Ocean Acidification Lab

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Jan 9, 2024

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Diamonique Harris Dr. Amanda Glazier Biology 3244 Lab May 30, 2018 Ocean Acidification Introduction : Ocean acidification refers to a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time, caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. (NOAA) The pH of the water lowers when the atmospheric CO 2 dissolves and equilibrates in surface waters, forming carbonic acid (H 2 CO 3 ), which disassociates to bicarbonate ions (HCO 3 - ) and hydrogen ions (H + ). At the same time the H + ions are reacting with carbonate ions (CO 3 2- ) to form additional HCO 3 - , reducing the available carbonate ions (CO 3 2- ) that some organisms use to produce calcium carbonate skeletons. If the concentration of H + increases in a solution, it’s pH decreases and the solution will become more acidic, which is why the process is called ocean acidification (Dr. Jay Lecture 4). Prior to the industrial revolution the carbon cycle was approximately in balance (Dr. Jay Lecture 4), as in the amount of CO s being output into the atmosphere was the same amount being absorbed by the ocean. Over the years surface waters have decreased by 0.1 pH unit and are now expected to decline an additional 0.3-0.4 pH unit in about 70 years. Ocean acidification affects marine organisms that secrete calcium carbonate shells or skeletons such as corals, mollusks, and echinoderms. The ocean absorbs about 30 percent of CO 2 that is released into the atmosphere. (NOAA) Resulting in a direct correlation between an increase in CO 2 and an increase in the level of the ocean which decreases the oxygen available.
Corals have a more soluble form of calcium carbonate in their shells called aragonite, whereas, Donax has a less soluble form, called calcite. It is expected that ocean acidification will not only have a negative effect on marine calcifiers but have a greater effect on organisms that secrete aragonite. The purpose of this experiment is to test the effects of ocean acidification on skeletons of corals and shells of the beam clam Donax sp. Null Hypothesis (H 0 ) : There is no change in the shell mass through several days of treatment Alternative Hypothesis (H 1 ): There is a loss of mass indicating shells are dissolving (initial mass – wet mass 23) Methods : The experiment began with four beakers. Two labeled ambient pH and two labeled treatment pH, one of each for control and the other for clam. 20 clamshells being placed into seawater to soak for 10 minutes and the weights were recorded. The four beakers were filled as the following: Ambient pH control jar: 100 mL seawater Treatment pH control jar: 100 mL low pH water Ambient pH clam jar: 100 mL seawater Treatment pH clam jar: 100 mL low pH water 20 clamshells soaking . The clamshells were then placed 10 into each of the “clam” jars. An API kit was used in order to determine the pH, calcium concentration and Kh levels of the samples. The samples then sat
to dry for 5 days and then the pH, calcium concentration, and Kh levels were recorded for each samples. Finally, the clamshells were placed back into seawater solution to soak again and their final weights were recorded. Results : Table 1: Test subject masses. Clam – ambient Clam – treatment Initial mass (g) 0.232 0.40 Wet mass (g) May 21 0.216 0.338 Dry mass (g) May 23 0.209 0.361 Wet mass (g) May 23 0.209 0.37 Table 2: Masses of clams over a 5day period. Clam - ambient Clam - treatment Initial mass to wet mass May 21 0.232 – 0.216 = 0.016 0.40 – 0.338 = 0.062 Initial mass to dry mass may 23 0.232 – 0.209 = 0.023 0.40 – 0.361 = 0.039 Initial mass to wet mass may 23 0.232 – 0.209 = 0.023 0.40 – 0.37 = 0.03 Wet mass May 21 to dry mass May 23 0.216 – 0.209 = 0.007 0.338 – 0.361 = - 0.023 Wet mass May 21 to wet mass May 23 0.216 – 0.209 = 0.007 0.338 – 0.37 = - 0.032 Table 3: Water chemistry parameters for seawater control. pH – ambient pH – treatment Calcium – ambient Calcium – treatment KH – ambient KH - treatment Start 7.35 6.55 600 ppm – 30 drops 580 – 29 drops 14 drops – 250.6 ppm 16 drops – 286.4 ppm 1.5 hours later 7.45 6.67 540 ppm 500 – 25 drops 14 drops – 250.6 16 drops – 286.4 5 days later 7.94 7.69 520 ppm 440 ppm 14 drops 12 drops – 214.8 ppm Net change 0.59 1.14 -80 -140 0 -71.6 Table 4: Water chemistry parameters for clam treatment. pH – ambient pH – treatment Calcium – ambient Calcium – treatment KH – ambient KH - treatment Start 7.46 6.62 460 ppm 520 – 26 drops 14 drops – 250.6 ppm 14 drops – 250.6 ppm 1.5 hours later 7.47 6.58 560 ppm -28 drops 560 – 28 drops 14 drops – 250.6 ppm 16 drops -286.4
5 days later 7.92 7.71 520 ppm-26 drops 420 – 21 drops 11 drops- 196.9 ppm 11 drops – 196.9 ppm Net change 0.46 1.09 60 -100 -53.7 -53.7 Table 5: Class Data: Clam mass
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