The Effect of a Eucalyptus Globulus Biolarvicide on the Growth Rate of A Non-Target Organism, Chlorella Vulgaris

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

10th Grade

Presentation Topic

Environmental Science

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Oral Presentation Award

3rd Place

Written Paper Award

2nd Place

Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to test the potential effect on the environment a Eucalyptus Globulus biolarvicide would create. This was done by testing it on a non-target organism, Chlorella vulgaris, which is essential to the ecosystem. It was hypothesized that as the concentration of the Eucalyptus globulus biolarvicide was increased, the growth rate of the Chlorella vulgaris would decrease. To test this hypothesis, Chlorella was added to 125 test tubes. The various concentrations of larvicide (1.24g/500mL, 0.62g/500mL, 0.31g/500mL, 0.17g/500mL, 0.00g/500mL) were poured into these test tubes. Then, a spectrophotometer was used to get a relative cell concentration value for each trial. Once this was completed, the algae was left for 72 hours, after which the concentration was measured again. The initial and final concentrations were compared to determine algae growth. The highest average growth was seen in the 0.31g/500mL group, and the lowest average in the 0.15g/500mL group. Additionally, an ANOVA gave a P-value of 0.314, which is greater than an alpha value of 0.05, indicating that there were little differences among treatment groups. The data suggests that the biolarvicide did not affect the growth of the algae, and that the slight differences in growth between treatment groups were due to random external factors. Therefore, the concentrations of Eucalyptus used in this study could be used as a larvicide without harming Chlorella vulgaris, an algae which is essential to the food chain.

Location

Founders Hall 213 A

Start Date

3-30-2019 10:00 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 30th, 10:00 AM

The Effect of a Eucalyptus Globulus Biolarvicide on the Growth Rate of A Non-Target Organism, Chlorella Vulgaris

Founders Hall 213 A

The purpose of this experiment was to test the potential effect on the environment a Eucalyptus Globulus biolarvicide would create. This was done by testing it on a non-target organism, Chlorella vulgaris, which is essential to the ecosystem. It was hypothesized that as the concentration of the Eucalyptus globulus biolarvicide was increased, the growth rate of the Chlorella vulgaris would decrease. To test this hypothesis, Chlorella was added to 125 test tubes. The various concentrations of larvicide (1.24g/500mL, 0.62g/500mL, 0.31g/500mL, 0.17g/500mL, 0.00g/500mL) were poured into these test tubes. Then, a spectrophotometer was used to get a relative cell concentration value for each trial. Once this was completed, the algae was left for 72 hours, after which the concentration was measured again. The initial and final concentrations were compared to determine algae growth. The highest average growth was seen in the 0.31g/500mL group, and the lowest average in the 0.15g/500mL group. Additionally, an ANOVA gave a P-value of 0.314, which is greater than an alpha value of 0.05, indicating that there were little differences among treatment groups. The data suggests that the biolarvicide did not affect the growth of the algae, and that the slight differences in growth between treatment groups were due to random external factors. Therefore, the concentrations of Eucalyptus used in this study could be used as a larvicide without harming Chlorella vulgaris, an algae which is essential to the food chain.