Evolving in Extremes: Adaptive Traits of Brine Shrimps

Overview

Brine shrimp are the backbone of the marine-bio ecosystem. Lots of other animals depend on them for food, so when the environment changes it is critical for the brine shrimp; it does not just stop there. It affects a variety of species in the food web. That is why this experiment matters. The idea is to see how climate change, water pollution, damage to the ozone layer, and rising water temperatures messes with brine shrimp. All of these issues tie together. The amount of salt in the water changes, the oceans become warmer, human waste and plastic end up in the water, and as the ozone layer thins (as a result of fossil fuel used), more UV light penetrates the atmosphere. As a result of all these factors, brine shrimp are not the only species that suffer. They also negatively affect the entire ecosystem as a whole. The purpose of the experiment is to mimic real-life threats by tweaking the shrimp's conditions. As a test, we add salt to see if the shrimp will be able to handle the high salinity levels. We mixed in a small amount of microplastics to study their long-term effects without killing them immediately. Additionally, we use UV and heat lamps to simulate stronger sunlight and rising temperatures that would result from a changing climate. The whole goal is to see how shrimp respond and, by extension, what that means for other life in the ocean.

Competition history

• CSEF 2026 Zoology (Senior Division) · Entry S-20-02

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