1108L-AL-Krieger-M

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1108L

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Biology

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Feb 20, 2024

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BIOL 1108L Autotrophs in a Lake Ecosystem This assignment is designed to be completed and submitted at the end of your lab. This assignment should be saved as 1108L-AL-Lastname-Firstinitial.docx. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have answered every question on this assignment and that you have submitted the correct file. Blank questions or missed pages will earn 0 points. Read through the Background Information and Lab Activity: Life Needs and Aquatic Ecosystem Discussion in eLC. Use this part to make notes of the discussion with your GLA as you explore aquatic ecosystems and the needs of organisms inhabiting them. 1) Identify the life needs that all organisms must have in order to thrive. (1 pt) Organisms must have mode of nutrition, reproduction, water, space, response to stimuli, growth and development and a habitat to thrive. 2) What are 2 abiotic and 2 biotic components that would be present in an aquatic ecosystem? (1 pt) Plants, algae, fish, and bacteria are some biotic factors. Water, temperature, pH, oxygen, and sunlight are abiotic components. 3) Briefly describe the energy flow in a lake ecosystem. (1 pt) Decomposers->producers->primary consumers->secondary consumers->tertiary consumers This is the flow of energy, starting with decomposers and ending with tertiary consumers. Sunlight provides for autotrophs that heterotrophs will later consume. Energy is lost at each step. 4) Briefly describe the chemical cycling in a lake ecosystem. (1 pt) Energy flows through the ecosystem when autotrophs are eaten by heterotrophs. The nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur are being recycled back to the autotrophs. Now for a detailed more look at autotrophs in the lake ecosystem. Consider the structure and place in the environment of the organisms you examine and how they fit in to the aquatic ecosystem. Read through Lab Activity: Using Microscopes and Lab Activity: Algae Observations and Streaking Agar Plates to help answer the questions below. 5) Examine the aquatic autotrophs at your bench. Make a list of structural, physiological, and behavioral adaptations you notice for each organism: (1.5 pt for each organism) a. Volvox Observations/Adaptations: - Spins to move around - Larger than other organisms seen - Sphere with tiny circles inside - Green - Has chloroplasts

BIOL 1108L Autotrophs in a Lake Ecosystem b. Scenedesmus Observations/Adaptations: - Four connected cells - Doesn’t move - small - Spiny projections - Vary in shape c. Chlamydomonas Observations/Adaptations: - Super small - Swims around - 2 flagella - Green circle shaped d. Euglena Observations/Adaptations: - Doesn’t move - Singular flagella - Green - Has outer border for support and protection Read Lab Activity: Scientific Article Introduction and read the introduction section of Scientific Article: Briland et al. 6) Summarize the main question the scientific article is addressing. (2 pts) The scientists hope to answer the question of how cyanobacteria affect the structure of aquatic food webs, the foraging abilities of consumers, and the potential for cyanotoxins to accumulate in fish. 7) Describe how the energy flow in an aquatic ecosystem is altered when there is an algal bloom. (1.5 pts) Cyanobacteria causes negative impacts, like the toxins they produce that can affect growth and development of higher level consumers. Cyanobacteria also reduce the food quality, even though they seem to increase food availability. Cyanobacteria have offered zooplankton new ways to obtain energy- using carbon- which calls for further study of the energy flow. The algal blooms also allow for more foraging. Finally, although there were no significant differences in mass consumption rates, diet composition did vary and correlated with algal blooms restructuring zooplankton communities. The algal blooms also inhibit sunlight from reaching all organisms that need it. 8) Describe how the chemical cycling in an aquatic ecosystem is altered when there is an algal bloom. (1.5 pts)

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