The Effect of Phosphate Fertilizer on Heart Rate and Population of Daphnia magna
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Environmental Science
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
The amount of eutrophication occurring as a result of chemical water pollution is rapidly increasing in numerous aquatic environments. Although a balance of Nitrogen - Phosphorus - Potassium (NPK) is necessary to sustain necessary biological and ecological processes, excessive use of fertilizers has led to increased algal growth and disruption of aquatic ecosystems. To determine whether the introduction of phosphate-based fertilizer into an aquatic ecosystem could pose a potential threat to such habitants, this research examined the effect of phosphate fertilizer on Daphnia magna heart rate and mortality after exposure. Daphnia magna were placed in solutions of phosphate fertilizer at varying concentrations over a span of three days and their heart rate was collected prior to and after exposure to the fertilizer. It was hypothesized that increases in concentration would cause D. magna to have elevated heart rates due to the strain the environmental change would have on the Daphnia. At initial concentrations of 0.10 M, 0.25 M, and 0.40 M, only Daphnia in the control group survived past the first day. After this, new concentration groups of 0.050 M and 0.075 M were made, and the treatments were continued. Heartbeats of each Daphnia were counted for fifteen seconds and recorded after one day of fertilizer exposure. No Daphnia survived past one day of exposure to phosphate solutions 0.050 M and 0.075 M. Heart rate data was statistically analyzed with a one-way ANOVA at the alpha=0.05 level. In conclusion, the introduction of phosphate fertilizer appears to be detrimental to Daphnia magna and, thus, at �� = 0.05, exposure to increasing levels of phosphorus correspond to a lower heart rate, F(2,47)=105.98, p = 0.05. A Scheffe test determined that significant differences were between the control group and each tested concentration.
Recommended Citation
Wiggs, Aaliya, "The Effect of Phosphate Fertilizer on Heart Rate and Population of Daphnia magna" (2020). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 177.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2020/all/177
Location
Furman Hall 227
Start Date
3-28-2020 12:15 PM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The Effect of Phosphate Fertilizer on Heart Rate and Population of Daphnia magna
Furman Hall 227
The amount of eutrophication occurring as a result of chemical water pollution is rapidly increasing in numerous aquatic environments. Although a balance of Nitrogen - Phosphorus - Potassium (NPK) is necessary to sustain necessary biological and ecological processes, excessive use of fertilizers has led to increased algal growth and disruption of aquatic ecosystems. To determine whether the introduction of phosphate-based fertilizer into an aquatic ecosystem could pose a potential threat to such habitants, this research examined the effect of phosphate fertilizer on Daphnia magna heart rate and mortality after exposure. Daphnia magna were placed in solutions of phosphate fertilizer at varying concentrations over a span of three days and their heart rate was collected prior to and after exposure to the fertilizer. It was hypothesized that increases in concentration would cause D. magna to have elevated heart rates due to the strain the environmental change would have on the Daphnia. At initial concentrations of 0.10 M, 0.25 M, and 0.40 M, only Daphnia in the control group survived past the first day. After this, new concentration groups of 0.050 M and 0.075 M were made, and the treatments were continued. Heartbeats of each Daphnia were counted for fifteen seconds and recorded after one day of fertilizer exposure. No Daphnia survived past one day of exposure to phosphate solutions 0.050 M and 0.075 M. Heart rate data was statistically analyzed with a one-way ANOVA at the alpha=0.05 level. In conclusion, the introduction of phosphate fertilizer appears to be detrimental to Daphnia magna and, thus, at �� = 0.05, exposure to increasing levels of phosphorus correspond to a lower heart rate, F(2,47)=105.98, p = 0.05. A Scheffe test determined that significant differences were between the control group and each tested concentration.
