Protozoan Lab- 30 pts
Purpose:
Examne three different examples of protists to observe differences how the move and feed.
Background: Give some beneficial and harmful effects associated with protozoans. (3 pts)
Hypothesis: None
Variables:
Control – use of the same microscopes and get samples from the same supplier. Independent
– the three different types of protozoans. Dependent – the different protozoan drawings and
behaviours.
Materials:
Living cultures of: Paramecium, Amoeba, and Euglena, Congo red yeast suspension, methyl
cellulose, microscope, microscope slide, slide cover slip, and medicine dropper.
Procedures: Summarize the three parts - be sure to list any warnings (4 pts)
Part 1
1.
Obtain a clean, dry microscope slide.
2.
Use the pipette from the small jar of “Methylcellulose” to draw a thin ring of methylcellulose on
the microscope slide. The ring should be small enough circle to fit under a cover slip.
Methylcellulose is made from cellulose (component of cell walls) and it is used as a thickener in
water.
3.
Place a drop of Paramecium culture in the center of the ring.
4.
Add a small drop of red yeast suspension (it contains a pH indicator Congo red that changes
color to indicate level of acidity).
5.
Cover with cover slip and observe immediately, under the low then high power objective of the
microscope.
6.
In the data collection part of your write-up, draw and label the Paramecium at either 200x - 400x
magnification. Label the following structures if it is visible: cilia, nucleus, pellicle, gullet, food
vacuole, cytoplasm and contractile vacuole.
7.
Answer questions 1-4.
Part 2: your instructor may set up one slide to demonstrate amoeba’s to the whole class.
1.
Give your instructor a clean dry microscope slide, bring a clean dry cover slip with you.
2.
Your instructor will give you an Amoeba.
3.
Examine the Amoeba on low then high power.
4.
In the data collection of your lab write-up, draw amoeba at either 200x-400x magnifications.
Label the following: pseudopodia, cytoplasm, and contractile vacuole.
4.
Answer questions 5 and 6.
*** If you can't find the Amoeba ask your neighbours if you could look at theirs.
Part 3
1.
Make a wet mount of Euglena on a clean dry microscope slide.
2.
Examine the Euglena on low then high power.
3.
Draw the Euglena on high power. Label the following: eye spot, flagella, cytoplasm, and
chloroplasts.
4.
Answer question 7 & 8.
Data Collection: 3 labelled drawings per group member (total of 12 pts; who ever doesn’t turn in a
drawing or does poor work will receive a different grade for this lab than their
partner.)
Data Analysis: (Total of 9 pts)
1.What takes place when a Paramecium meets or bumps into a yeast cell?
2.How does the Paramecium get yeast cell into its body?
3.Describe any color change that takes place in the food vacuole containing yeast. What does it mean?
4.What was the function of the methylcellulose on this slide?
5.In your own words, describe how the Amoeba moves.
6.What do we call the projections that the Amoeba uses for movement?
7.How does this protist provide energy for itself?
8.Give two visible structures present in the Euglena but are not found in the other two organisms. (2 pts)
Conclusion: (total of 6 pts)
How did the different movement structures affect the organism's ability to move in its environment? i.e.
compare cilia, to pseudopods, to flagella. (3 pts) Besides movement what is another way we could group
these three organisms. (1 pt)
Don’t forget error analysis and suggestions. (2 pts)
Before you leave your lab station, make sure it is cleaned up (i.e.
no scrap papers or excessive water) also make sure you have
microscope slide and cover slip!
Sample invertebrates found in pond water