BIOLOGY PROJECTS
Below each project are my initial thoughts on what should be researched and
included in your research paper. As you gather your reference material you will likely
see that there are other important topics to include.
Remember to LEARN about your topic first, and then ORGANIZE your thoughts and
ideas into paragraphs, THEN WRITE your paper! Your paper must flow from idea to
idea; it cannot just be a collection of paragraphs. Do not forget the introductory
paragraph and the concluding paragraph.
CHECK THAT YOU ARE MEETING ALL THE RESEARCH PAPER REQUIREMENTS. (See
revisions to those requirements posted recently)
Identifying Symbiosis Kit ($18 per project) Carolina kit p 15 prepaid coupon- need 2 weeks
Define the term symbiosis/symbiotic relationship
Describe and give an example(s) of each the 4 major symbiotic relationships (parasitism,
commensalism mutualism, and predation)
Analyzing Population Growth (yeast)
Carolina kit p 15 ($10 per project)
Select which of the following you will test: light intensity, nitrate, glucose, lactose, as a variable influencing
population growth.
Explain 2 types of growth; logistic and exponential; discuss an example of each
Define and describe the term population pyramid- explain how it relates to population growth
Discuss how an organism’s position in a food chain influences its population
Define and describe the term carrying capacity
What nutrients are required for yeast growth? Why are they needed?
Bacterial Investigative BioKit p25 ($10 per project) prepaid coupon- keep bacteria at room temp.
Discuss the diversity of bacteria, reproduction, conditions for growth and growth rate
Specifically describe the characteristics of Bacillus cereus
Determine the difference between bacteria and fungi
Explain agar, the different types and their role in growing bacteria in a lab
Antibiotic (fungi and bacteria) Production Kit p 27 ($10 per project) requires up to 9 days to completeprepaid coupon
Discuss the diversity of bacteria, reproduction, conditions for growth and growth rate
Discuss how antibiotics work
Explain how and why penicillin and streptomycin are produced naturally
Describe gram staining and the difference between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and
how that is associated with antibiotics
Learn about these organisms- Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Penicillium notatum, Streptomyces
griseus
Explain how bacteria is cultured in a lab
Disinfectant Sensitivity BioKit p 27 ($10 per project)
Select which disinfectants you will test from the list below;
Mouthwash- compare two
Spray cleaners- Lysol v. another brand
First aid products- Iodine v. another product
Cleaners- Bleach v. Soap (basic type)
You will need to purchase the products for testing at a local store.
You must determine your products before doing paper- you will need to know what is in the product that is the
“active ingredient” for disinfecting.
Discuss the diversity of bacteria, reproduction, conditions for growth and growth rate
Describe gram staining and the difference between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria
Explain how (in general) disinfectants work and why they are used
Information about the ingredients in disinfectants that be tested by your experiment
Projects with living protistsEuglena: (no cost for specimens)
You will need to bring in a gallon of spring water for use in your project. If you are testing fertilizer, you will
also need to purchase that at a local store.
State the classification of Euglena and describe the diversity within the Genus.
Describe the characteristics of Euglena; including reproduction and growth rate
Where are Euglena found? What is their role in an ecosystem?
What do Euglena eat/require for survival?
Discuss the requirements needed to cultivate Euglena in a lab- particularly focus on what you will be
testing.
1. Affect of light.- why is light important to Euglena?
2. Affect of temperature. – at what temperature is at found naturally?
3. Affect of acid (rain)- define acid rain, its cause and general affects (how will you make acid rain?)
4. Affect of fertilizers- describe the composition/ingredients of fertilizer (specifically the one you will use),
how do those ingredients affect Euglena?
Paramecium ( no cost for specimens)
You will need to bring in a gallon of spring water for use in your project. If you are testing fertilizer, you will
also need to purchase that at a local store.
State the classification of Paramecium and describe the diversity within the Genus.
Describe the characteristics of paramecium; including reproduction and growth rate
Where are Paramecium found? What is their role in an ecosystem?
What do Paramecium eat/require for survival?
Discuss the requirements needed to cultivate paramecium in a lab- particularly focus on what you will
be testing.
1. Affect of temperature- at what temperature is at found naturally?
2. Affect of acid (rain)- define acid rain, its cause and general affects (how will you make acid rain?)
3. Rate of population growth, affected by food availability- what environmental factors would limit the
growth rate (specifically address the one you will test)
4. Affect of fertilizers- describe the composition/ingredients of fertilizer (specifically the one you will use),
how do those ingredients affect Euglena?
Pill Bugs (I have some specimens, $10 per 12 )
State the classification of pill bugs & describe the diversity within this group.(including scientific name)
Describe the characteristics of pill bugs; including reproduction and growth rate
Where are pill bugs found? What is their role in an ecosystem?
What do pill bugs eat/require for survival?
Discuss the requirements needed to cultivate pill bugs in a lab- particularly focus on what you will be
testing.
1. Environmental choices
2. Environmental choices
Lumbriculus variegates ($10 per project)
Studies of locomotion, regeneration, behavior, environment affects (acid rain, chemical toxicity)
You will need to bring in a gallon of spring water for use in your project. If you are testing acid rain or chemical
toxicity, you will also need to purchase whatever is needed at a local store.
State the classification of Lumbriculus variegates.
Describe the characteristics of Lumbriculus variegates; including reproduction and growth rate
Where are Lumbriculus variegates found? What is their role in an ecosystem?
What do Lumbriculus variegates eat/require for survival?
Discuss the requirements needed to cultivate Lumbriculus variegates in a lab
Information on the particular characteristic you will be testingLocomotion
Regeneration
Behavior
Environmental Affects (acid rain- define acid rain, its cause and general affects (how will you
make acid rain?)
Chemical toxicity- what chemical will you choose and why? It must be one
that could be found in an environment that is polluted
Amphipods, Daphnia, Copepods ($11 per project)
Studies on environmental effects (acid rain, chemical toxicity)
You will need to bring in a gallon of spring water for use in your project. If you are testing acid rain or chemical
toxicity, you will also need to purchase whatever is needed at a local store.
State the classification of amphipods.
(including scientific names)
Describe the characteristics of amphipods; including reproduction and growth rate
Where are amphipods found? What is their role in an ecosystem?
What do amphipods eat/require for survival?
Discuss the requirements needed to cultivate amphipods in a lab
Information on the particular characteristic you will be testingLocomotion
Regeneration
Behavior
Environmental Affects (acid rain- define acid rain, its cause and general affects (how will you
make acid rain?)
Chemical toxicity- what chemical will you choose and why? It must be one
that could be found in an environment that is polluted
Triops ($15 per project)
Studies on regeneration (from eggs) under varying conditions
You will need to bring in a gallon of spring water for use in your project. If you are testing acid rain or chemical
toxicity, you will also need to purchase whatever is needed at a local store.
State the classification of triops.
Describe the characteristics of triops; including reproduction and growth rate
Where are triops found? What is their role in an ecosystem?
What do triops eat/require for survival?
Discuss the requirements needed to cultivate triops in a lab
Information on the particular characteristic you will be testingRegeneration
Environmental Affects? (acid rain- define acid rain, its cause and general affects (how will you
make acid rain?)
Chemical toxicity?- what chemical will you choose and why? It must be one
that could be found in an environment that is polluted
Termite ($19 for 25 workers) p 160
Studies on wood decay, gut protists, scent trails. OR Termite Study Kit p 160 ($13 per project)
State the classification of termites.
Describe the characteristics of termites; including reproduction, growth rate, life cycle
Distinguish between soldier and worker termites in both appearance and function
Where are termites found? What is their role in an ecosystem?
What do termites eat/require for survival?
Discuss the requirements needed to cultivate termites in a lab
Information on the particular characteristic you will be testingWood decay- what are the differences between the woods you will test
Gut protists- What is the role of the protists? What do they require to survive?
identify the types of protist found in the termite gut
Scent trails- How do termites detect scent trails? How do they use them? What type of scents
attract termites?
Brine Shrimp- affects of alcohol on development p 153 ($13 per project)
State the classification of brine shrimp.
Describe the characteristics of brine shrimp; including reproduction, growth rate, life cycle
Where are brine shrimp found? What is their role in an ecosystem?
What do brine shrimp eat/require for survival?
Discuss the requirements needed to cultivate brine shrimp in a lab
Discuss effects of alcohol consumption on health of humans (at all ages)- particularly developing
embryo
For these research based projects you must be sure you can find statistics
to help evaluate your hypothesis.
Changing projects after “commitment” date of 11/8 and 11/9 will affect
your ability to complete the work on time
and therefore compromise your grade.
Vertical forests- trees on patios of city buildings
Green roofs- types of plants
Ash Borer – the bug that is eating America, compare containment attempts, spread
State the classification of the ash borer and its scientific name.
Describe the characteristics of the ash borer; including reproduction, growth rate, life cycle
Where are ash borers found? What is their role in an ecosystem?
What do ash borers eat/require for survival?
Be sure to include information on containment attempts and spread in US.
Rainforest logging v. rainfall (affect of deforestation on the water cycle)
Explain the water cycle and how trees affect it.
Discuss why rainforests are being logged.
Describe other problems associated with rainforest logging.
(For your comparison of rainfall before and after logging- be sure to find at least 3 countries to evaluate
for your data collection- you will need to print out the web pages used for statistics)
Diabetes statistics in developed and developing countries (comparison)
Define and describe the different types of diabetes
Discuss the causes of each type of diabetes
Link specific type of diabetes to diet
Describe the foods consumed in developing countries and compare to diet in developed countries ( you
may have to further limit this- ex. US v. Central American countries or East African countries )
You will need to print out the web pages used for statistics
Heart disease developed v. developing countries.
Define and describe particular conditions that are considered heart disease
Discuss the causes of heart disease
Link heart disease to diet
Describe the foods consumed in developing countries and compare to diet in developed countries (you
may have to further limit this- ex. US v. Central American countries or East African countries )
You will need to print out the web pages used for statistics
Study of increasing mpg for cars over the past decades.
Description of the factors that contributes to fuel consumption (mpg)
Select one factor and research how it has changed over time and impacted increasing mpg.
Describe the types of cars/ manufacturers that have improved this particular factor
You will need to print out the web pages used for statistics
Safety of cars- How well does the current safety innovations protect passengers? Compare car fatalities
before and after development of implementation of safety features.
(Esther, we discussed this- see me if you need more help.)
You will need to print out the web pages used for statistics