Filter Feeders

Overview

Objectives/Goals To see whether or not Mytilus edulis (mussels) can absorb particles within their systems other than ones used for food. Methods/Materials In my procedure, I put 250 mL of a carbon solution (30.16 g of black carbon pellets, and 250 mL of fresh water) in all 12 tanks, found how well my variables (mussels) absorbed the particles, and compared their results to the results of my control. 1. 12 ten gallon, glass tanks with plastic or wooden: 6 tanks will be used as variables and 6 as controls 2. 50 mL beaker 3. 16.3 kg of Mytilus edulis (mussels) 2.7 kg for 6 tanks 4. 361.92 g of crushed black carbon pellets 5. 3,000 mL of fresh water (250 per tank) 6. 12 airstones of the same brand 7. 12 airpumps of the same brand 8. 6 large rocks (for the mussels) 9. 120 gallons of seawater 12. 12 undergravel filters of the same brand 13. Gravel 14. Photo spectrometer Results In the results, I found that the first day of the variable tanks had 36 cells per mL of water while the controls had 114 cells per mL of water. By the last day, the variable tanks ended up having 9 cells per mL of water while the controls had 83 cells per mL of water. Conclusions/Discussion In conclusion, I found that the mussels had absorbed the particles by 75% and that the controls had diminished their particles by 30%. Although the analysis shows that the controls were able to diminish their particles, the reason for this was the help of the air filters. The controls were able to absorb particles through their air filters (they were turned on in the tanks every two days in order to keep the mussels alive), which explained why it had absorbed anything at all. Even though its filters absorb the particles, the tanks with the variables absorbed 45% more, which proves that the filter feeders do absorb.

Competition history

• CSEF 2006 Zoology · Entry S1910

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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