The Effect of Plastics on Daphnia’s Heart Rate, and Mortality Rate
School Name
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
Grade Level
11th Grade
Presentation Topic
Environmental Science
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
The purpose of this project is to determine how plastics affect the heart rate, mortality rate, and reproduction, of Daphnia magna. It was hypothesized that if Daphnia magna are fed plastics then their heart rates will increase, their reproduction will increase and the mortality rate will increase. The plastics were ground up in a coffee grinder and made into solutions using spring water. The mortality and heart rate were measured every day for four days. The average heart rate for low was 196.77 beats per minute. The average for medium was 225.99. The average for high was 226.20. The average for the control was 213.07. The average mortality rate for low was 2.16. The average for medium was 2.58. The average for high was 2.99. The average for control was 3.08. The heart rate data showed that after day three there was a significant difference between the low and high. The high plastic levels had a higher heart rate. Therefore plastics can have an effect on Daphnia magna heart rate over time. The mortality rate was significant on day two between the low and the high. The low plastics had more Daphnia magna alive on day two. Thus implying that the plastics were harmful to the Daphnia. The rest of the days did not have a significant difference. This was most likely due to the short life span of the Daphnia.
Recommended Citation
Hall, Allison, "The Effect of Plastics on Daphnia’s Heart Rate, and Mortality Rate" (2018). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 120.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2018/all/120
Location
Lassiter 222
Start Date
4-14-2018 10:15 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
The Effect of Plastics on Daphnia’s Heart Rate, and Mortality Rate
Lassiter 222
The purpose of this project is to determine how plastics affect the heart rate, mortality rate, and reproduction, of Daphnia magna. It was hypothesized that if Daphnia magna are fed plastics then their heart rates will increase, their reproduction will increase and the mortality rate will increase. The plastics were ground up in a coffee grinder and made into solutions using spring water. The mortality and heart rate were measured every day for four days. The average heart rate for low was 196.77 beats per minute. The average for medium was 225.99. The average for high was 226.20. The average for the control was 213.07. The average mortality rate for low was 2.16. The average for medium was 2.58. The average for high was 2.99. The average for control was 3.08. The heart rate data showed that after day three there was a significant difference between the low and high. The high plastic levels had a higher heart rate. Therefore plastics can have an effect on Daphnia magna heart rate over time. The mortality rate was significant on day two between the low and the high. The low plastics had more Daphnia magna alive on day two. Thus implying that the plastics were harmful to the Daphnia. The rest of the days did not have a significant difference. This was most likely due to the short life span of the Daphnia.
