Observations of Protists and Zooplankton in Algae and Different Flow Rates of Water

Mark Miller, Jim Fuller, Katie Pesicka

Biology 6period 5-11-97

Hypothesis

Question: Are protists/zooplankton found in greater abundance within green algae, brown algea, or no algae? And in what flow rate are they most likely to be found?

Hypothesis: If protists/zooplankton are found in great abundance in green algae and slow moving water, then our experimental samples of green algae, non-turbulantal water, will have protitsts/zooplankton and the control group of brown algae/no algae, rapid water, will not have any present.

Background Information

The simple, animal-like organisms that make up the kingdom Protista are called protozoans. They were once thought to be the first animals to appear on Earth. The term protozoan comes from the Greek words protos, meaning "first," and zoion, meaning "animal." Although protozoans are often called one-celled animals, many biologists prefer to call them acellular or noncellular protistas, neither plant nor animal. About 50,000 species of protozoans have been identified. New protozoans are being found at the rate of one new species per day.

Protozoans are eukaryotic organisms. This means that they have a distinct nucleus. Most protozoans are too small to be seen without the aid of a microscope. Their shapes vary, but all protozoa have several features in common: a nucleus or several nuclei; mitochondria, bodies that perform special metabolic functions; vacuoles, which perform a number of functions, including digestion and water elimination; and other particles and organelles.

Because they thrive on moisture, protozoans are found worldwide in moist soil, fresh water, and oceans. Some exist as parasites inside the bodies of larger animals. Certain parasitic protozoans cause disease in humans and other animals.

Each protozoan is a complete living unit. It feeds, excretes, grows, and reproduces. Many protozoans have special structures that help them move. Protozoans are classified into five phyla according to differences in method of locomotion, number of nuclei, type of organelles, life cycle, and mode of reproduction.

Ciliata. The phylum Ciliata includes protozoans that are characterized by a covering of short, hairlike structures called cilia. The cilia move in wavelike patterns and are used like oars to propel the organism. Ciliates have cell membranes. The cytoplasm, or cell material, of these protozoans is dotted with small pouches called vacuoles. Some vacuoles digest food and other vacuoles expel water. The latter squeeze out water and are therefore called contractile vacuoles. The paramecium is a member of the phylum Ciliata.

Cnidospora. The phylum Cnidospora comprises a group of protozoans that are parasites of insects and other arthropods, worms, and fishes. They are characterized by their walled spores, which have hollow polar filaments. The structures of these spores are used to differentiate among classes.

Mastigophora. Protozoans in the phylum Mastigophora have characteristic whiplike structures called flagella. These protozoans propel themselves by the lashing motion of their flagella. Mastigophorans also have cell membranes and both types of vacuoles. These protozoans may be solitary, colonial, free-living, or parasitic.

Sarcodina. Members of the phylum Sarcodina include free-living protozoans having pseudopods, or "false feet." A thin, flexible membrane contains their almost-liquid mass. It is easy, therefore, for parts of this mass to flow. When the protozoan is stimulated to move, a finger like projection oozes from its body. This is the pseudopod. The remainder of the organism flows into the extending pseudopod. Sarcodines also have vacuoles. The most commonly known member of this group is the amoeba.

Sporozoa. Members of the phylum Sporozoa are spore-producing and parasitic, but they lack contractile vacuoles and locomotor processes. They move passively and anchor themselves firmly inside the organism they invade. They feed by absorbing fluids, such as blood, from the animal in which they live. In humans, a sporozoan in the genus Plasm odium causes malaria.

Experimental Process

We went to the Arroyo del Valle and collected samples from 13 locations along the bank of the creek. The first few days we maped out locations for our samples and took our first sample. We tested the sample in class the next day, but found nothing. Mr. Thiel said they didn't survive because they were out of thier natural habitat for an extended period of time. We then concluded to take a mirror-microscope to the Arroyo del Valle with us in order to test the samples as quickly as possible to determine their existance in the creek. Since we had no luck finding anything the first time, we went back to our first location to test new samples. We put some algae in with the water sample and proceeded to search for protists. With the aid of Mr. Thiel we found some cyclops. We continued to the other twelve spots and repeated this process of gathering samples.

Tables/Graphs/Charts

site#	turbulence	water depth	water temp	air temp	pH	Characteristics	findings
1	none	13cm	19C		7 1/2	under Eucalyptus tree,	Daphnia
2	very slow	45cm	19C	26C	7	lots of green algae & plants	cyclops,cyphdopsis, chydorus
3	rapid	15cm	19C	22C	7 1/2	rocks, eucalyptus	cyclops
4	slow	64cm	19C	26C	7	green algae	sida,chydorous,daphnia, camptocercus
5	very slow	69cm	19.5C	29C	7	branches in water	none
6	none	4cm	20C	30C	7	lots branches in water, no algae	none
7	none	17cm	20C	28C	7	green algae small plants	cypridopsis, camptocercus
8	none	5cm	20C	26C	7 1/2	small plants green algae	chydorus, cyphidopsus
9	rapid	16cm	20C	30C	7	rocky, w/ green plants	none
10	moderate	14.5cm	19C	32C	7 1/2	brown algae	Cypridopsis
11	moderate	2cm	19C	24C	7	brown algae, sun	daphnia, cyphidopsis
12	very rapid	20cm	18C	22C	7	green algae	none
13	very slow	58cm	21C	38C	7	lots of vegitation, green algae	Camptocerus, Cypridopsis, Cyclops

To see a graph of species found, click here

Conclusions

Our hypothesis was proven both correct and incorrect by our gathered data. We thought protists/zooplankton would be found in calm water with green algae in it. We found that it was found in those cicumstances as well as in slow moving water with brown algae. We were unfortunatly ignorant of their presence in water with brown algae until we comenced with this project. It also would have been helpful to know the life span of protists/zooplankton when not in their native habitat. If we did another project involving protists/zooplankton, we would try to find a lot more background information to know more about where they in an environment such as the Arroyo del Valle

Bibliography

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