemicals that they are emitting into the air has on daphnia. It will also benefit automobile makers, so they can make automobiles that don’t harm the environment as much. It will affect all people, because a lower survival rate in daphnia would disrupt the food chain.

HYPOTHESIS

My first hypothesis was that the survival rate of the daphnia would decrease as exposure time to acid rain was increased.

My second hypothesis was that the survival rate of the daphnia would decrease as the pH levels got more acidic.

I based both of my hypotheses on an article in World Book Encyclopedia that stated, “Acid rain harms thousands of lakes, rivers, and streams worldwide, killing fish and other wildlife. ”

EXPERIMENT DESIGN

The constants in this study were:

•  Amount of acid
•  Number of daphnia in each group
•  Temperature of water
•  Type of water 
•  Type of container 
•  Shape of container 
•  Size of container
•  Testing procedures
•  Amount of testing time
•  Time of day
•  Species of daphnia
•  Amount of light
•  Temperature of air
•  Type of acid 
•  Temperature of acid
•  Location of testing

The manipulated variable was the daphnias’ exposure time to the acid rain.

The responding variable was the survival rate of the daphnia.  

To measure the responding variable I counted the surviving daphnia by viewing their heartbeat with a jeweler’s loupe.

MATERIALS

PROCEDURES

  I. Setting Up
1) Label each side of two petri dishes, “pH 7. 5. ” This is your control group.
2) Label each side of two more petri dishes, “pH 6. 5. ”
3) Label each side of two petri dishes, “pH 5. 5. ”
4) Label each side of the last two petri dishes, “pH 4. 5. ”
5) Add 8 daphnia to each petri dish by using an eyedropper.  

II. Conducting the Experiment
1) Pour 5 ml of the 7. 5 PH solution into each side of the two petri dishes labeled, “pH 7. 5. ”
2) Using a jeweler’s loupe, check the daphnia’s heartbeat. Count the number of living daphnia and record that number on your data sheet.
3) Pour 5 ml of the 6. 5 PH solution into each side of the two petri dishes labeled, “pH 6. 5” using a graduated cylinder.  
4) Repeat step 2.
5) Pour 5 ml of the 5. 5 PH solution into each side of the two petri dishes labeled, “pH 5. 5” using a graduated cylinder.  
6) Repeat step 2.
7) Pour 5 ml of the 4. 5 PH solution into each side of the two petri dishes labeled, “pH 5. 0” using a graduated cylinder.
8) Repeat step 2.
9) Wait 15 minutes.
10) Repeat step 2 for each petri dish.
11) Repeat steps 9 and 10 until it has been an hour since the first time you checked.
12) Wait an hour and repeat steps 9 and 10.
13) Wait two more hours.
14) Repeat steps 9 and 10.
15) Wait 4 more hours.
16) Repeat steps 9 and 10.

RESULTS

The first original purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of acid rain exposure time on the survival rate of daphnia.

The second original purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of different levels of pH on the survival rate of daphnia.

The results of the experiment were that the survival rate of the daphnia decreased as the exposure time increased, but only in the group that was the most acidic. The 7. 5, 6. 5, and 5. 5 acids did not decrease the survival rate of the daphnia exposed to them. After the total 8 hours, out of eight, the average number of surviving daphnia in the 7. 5 (control) group was 8, 8 in the 6. 5 group, 8 in the 5. 5 group, and 6 in the 4. 5 group.  

CONCLUSION

My first hypothesis was that the daphnia survival rate would decrease as exposure time to acid rain increased.

My second hypothesis was that the survival rate would decrease as the pH levels got more acidic.

The results indicate that these hypotheses should be accepted. After one hour, one of the daphnia was dead and more died as time passed. More of the daphnia died in the pH 4. 5 group, which was the most acidic.

Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if other pollutants such as antifreeze or oil would affect daphnia. Also, I wonder if the temperature of the liquid would affect the results.

If I were to conduct this project again I would use more daphnia and check the number of surviving daphnia over 24 hours instead of eight. Abstract