Limiting Nutrient and Algal Growth: Designing an Individualized Student Project
Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2013, Volume 34
Kuei-Chiu Chen
Abstract
In this original research project, students chose one of the design options to determine the limiting nutrient in an aquatic system. A ‘plant pot' method involves filling porous plant pots with agar and a nutrient mixture. The plant pots were then placed in clear cups containing pond or stream water. Spectrophotometry was used to estimate chlorophyll a concentration to estimate algal growth. In another design, students grew Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in defined media or natural water enriched with specific nutrients in test tubes. They estimated cell density using a hemocytometer or spectrophotometry and conducted statistical tests. Finally students produced a research paper from this study.
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