The Great Plankton Race
Hello again, and welcome to the great plankton race! In class today, we built our own plankton and had to see if our plankton could stay neutrally buoyant or sink the slowest. If your plankton floats to the top, you are disqualified! Come one, come all, to see whose plankton will reign supreme! But first, to get you familiar with plankton, I will leave some background information below to get you up to speed. I hope to see you at the race. Peace!
The sun is the base of all food chains. Phytoplankton use the sun to photosynthesize. As such, these organisms must remain in the well-lit or photic zone of the water. Zooplankton feed off of phytoplankton, so they must have a way to be able to stay in the photic zone. Zooplankton are drifters, so they must have special adaptations to remain afloat in the photic zone. Dinoflagellates use flagella (long tails) to help stay afloat; ciliates use cilia (hair-like extensions). Other plankton form chains with each other to gain surface area to stay afloat. Some plankton have vacuoles or other compartments (swim bladder) in their bodies to help provide buoyancy. These adaptations give each plankton species an advantage.
However, not all plankton can float in the water, some are benthic. In other words, they are found on the bottom of the lake on rocks and sediment. Other plankton attach themselves to vegetation in the water. Planktonic, drifting plankton are the ones who have a vested interest in not sinking. Most zooplankton can move; they undergo a diurnal migration where they migrate to deeper water during the day and return to the top at night. It is thought that these zooplankton undertake this energetically costly migration to avoid predation and to conserve energy. However, when the are feeding in the photic zone, they want to be able to stay suspended while expending as little energy as possible, so they can still utilize floatation adaptations.
Photic Zone- the depth of water in a lake/ ocean that is exposed to sufficient sunlight to photosynthesize.
Plankton- small organisms that float/ drift in great numbers in bodies of salt/ fresh water; a primary food source for many animals, and consists of bacteria, protozoans, algae, cnidarians, tiny crustaceans (copepods), and many other organisms.
Benthic- non-floating plankton.
Planktonic- floating in the water column; planktonic diatoms are typically centric (round).
Phytoplankton- a type of plankton that relies on photosynthesis. This group is comprised mostly of single-celled algae, diatoms, and bacteria.
Zooplankton- a type of plankton that feeds on phytoplankton.
Adaptations- any physical of behavioral trait that allows an organism to better survive in its environment.
Cilia- hair-like extensions to help them move and catch food.
Flagella- tails found on dianoflagellates.
Surface Area- the total area of all the faces and curved surface of a solid object.
Density- mass per unit of volume; a measure of the relative "heaviness" of objects.
Micron- a unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter. This is the unit used to measure plankton size. Conversion formulas: microns= 1000 x mm; millimeters= microns x 0.001
Lists of Adaptations:
However, not all plankton can float in the water, some are benthic. In other words, they are found on the bottom of the lake on rocks and sediment. Other plankton attach themselves to vegetation in the water. Planktonic, drifting plankton are the ones who have a vested interest in not sinking. Most zooplankton can move; they undergo a diurnal migration where they migrate to deeper water during the day and return to the top at night. It is thought that these zooplankton undertake this energetically costly migration to avoid predation and to conserve energy. However, when the are feeding in the photic zone, they want to be able to stay suspended while expending as little energy as possible, so they can still utilize floatation adaptations.
Photic Zone- the depth of water in a lake/ ocean that is exposed to sufficient sunlight to photosynthesize.
Plankton- small organisms that float/ drift in great numbers in bodies of salt/ fresh water; a primary food source for many animals, and consists of bacteria, protozoans, algae, cnidarians, tiny crustaceans (copepods), and many other organisms.
Benthic- non-floating plankton.
Planktonic- floating in the water column; planktonic diatoms are typically centric (round).
Phytoplankton- a type of plankton that relies on photosynthesis. This group is comprised mostly of single-celled algae, diatoms, and bacteria.
Zooplankton- a type of plankton that feeds on phytoplankton.
Adaptations- any physical of behavioral trait that allows an organism to better survive in its environment.
Cilia- hair-like extensions to help them move and catch food.
Flagella- tails found on dianoflagellates.
Surface Area- the total area of all the faces and curved surface of a solid object.
Density- mass per unit of volume; a measure of the relative "heaviness" of objects.
Micron- a unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter. This is the unit used to measure plankton size. Conversion formulas: microns= 1000 x mm; millimeters= microns x 0.001
Lists of Adaptations:
AdaptationsExample: FlagellaLegs/ BristlesCiliaAntennaeEyesVacuoleWingsThin SkinTranslucentSmall Size |
Advantage/ ReasonHelps to swim/ direction, keep away from predatorsTo move/ to catch phytoplanktonMovement/ to avoid predatorsTo sense prey/ avoid predatorsTo seeTo control buoyancyLike a parachute/ slow down sinkingTo stay afloatTo stay afloat/ lighter/ to hideLighter/ harder to be eaten (seen) |
Questions:
1. What are plankton?
> They're single-celled organisms in the water column.
2. What do plankton eat? What is the difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton?
> Plankton eats vegetation in the water. The difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton is that phytoplankton relies on photosynthesis while zooplankton feed on phytoplankton.
3. Why are plankton important?
> They are important because they are food for the fish of the sea.
4. Where would they want to hang out?
> The Chum Bucket! ; ) JK, They would want to hang out at the bottom of the ocean to avoid predators. They would come up only at night.
5. Why would a plankton want to stay in the photic zone?
> They need food, so they need to go the well-lit areas to photosynthesize or eat their brothers.
6. How would a plankton stay in the photic zone?
> Some plankton have special adaptations that allow them to stay in the photic zone.
Brainstorm ways that plankton could reduce sinking rates:
> If we could give it many special adaptations, we could reduce sinking rates. For example: you can use a swim bladder to control the plankton's buoyancy.
Now here comes the fun part, in class we are told to pick a partner and make our own plankton. We are allowed to name it and everything. Here is the description of our plankton below:
Name of Plankton: MuFour
Explanation of Name: We're sitting in class, puzzling over our name for a whole hour. Finally, Lieu thought of the name, MuFour, I didn't really get the name. However, we were running out of time, so I agreed to the name. If you are wondering about the name as well, you can check her website, maybe she has the reason for the name on her website.
Special Adaptations: Our plankton has two tails to swim, four legs to catch phytoplankton, body spine for the body, swim bladder to control the buoyancy, and veins to keep the plankton together.
1. What are plankton?
> They're single-celled organisms in the water column.
2. What do plankton eat? What is the difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton?
> Plankton eats vegetation in the water. The difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton is that phytoplankton relies on photosynthesis while zooplankton feed on phytoplankton.
3. Why are plankton important?
> They are important because they are food for the fish of the sea.
4. Where would they want to hang out?
> The Chum Bucket! ; ) JK, They would want to hang out at the bottom of the ocean to avoid predators. They would come up only at night.
5. Why would a plankton want to stay in the photic zone?
> They need food, so they need to go the well-lit areas to photosynthesize or eat their brothers.
6. How would a plankton stay in the photic zone?
> Some plankton have special adaptations that allow them to stay in the photic zone.
Brainstorm ways that plankton could reduce sinking rates:
> If we could give it many special adaptations, we could reduce sinking rates. For example: you can use a swim bladder to control the plankton's buoyancy.
Now here comes the fun part, in class we are told to pick a partner and make our own plankton. We are allowed to name it and everything. Here is the description of our plankton below:
Name of Plankton: MuFour
Explanation of Name: We're sitting in class, puzzling over our name for a whole hour. Finally, Lieu thought of the name, MuFour, I didn't really get the name. However, we were running out of time, so I agreed to the name. If you are wondering about the name as well, you can check her website, maybe she has the reason for the name on her website.
Special Adaptations: Our plankton has two tails to swim, four legs to catch phytoplankton, body spine for the body, swim bladder to control the buoyancy, and veins to keep the plankton together.
Man, we had to go through a lot of trouble to figure out how to make our plankton. We tried wrapping pipe cleaners around and continued from there. We added some things, took some things off, cut things off, sew things on. It was crazy, man. We tested them all out to see if it would stay in the middle of the water, float, sink. After watching one, we changed it slightly and tried it again. We thought we were very close sometimes. Finally, we thought we made the perfect plankton. That perfect plankton is the picture down below. However sadly, when the final trail had started, you can see that we were disqualified for making it float. It's so sad.
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We then made a chart recording our trails: ( I apologize for the blankness, however I was confused on this part so some of the bottom will be left blank until further notice.)
Our Results:
1. How long did it take your plankton to sink below the photic zone? (What was the rate?)
>
2. Was this longer than you expected, shorter than you expected, or about what you expected?
>
3. How did this compare to the sinking rates of your classmates' plankton creations?
> Some floated, and some sank like a rock. Even after they modified it, it didn't work at all.
4. What other observations did you make about sinking rates of plankton?
> It all depended on what special adaptations they put on their plankton.
5. Explain why a plankton would want to go up and down in the water column?
> It's called diurnal migration. Because of all the predators during the day, they migrate to deeper waters and return to the top at night when all the predators have left. It helps to avoid the predators and to conserve energy.
6. If plankton can't swim against the current, how do they move within the water column?
> They drift along the current instead.
7. Describe the features of the winning plankton (slowest sinking rate). How was it different/ similar to yours?
> The winning plankton had very nice features to it. They made it light, but heavy enough to sink it. They sort of made webs like a duck and it was a circular shape. They used spoons to make the shape and to make it heavy. They used tin foil to make the webs. Their design was very nice.
8. This race was performed in freshwater. How would the performance of your plankton be different in saltwater? Why?
> It would have made our plankton sink slowly.
9. This race was performed in room temperature water. How would the performance of your plankton be different in very cold water? In very hot water? Why?
> Cold water would have made it sink slowly while hot water would make it sink like a rock.
10. What factors, other than buoyancy, influence the evolution of plankton's external features?
> Many special adaptations could help influence the evolution of the plankton's external features. For example, our plankton used a swim bladder, the size and shape of the plankton helps it as well. There is also the spine, legs, tails that help the plankton as well. There is many more adaptations that help as well.
Conclusion: Explain what you learned about plankton and their adaptations, buoyancy and water composition by doing this laboratory activity. Please make sure to include your correct vocabulary and complete sentences.
I learned that plankton were the food for the fish that we eat everyday. They are the weakest organism in this big food chain, yet they try so hard to survive this harsh life. In order to survive, they had special adaptations that they used to get to the photic zone to photosynthesize. They also used their special adaptations to try to get away from their predators. Yet, we don't even think twice about it. Why would we? We can't even see them. People never think about the little guys as they try to get to sunlight without being eaten. You think," Man, that's tough."
1. How long did it take your plankton to sink below the photic zone? (What was the rate?)
>
2. Was this longer than you expected, shorter than you expected, or about what you expected?
>
3. How did this compare to the sinking rates of your classmates' plankton creations?
> Some floated, and some sank like a rock. Even after they modified it, it didn't work at all.
4. What other observations did you make about sinking rates of plankton?
> It all depended on what special adaptations they put on their plankton.
5. Explain why a plankton would want to go up and down in the water column?
> It's called diurnal migration. Because of all the predators during the day, they migrate to deeper waters and return to the top at night when all the predators have left. It helps to avoid the predators and to conserve energy.
6. If plankton can't swim against the current, how do they move within the water column?
> They drift along the current instead.
7. Describe the features of the winning plankton (slowest sinking rate). How was it different/ similar to yours?
> The winning plankton had very nice features to it. They made it light, but heavy enough to sink it. They sort of made webs like a duck and it was a circular shape. They used spoons to make the shape and to make it heavy. They used tin foil to make the webs. Their design was very nice.
8. This race was performed in freshwater. How would the performance of your plankton be different in saltwater? Why?
> It would have made our plankton sink slowly.
9. This race was performed in room temperature water. How would the performance of your plankton be different in very cold water? In very hot water? Why?
> Cold water would have made it sink slowly while hot water would make it sink like a rock.
10. What factors, other than buoyancy, influence the evolution of plankton's external features?
> Many special adaptations could help influence the evolution of the plankton's external features. For example, our plankton used a swim bladder, the size and shape of the plankton helps it as well. There is also the spine, legs, tails that help the plankton as well. There is many more adaptations that help as well.
Conclusion: Explain what you learned about plankton and their adaptations, buoyancy and water composition by doing this laboratory activity. Please make sure to include your correct vocabulary and complete sentences.
I learned that plankton were the food for the fish that we eat everyday. They are the weakest organism in this big food chain, yet they try so hard to survive this harsh life. In order to survive, they had special adaptations that they used to get to the photic zone to photosynthesize. They also used their special adaptations to try to get away from their predators. Yet, we don't even think twice about it. Why would we? We can't even see them. People never think about the little guys as they try to get to sunlight without being eaten. You think," Man, that's tough."
I'm back, did you like that race? Man, it was so cool. You didn't go? That's all right, you can try it at home as well. All you got to do is a fish tank filled with water, make your own plankton using whatever and test it out to see if it floats, sinks, or if it'll try to steal the krabby patty formula! ; ) JK, if it does do that though, tell me ok? Anyways, I'm done here so I'm going to go now. Thank you for always reading my website and I hope to see you reading more soon. I'll see you later. Peace!