Hi Students !
I heard from Mr. Veero that you might want to help me with my research. That's great! we can use all the help we can get.
There is a lake in northern California called Mono Lake. Long ago it was quite large, but for hundreds of years it has been drying up and getting smaller. As a result, Mono Lake is becoming more and more salty. As the lake keeps getting smaller the concentration of the salt (we call it salinity) increases. Basically the lake is getting saltier the smaller it gets.
I have been studying the ecosystem of Mono Lake for a long time now. I have learned that thousands of migrating birds depend on a small aquatic animal called brine shrimp for food. The brine shrimp need salty water in order to survive but we are worried that if the salinity of the lake gets to high the brine shrimp will not be able to survive, and the whole ecosystem of Mono Lake will collapse.
So here is what I need help with:
Each year we collect brine shrimp eggs from the lake and test to see what level of salinity the can hatch in. Basically, we want to see if each new generation of brine shrimp is adapting to the higher salinity levels. I can send Mr. Veero a set of this years brine shrimp eggs, you need to come up with an experiment to do that will tell us what salinity level the eggs are hatching in. However, before you start the experiment, explain it to me. Look in the section called "Directions for the Research" to see what materials you can use. Then post your experiment ideas under your group number.
Hopefully, with your help we will be able to save the ecosystem of Mono Lake.
Thanks !
Dr. Martha Davis (Dr. Laura's research partner)
PS - I posted some photos of the work we are doing under "About Me" feel free to look through them!
There is a lake in northern California called Mono Lake. Long ago it was quite large, but for hundreds of years it has been drying up and getting smaller. As a result, Mono Lake is becoming more and more salty. As the lake keeps getting smaller the concentration of the salt (we call it salinity) increases. Basically the lake is getting saltier the smaller it gets.
I have been studying the ecosystem of Mono Lake for a long time now. I have learned that thousands of migrating birds depend on a small aquatic animal called brine shrimp for food. The brine shrimp need salty water in order to survive but we are worried that if the salinity of the lake gets to high the brine shrimp will not be able to survive, and the whole ecosystem of Mono Lake will collapse.
So here is what I need help with:
Each year we collect brine shrimp eggs from the lake and test to see what level of salinity the can hatch in. Basically, we want to see if each new generation of brine shrimp is adapting to the higher salinity levels. I can send Mr. Veero a set of this years brine shrimp eggs, you need to come up with an experiment to do that will tell us what salinity level the eggs are hatching in. However, before you start the experiment, explain it to me. Look in the section called "Directions for the Research" to see what materials you can use. Then post your experiment ideas under your group number.
Hopefully, with your help we will be able to save the ecosystem of Mono Lake.
Thanks !
Dr. Martha Davis (Dr. Laura's research partner)
PS - I posted some photos of the work we are doing under "About Me" feel free to look through them!