The Effects of Liquid Carbon Dioxide on the Development of Brine Shrimp
2014 Rutgers Ocean Days
HOPE Club, North Plainfield High School
Background
Brine shrimp, Artemia salina, live in salt water lakes including the Great Salt
Lake. They are aquatic crustaceans, similar to krill. Brine shrimp can hatch from
hard shelled egg like cysts that are developed to withstand harsh conditions as
during winter. They can also produce live young which develop into adults.
As they develop, brine shrimp go through a series of different stages. Each stage
is separated from the next by a molt. Molting involves growing a new larger
exoskeleton and shedding the old one. When the water is warm, food is plentiful,
and oxygen levels are high, brine shrimp can develop to adulthood in as little as
8 days.
Hypothesis
Brine shrimp will develop at a slower rate in the presence of commercial liquid
carbon dioxide.
Experimental Design and Methods
Commercial Carbon Dioxide Booster is a daily use product intended to add liquid
carbon to aquaria to boost plant growth. The directions state to add 1 ml of this
product to 10 gallons of aquaria water. The brine shrimp will be kept in aerated
mason jars; 800 ml of water will be maintained in each jar. 800 ml is equivalent to
0.211 gallons (1893 ml = 0.5 gallons). Therefore, 0.0211 ml of carbon dioxide
boost will be added to each jar per day during the experiment.
The experimental design is displayed in the table below:
Group Description
Treatment: Carbon
Dioxide Boost plus
Prepared Water
Control: Prepared Water
Repetition
(Number of Jars)
3
Mass of Cycts
Introduced per Jar
1 gram
3
1 gram
Prepared Water:
In 1 liter of dechlorinated tap water, dissolve 2 tablespoonfuls of noniodized salt (ocean
salt).
Controlled Variables: Constant Light (placed on plant light stand) and held at
room temperature.
Initial Measurements:
1) Each Jar Carbon Dioxide
2) Each Jar pH
3) Plant stand temperature
After the first two days, the following measurements will be taken each day,
beginning Friday, March 21, 2014:
1) After mixing jar, one drop of water will be taken to count the number of
living brine shrimp in that drop. (Note 20 drops = 1 ml)
2) pH
Other Daily Measurements:
1) Temperature in plant stand
Following measurements, Feed shrimp:
A yeast suspension is also convenient food for shrimp. Make up a salt solution of the
same salinity as the water in your shrimp culture. Stir in enough baker’s yeast to make
the water appear "milky," and then store the solution in a refrigerator. Always agitate the
solution before use to resuspend the yeast. Feed only a few drops per jar daily. Avoid
overfeeding. The water in the culture should not remain cloudy for more than 15
minutes after feeding.
Independent Variable: Carbon dioxide on brine shrimp treatment
Dependent Variable: Number of brine shrimp
Schedule of Volunteers: