Question

A student turned in the following protocol to determine the effect of pH on the rate of emergence of ocean dwelling water bears from their capsules. The directions that were given were to provide a procedure detailed enough that could be used by any student in the class. Students were told that the pH of seawater ranges from 7.5-8.4. There are several problems with this protocol. List each problem then explain how you would change the protocol to solve the problem.

Protocol: One diapausing marine animal was placed in a cup of tap water and the water was stirred until the animal fully emerged from the capsule. The time it took for the animal to emerge was recorded. The experiment was repeated with tap water at different pH’s.

Answer 1

The water bear is also known by various names. likes moss piglets, and tardigrades. They are found in the depths of the sea and in the flame of the soil and from tropical rainforests to the Antarctic. It is an animal living in a quiet place.

They are able to survive even in the most adverse circumstances. Whatever the circumstances may be. for example, extreme temperatures, extreme pressures (both high and low), air deprivation, radiation, dehydration, and starvation—that would quickly kill most other known forms of life.

Talking about the components of seawater, hydrogen, chlorine, oxygen, Potassium, Sulfate, Sodium, and Magnesium is present in it. Apart from this, there are a lot of minor components such as Strontium, Nitrogen, Boron, Silicon, and Bromine are present. Each of these compounds impacts on aquatic life. The behavior of a single marine animal is different at different pH. Some different marine organisms/animals use carbon dioxide to live.

-Carbon dioxide is dissolved in the seawater in the form of bicarbonate.

-dioxide dissolves in seawater in the form of bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions. This increase in hydrogen ions is what decreases the pH.  In addition, some of the hydrogens combine with different carbonates to form maximum bicarbonate, decreasing the concentration of carbonate in seawater. Many different types of marine organisms use carbonate, combined with calcium, to form their exoskeletons, shells, or other structure. The experiment was repeated with tap water at different pH’s. And in such a case, the behavior of marine organisms at different ph is different. When the ph is in its favorite condition, it will remain inside the capsule, but as soon as the ph is more highly ph or more acidic, it will start migrating from its place. Along with the pH change of the medium, it is giving stress to the organism through stirred here. If the pH of tap water is 7.5, 8.0, 8.4, the organism will feel more comfortable in capsule, as soon as the pH is below or above it, the organism/sea animal will feel stressed and the will come out from the capsule.