Virtual Urchin Lab
Essential Question: The ocean covers 2/3 of the planet- Is it really possible that humans are changing the chemistry of the ocean?
Yes, it is possible that humans are changing the chemistry of the ocean
1. Carbon in the Air: What does the graph of atmospheric Carbon Dioxide tell us?
The graph of atmospheric Carbon Dioxide tells us how much atmospheric carbon dioxide is being released into the air each year.
2. pH Scale: Where do some common items fall on the pH scale? Take a screenshot of your final answers and paste below:
Yes, it is possible that humans are changing the chemistry of the ocean
1. Carbon in the Air: What does the graph of atmospheric Carbon Dioxide tell us?
The graph of atmospheric Carbon Dioxide tells us how much atmospheric carbon dioxide is being released into the air each year.
2. pH Scale: Where do some common items fall on the pH scale? Take a screenshot of your final answers and paste below:
3. Ocean pH: How might it change? A change from 8.2 to 8.1 on the pH scale is a 30% increase in acidity.
4. Carbon in the Water: Explain what happens to Carbon in ocean water.
Carbon in the ocean water turns into carbonic acid.
5. Exploring Carbon Levels and Effects: Look over the interactive and describe what happens at each of the levels.
Optimistic- The H+ ions are not large in 2090.
Middle Ground- It's a bit balanced here, but the coral isn't really thick.
Pessimistic- There are lots of carbon here, with the coral becoming as thin as a stick.
6. Diversity of live in the Sea: Sort each of the organisms into Calcifiers or Non-Calcifiers. Take a screenshot of your final answer.
4. Carbon in the Water: Explain what happens to Carbon in ocean water.
Carbon in the ocean water turns into carbonic acid.
5. Exploring Carbon Levels and Effects: Look over the interactive and describe what happens at each of the levels.
Optimistic- The H+ ions are not large in 2090.
Middle Ground- It's a bit balanced here, but the coral isn't really thick.
Pessimistic- There are lots of carbon here, with the coral becoming as thin as a stick.
6. Diversity of live in the Sea: Sort each of the organisms into Calcifiers or Non-Calcifiers. Take a screenshot of your final answer.
7. Echinoderms Life Cycles and Skeletons: Describe the life cycle of Echinoderms and explain why they are so sensitive to changes in pH.
Echinoderms first start out as an embryo with no methods of protection. Soon after this, the embryos turn into young sea urchin larva, where it floats along with the plankton and eats microscopic algae. Soon, the larva begins to form its necessary body parts on the left side. After the metamorphosis, the larva sinks, and a juvenile crawls out. From there, it depends on its hard parts for protection when it's growing up. After a year, the juvenile finally becomes an adult. These Echinoderms are sensitive to the changes in pH because they need Calcium Carbonate in the water to build their shells. If the pH in the water changes, then the Echinoderms will have a hard time to build their shells for protection.
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?
Ocean acidification impacts sea urchins in the larval stage by possibly hindering how the shells will develop.
Echinoderms first start out as an embryo with no methods of protection. Soon after this, the embryos turn into young sea urchin larva, where it floats along with the plankton and eats microscopic algae. Soon, the larva begins to form its necessary body parts on the left side. After the metamorphosis, the larva sinks, and a juvenile crawls out. From there, it depends on its hard parts for protection when it's growing up. After a year, the juvenile finally becomes an adult. These Echinoderms are sensitive to the changes in pH because they need Calcium Carbonate in the water to build their shells. If the pH in the water changes, then the Echinoderms will have a hard time to build their shells for protection.
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?
Ocean acidification impacts sea urchins in the larval stage by possibly hindering how the shells will develop.
Welcome to the Ocean Acidification Lab!
1. Look at the first slide under the microscope- Describe what you see.
What I see is a circle that kind of looks like an eye. There seems to be something little particles towards the right side of the circle.
2. 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 pH values for this experiment because pH 8.1 reflects the pH level today, and pH 7.7 reflects the pH level at the end of the century.
4: What happens to the pH of the first sample when Carbon Dioxide is added? Explain.
The pH of the first sample becomes lower.
5: Complete the rest of the procedures to prepare slides for study.
6: After making measurements- Find the AVERAGE of each data set
Take a screen shot of the data data/graphs and paste below:
What I see is a circle that kind of looks like an eye. There seems to be something little particles towards the right side of the circle.
2. 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 pH values for this experiment because pH 8.1 reflects the pH level today, and pH 7.7 reflects the pH level at the end of the century.
4: What happens to the pH of the first sample when Carbon Dioxide is added? Explain.
The pH of the first sample becomes lower.
5: Complete the rest of the procedures to prepare slides for study.
6: After making measurements- Find the AVERAGE of each data set
Take a screen shot of the data data/graphs and paste below:
Discuss what your data showed: So What?
If this keeps going, the population of the adult sea urchin would lower, causing less sea urchins.
Conclusion: What would these changes do to the adult Sea Urchin population?
These changes would put the adult sea urchin population lower.
How would that effect other organisms that depend on these organisms as a source of food? (Sea Otters)?
This would make the other organisms try to find another source of food or starve.
What did you learn about Ocean Acidification? Discuss.
Ocean Acidification
If this keeps going, the population of the adult sea urchin would lower, causing less sea urchins.
Conclusion: What would these changes do to the adult Sea Urchin population?
These changes would put the adult sea urchin population lower.
How would that effect other organisms that depend on these organisms as a source of food? (Sea Otters)?
This would make the other organisms try to find another source of food or starve.
What did you learn about Ocean Acidification? Discuss.
Ocean Acidification