The Death of Diatoms

Overview

Objectives/Goals Looking at which genus of diatom survives and reproduces the most successfully to the rise in salinity of the sample. Methods/Materials Pond water samples rich in Diatoms, microscope with camera and computer hook-up, materials to make slides, saltwater solution, ATC saltwater refractometer, 1 mL/cc syringes. Add a measured amount of salt-water solution daily. Sample and count diatoms in each genus every three days for two weeks with one set of samples. Leave all samples with no disturbance for 3 weeks. Take final population counts. Results Diatom AO (unidentified) was the most successfull in adapting and surviving the rise of salinity in the sample. This diatom had no population in control samples, very low population in salinity level one, the highest population in level two salinity, and level three salinity had the second highest populations of this diatom. Conclusions/Discussion It is possible for diatoms commonly found in freshwater to adapt to the rise of salinity in the sample. The diatom that adapted the most successfully actually had the highest population in salinity level two (the second highest level). This is important to know because diatoms are a major part of the trophic level in aquatic ecosystems and with the California drought, bodies of water are drying up and the parts per million of salt is rising, which may cause diatoms to reduce in population.

Competition history

• CSEF 2016 Microbiology (General) · Entry S1503

Resources

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