Stephanie Foerder
Oct. 30, 2014
BIO 111
Lab Report
Bio 111 Experimenting With Goldfish Short Lab Report
Introduction
The research question for this experiment is what is the effect of temperature on the
respiration rate of goldfish by measuring the amount of CO2 produced by goldfish over
time under multiple different temperatures. My hypothesis for this experiment is that the
higher the temperature is the higher the fish’s respiration rate will be. My prediction for
this experiment is if the temperature is increased, the H+ in the water will rise, meaning the
goldfish’s respiration rate is rising.
Methods
The dependent variable is the respiration rate of the goldfish. The independent variable of
this experiment is the temperature of the water. The controlled variables of this
experiment are the amount of water in each flask, using the same goldfish, putting the same
amount of phenolphthalein solution in each cylinder.
Procedures:
1. Gather supplies, graduated cylinders, clean flasks, goldfish, phenolphthalein
solution, water, hot water bath, white paper, pipet, fishnet, acid
2. Add 80ml of pink tap water to two 100ml graduated cylinders
3. Determine volume of goldfish
4. Pour contents of cylinder and goldfish into a clean flask. Record starting time
5. Put an experimental and reference flask in a water bath and also keep one of each at
room temperature
6. Figure the volume per drop from the pipet
7. When time is up, remove fish and pour contents from experimental flask out
8. Add .01N H2SO4 into flask until solution clears
Results
On next page
Conclusion
The results of this experiment are that when the temperature is increased, the respiration
rate of the goldfish also increases. These results do not support my hypothesis. I think my
results did not support my hypothesis because the hypothesis that I originally had is
actually backwards from what the actual results were. When I was forming my hypothesis I
wasn’t sure what would happen and I was going to find out by actually performing the
experiment. I do not think there were any flaws in the design or procedures. An alternate
hypothesis that could be tested would be if all goldfish have the same respiration rate, or if
it varies from goldfish to goldfish.
Results
Drops of
acid added
Experimental 20
flask (heat)
Reference
30
Flask (heat)
Experimental 24
Flask (room
temp)
Reference
27
Flask (room
temp)
Net Drops
of Acid
Added
10
umCO2
Time
represented Interval
(hr)
4.5
.5
Goldfish
Volume
Respiration
Rate
2
4.5
3
1.5
2
1.5
.5
Goldfish Respiration
Drops of Acid Added
30
25
20
15
Heat
10
Room Temp
5
0
0
2
4
6
Factors of Respiration
8