BIOLOGY
UNIT 1a -- Science Inquiry
The National Aquarium has saltwater tanks that house a variety of fish. One of the main
attractions are the black-tipped reef sharks. During a yearly cleaning of the tank someone
accidently filled the tank with fresh water instead of salt water. After the tank was full the blacktipped reef sharks were reintroduced to the tank filled with fresh water.
The aquarium director has asked you to help figure out what might have happened to the blacktipped reef sharks.
1. (IN.1.A.a) What might be a testable question that could be the basis for an investigation to
determine what happened to the black-tipped reef sharks on that fateful day?
Example: What is the effect of the salt concentration that surrounds an animal’s cells on the
volume of those cells?
Criteria:
(1pt) - Has IV (salt concentration, type of water) and the DV (volume of cells, cell shape, cell
size, turgor pressure, osmotic pressure).
Or any other reasonable explanation of the IV and DV
1pt total
2. (IN.1.A.a) Create a testable hypothesis for your testable question.
Example: If the sharks are placed in fresh water the volume of their cells will increase.
Criteria:
(1pt) - Must relate to the testable question. Makes a prediction of how the IV will affect the DV.
Students could say that the volume would decrease or remain the same.
1 pt total
3. (IN.1.A.b) What would be the independent variable for this investigation?
BIOLOGY
UNIT 1a -- Science Inquiry
Example: The IV is the type of water that the sharks are in.
Criteria:
(1pt) - The type of water, or the salt concentration of water, fresh water.
Needs to relate to testable question and hypothesis.
1pt total
4. (IN.1.A.b) What would be the dependent variable for this investigation?
Example: The volume of the sharks’ cells
Criteria:
(1pt) - The volume of cells, size, shape (swell), turgor pressure, osmotic pressure
Needs to relate to the testable question and hypothesis
1pt total
5. (IN.1.A.b) What are at least two types of constants would you need to include in this
investigation.
Example: Water temperatures, type of shark, size of sharks, size of water
Criteria:
5a. (1pt) - only one constant given
5b (2pts) - two constants given
Any other reasonable, but specific constants
“environment” or any other vague term should NOT be used, the type of water should NOT be
used (this is the IV, what is changing)
2pts total
Hypothetically speaking, two students were doing an investigation in which they studied the
effect of saltwater versus freshwater in black-tipped reef sharks at the cellular level. To
determine the affect, they took biopsied samples from the sharks and placed half of the biopsy
BIOLOGY
UNIT 1a -- Science Inquiry
in freshwater and half in saltwater. After samples were submerged,they were then observed
under a microscope and width of cells measured in micrometers. The results of their experiment
are shown in the data table.
Data Table 1
Time (minutes)
Freshwater Measurement
(in um)
3.5% Saltwater Measurement
0
10.0
10.0
3
10.5
10.0
6
11.0
10.0
9
11.5
10.5
12
12.0
10.0
15
12.5
10.0
18
13.0
10.0
(in um)
6. (IN.1.D.a) Use the data from Data Table 1 to construct a multi-line graph on the grid below.
Be sure to provide:
■ an appropriate title
■ labeled axes with appropriate units
■ appropriate number scales
■ correctly plotted data and key
BIOLOGY
UNIT 1a -- Science Inquiry
Criteria:
6a. (1pt) - appropriate title: a statement of the relationship between the independent and
dependent variables or a statement of what is being tested
6b (1pt) -Both axes correctly labeled (horizontal axis labeled with independent variable,
vertical axis labeled with dependent variable), with units if appropriate
6c (1pt) - Appropriate number scales labeled along each axis: numbers written on the
gridlines, numbers that allow all data to be plotted, consistently scaled
6d (1pt) - All data points correctly plotted and connected by lines AND an appropriate
key to identify each line
4pts total
7. (IN.1.C.b) Using the data in the table above, predict the size of the cell placed in the
freshwater after 21 minutes.
Example: The size of the cell placed in the freshwater after 21 minutes will be 13.5 um
Criteria:
7a. (1pt) - 13.5 um (need to have unit of measurement stated)
1 pt total
8. (IN.1.A.c) Describe at least three essential steps that you would need to do in order to
actually conduct the investigation. The steps should be written so that any other person could
repeat your experiment with similar results.
Criteria:
8a. (1pt) - Procedure provides a qualitative outline that includes 3 or more steps that are
logical and appropriate for answering the question.
8b. (1 pt) - Procedure provides enough specific, quantitative, and appropriate information that
a knowledgeable person could conduct the investigation and obtain the same results.
8c. (1 pt) - Procedure indicates an understanding that the independent variable changed, the
effect on the dependent variable is observed, and the need to hold all other factors constant.
3pts total
BIOLOGY
UNIT 1a -- Science Inquiry
9. (IN.1.A.c) List three pieces of lab equipment required to carry out this investigation other
than safety equipment.
Example: Any piece of lab equipment needed to carry out the investigation
Note: Lab equipment is beyond the basic general equipment: safety goggles, pencil,
paper, etc.
Criteria:
9a. (1pt) - One piece of lab equipment stated
9b. (1 pt) - One piece of lab equipment stated
9c. (1 pt) - One piece of lab equipment stated
3pts total