Marine Biome Experiments

Algal Blooms

• Algal blooms are a crucial topic in environmental and marine science due to their disastrous effects on ocean life and seawater quality. Demonstrating how they form is an effective method of showing students the major factors that influence their occurrence and duration. Materials needed to grow a bloom include an algal culture, saltwater, covered glass vessels, light and liquid fertilizer. Varying the amount of light and fertilizer for each setup will yield different results in terms of color, opacity, average cell count and even smell. Examples of other variables that may be introduced include different types of fertilizer, other sources of phosphates, multiple algae species and temperature and salinity variations.

Phytoplankton

• Phytoplankton experiments resemble algal bloom simulations closely in that the growth rate of both organisms can be clearly and easily visualized. Gathering phytoplankton is also relatively simple, as an average sample of seawater is bound to contain some. The effect of iron concentration on its growth rate and the subsequent effects on oxygen and carbon dioxide levels is one simple, straightforward example of an experiment involving phytoplankton. This can serve as an introductory lesson to topics such as the marine biome food chain and even global warming.

Ocean Acidification

• Ocean acidification is yet another topic closely tied in with global warming, as an increase in the oceans' dissolved carbon dioxide concentration decreases the water's pH. The effect of ocean acidification on marine life is best illustrated on shellfish such as clams or mussels, whose shells slowly erode in acidic environments. Exposing their shells to seawater of varying acidity for a prolonged period will gradually show its effects in a decrease in mass. This experiment is best conducted with small shell fragments to increase the surface area in contact with the water. Possible modifications to this experiment include varying the temperature and the shellfish species used.

Common Ocean Pollutants

• Ocean pollutants cover a huge class of substances with dire effects on marine plants and animals, and can be a goldmine of topics for marine biome experiments. Common pollutants to which sample species can be exposed include antifreeze, sulfonates and motor oil. These experiments are easiest to carry out on plankton, and the main response variable would be its death rate under varying concentrations of the pollutants.