Lab 7: Harvesting the Eutrophication Experiment

Question 1

Eutrophication

Answer 1

Excess nutrient inputs causing water pollution

Question 2

Fertilizer

Answer 2

Substance added to soil to promote plant growth

Question 3

Terrestrial microcosm

Answer 3

Artificial ecosystem representing a small-scale terrestrial environment

Question 4

Aquatic microcosm

Answer 4

Artificial ecosystem representing a small-scale aquatic environment

Question 5

Water chemistry

Answer 5

Study of the chemical properties of water

Question 6

Aquatic microorganisms

Answer 6

Microscopic organisms living in water

Question 7

Nutrient cycling

Answer 7

Movement and exchange of nutrients in an ecosystem

Question 8

Primary productivity

Answer 8

Rate at which plants and other photosynthetic organisms produce organic compounds

Question 9

Hypotheses

Answer 9

Proposed explanations for a phenomenon

Question 10

Water quality

Answer 10

Measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species

Question 11

Phytoplankton

Answer 11

Microscopic photosynthetic organisms that float in water

Question 12

Biomass

Answer 12

Total mass of living organisms in a given area or volume

Question 13

Autoclave

Answer 13

Device used to sterilize equipment and supplies by subjecting them to high pressure and temperature

Question 14

Chlorophyll concentration

Answer 14

Amount of chlorophyll present in a given sample

Question 15

Phytoplankton biomass

Answer 15

Total mass of phytoplankton in a given area or volume

Question 16

Whatman filter paper

Answer 16

High-quality filter paper used for laboratory filtration

Question 17

Büchner funnel

Answer 17

Laboratory funnel used for vacuum filtration

Question 18

Centrifuge tube

Answer 18

Tube used to hold samples for centrifugation

Question 19

Ethanol

Answer 19

Alcohol used as a solvent in laboratory procedures

Question 20

Spectrophotometer

Answer 20

Instrument used to measure the intensity of light at specific wavelengths

Question 21

Absorbance

Answer 21

Measure of the amount of light absorbed by a sample

Question 22

Ammonium concentration

Answer 22

Amount of ammonium ions present in a given sample

Question 23

Phosphate concentration

Answer 23

Amount of phosphate ions present in a given sample

Question 24

Shoot height

Answer 24

Vertical length of the main stem of a plant

Question 25

Chlorophyll content

Answer 25

Amount of chlorophyll present in a plant or leaf

Question 26

Microcentrifuge tube

Answer 26

Small tube used for centrifugation of small volumes of liquid

Question 27

Lugol’s iodine

Answer 27

Solution used to stain and preserve biological samples

Question 28

Palmer-Maloney counting slide

Answer 28

Slide used for counting cells under a microscope

Question 29

Light microscope

Answer 29

Microscope that uses visible light to magnify objects

Question 30

Gravel

Answer 30

Small stones used in the bottom of microcosms for drainage

Question 31

Soil mixture

Answer 31

Blend of soil and other materials used as a growth medium for plants

Question 32

Diluted sample

Answer 32

Sample that has been mixed with a solvent to reduce its concentration

Question 33

Chlorophyll a

Answer 33

Type of chlorophyll responsible for photosynthesis

Question 34

Chlorophyll b

Answer 34

Type of chlorophyll that assists in photosynthesis

Question 35

Total chlorophyll

Answer 35

Combined amount of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in a sample