The effect of ultraviolet radiation on the growth of the phytoplankton amphidinium
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Environmental Science
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
The ozone layer has been been depleting over the past few decades, which causes an increase in UV radiation that threatens growth and survival for phytoplankton. This issue has been researched thoroughly, and the effect of ozone depletion on the phytoplankton is enormous, as an increase in UV rays makes it more difficult for phytoplankton to grow. The purpose of this experiment was to compare the effects of ultraviolet light and white light on the growth of the dinoflagellate Amphidinium. As the ozone hole progressively gets larger, the amount of ultraviolet radiation the phytoplankton are exposed to will continue to increase. Since Amphidinium lives at the surface of oceans and lakes, it will be more readily affected by this. It was hypothesised that if the Amphidinium were exposed to ultraviolet radiation, then they would grow less in comparison to the Amphidinium exposed to the white light because the UV light will disrupt the Amphidinium. Amphidinium cultures were placed under the white light for 1 week before being split into two groups of 15 each, one exposed to UV and the other to white light. The separate treatments continued under their respective lights for another week. Afterwards, the wavelengths (nm) were calculated.The results showed that the white light had a smaller mean of 34.971 nm while the UV light’s mean was 42.091 nm. A T-test determined the values were insignificant, as P>alpha(T(68)=-2.01 p=0.072). The hypothesis was not supported because the test yielded insignificant results.
Recommended Citation
Bellukutty, Pranav, "The effect of ultraviolet radiation on the growth of the phytoplankton amphidinium" (2017). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 133.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2017/all/133
Location
Wall 206
Start Date
3-25-2017 10:45 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The effect of ultraviolet radiation on the growth of the phytoplankton amphidinium
Wall 206
The ozone layer has been been depleting over the past few decades, which causes an increase in UV radiation that threatens growth and survival for phytoplankton. This issue has been researched thoroughly, and the effect of ozone depletion on the phytoplankton is enormous, as an increase in UV rays makes it more difficult for phytoplankton to grow. The purpose of this experiment was to compare the effects of ultraviolet light and white light on the growth of the dinoflagellate Amphidinium. As the ozone hole progressively gets larger, the amount of ultraviolet radiation the phytoplankton are exposed to will continue to increase. Since Amphidinium lives at the surface of oceans and lakes, it will be more readily affected by this. It was hypothesised that if the Amphidinium were exposed to ultraviolet radiation, then they would grow less in comparison to the Amphidinium exposed to the white light because the UV light will disrupt the Amphidinium. Amphidinium cultures were placed under the white light for 1 week before being split into two groups of 15 each, one exposed to UV and the other to white light. The separate treatments continued under their respective lights for another week. Afterwards, the wavelengths (nm) were calculated.The results showed that the white light had a smaller mean of 34.971 nm while the UV light’s mean was 42.091 nm. A T-test determined the values were insignificant, as P>alpha(T(68)=-2.01 p=0.072). The hypothesis was not supported because the test yielded insignificant results.
