Virtual Urchin Lab
1. Carbon in the Air: What does the graph of the atmospheric Carbon Dioxide tell us?
We are using more fossil fuels and we have an increase in Global Warming.
2. Where do some common items fall on the pH scale?
Take a screen shot of your final answers and paste below.
We are using more fossil fuels and we have an increase in Global Warming.
2. Where do some common items fall on the pH scale?
Take a screen shot of your final answers and paste below.
3. Ocean pH: How might it change?
A change from 8.2-8.1 on the pH scale is a 30%.increase in acidity. Earthquakes can cause the scale to be richer.
4. Carbon in the water: Explain what happens to Carbon In Ocean water.
It turns into carbonic acid, then the carbonic acid breaks down into bicarbonate and carbonate molecules, the extra (H+) ions shift towards bicarbonate. Carbon is then added onto the formula, which turns into CaCo3 (calcium carbonate).
5. Look over the interactive and describe what happens at each of the levels:
Scenario 1: Optimistic- Somewhat still thick coral over time, the base of the water gets more neutral which means more acid is being onto the scale. CO2 releases in slow amounts.
Scenario 2: Middle Ground- CO2 releases in higher values. pH starts at 8,17 and also turns neutral as years past.
Scenario 3: Pessimistic- Really thin color, Closer to neutral pH levels
6. Sort each of the organisms into Calcifiers or Non-Calcifiers.
A change from 8.2-8.1 on the pH scale is a 30%.increase in acidity. Earthquakes can cause the scale to be richer.
4. Carbon in the water: Explain what happens to Carbon In Ocean water.
It turns into carbonic acid, then the carbonic acid breaks down into bicarbonate and carbonate molecules, the extra (H+) ions shift towards bicarbonate. Carbon is then added onto the formula, which turns into CaCo3 (calcium carbonate).
5. Look over the interactive and describe what happens at each of the levels:
Scenario 1: Optimistic- Somewhat still thick coral over time, the base of the water gets more neutral which means more acid is being onto the scale. CO2 releases in slow amounts.
Scenario 2: Middle Ground- CO2 releases in higher values. pH starts at 8,17 and also turns neutral as years past.
Scenario 3: Pessimistic- Really thin color, Closer to neutral pH levels
6. Sort each of the organisms into Calcifiers or Non-Calcifiers.
7. Describe the life cycle of Echinoderms and explain why they are so sensitive to pH.
The reason why they are so sensitive because they are not fully developed to the environment fully. Think of it as an alcoholic mother drinking during the
pregnancy stage. It can either die or take a longer time to form. 2 cell embryo; no skeleton and they are sent to the ocean to protect themselves.
Echinoderms is the larval stage. Larvae use cilia to feed on plankton. As it grows, a metamorphosis occurs inside the larva.
8. 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?
Everything on the food chain has a possibility of breaking down. Some animals can no longer become fully grown.
The reason why they are so sensitive because they are not fully developed to the environment fully. Think of it as an alcoholic mother drinking during the
pregnancy stage. It can either die or take a longer time to form. 2 cell embryo; no skeleton and they are sent to the ocean to protect themselves.
Echinoderms is the larval stage. Larvae use cilia to feed on plankton. As it grows, a metamorphosis occurs inside the larva.
8. 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?
Everything on the food chain has a possibility of breaking down. Some animals can no longer become fully grown.
Discuss what your data showed: So What?
Our data showed that the pH level dropped 0.4 units. The arms of the larvae are shrinking, causing them not to feed themselves as well. Therefore, they grow slower.
Conclusion: What would these changes do to the adult Sea Urchin population?
The adult sea urchin population would keep producing stumpy lumpy urchins and then the source of food would be out of balance.
How would that effect other organisms that depend on these organisms as a source of food? (Sea Otters)?
Since adult sea urchins don't get enough of what they need, Sea Otters won't either.
What did you learn about Ocean Acidification? Discuss.
Ocean Acidification plays a big role for everyone in the earth. We depend on the ocean so much, but yet we don't see the disasters we're causing. We're hurting our nature because we want to become more industrialized. Humans are the biggest greatest predators to the environment. These animals can not grow healthy, which will eventually cause us not to be healthy as well.
Our data showed that the pH level dropped 0.4 units. The arms of the larvae are shrinking, causing them not to feed themselves as well. Therefore, they grow slower.
Conclusion: What would these changes do to the adult Sea Urchin population?
The adult sea urchin population would keep producing stumpy lumpy urchins and then the source of food would be out of balance.
How would that effect other organisms that depend on these organisms as a source of food? (Sea Otters)?
Since adult sea urchins don't get enough of what they need, Sea Otters won't either.
What did you learn about Ocean Acidification? Discuss.
Ocean Acidification plays a big role for everyone in the earth. We depend on the ocean so much, but yet we don't see the disasters we're causing. We're hurting our nature because we want to become more industrialized. Humans are the biggest greatest predators to the environment. These animals can not grow healthy, which will eventually cause us not to be healthy as well.