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At the heart of LIAT are experiments, experiments, and more experiments! Below are a selection of experiments that are done by students in the lab using LIAT. Most do not require extensive equipment to run or collected data from, and all can be optimized for the goals of the instructor and students.
All were designed by students as part of a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE). Those experiment with videos were designed by students and executed by me during the Covid-19 pandemic. Others were designed and executed by first-year students in groups of 2-4 for their final CURE projects. Those that involve competition were conducted by students in upper-level ecology courses.
What are the effects of varying nitrogen to phosphorus ratio on algae population growth?
Conducted in 2020 for students during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Independent variable: N:P ratio
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata
What are the effects of varying predation rate at the top of a 3-level food chain on algae and herbivore populations?
Conducted in 2020 for students during the Covid-19 pandemic
Independent variable: rate of predation on Daphnia magna (water fleas)
Dependent variables: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata, abundance of water fleas
What are the effects of adding nutrients to a 3-level food chain on algae and herbivore populations?
Conducted in 2020 for students during the Covid-19 pandemic
Independent variable: added nutrients
Dependent variables: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata, abundance of water fleas
Does light intensity affect growth of algae populations?
Independent variable: light intensity (from grow lights)
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata
Does temperature affect growth of algae populations?
Independent variable: ambient temperature (from environmental chambers)
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata
Does waste from damselfly larvae affect the growth of algae populations?
Independent variable: volume of damselfly waste added
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata
Does pH affect rates of algae and Daphnia population growth and survival?
Independent variable: pH
Dependent variables: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata, Daphnia magna population size (no. individuals/microcosm)
Does photoperiod affect the growth of algae populations?
Independent variable: photoperiod (by grow lights on timers)
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata
Does estrogen concentration affect the growth of algae populations?
Independent variable: estrogen concentration
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata
Do different consumers affect the growth of algae populations differently?
Independent variable: Consumer identity (2 species of zooplankton)
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata
Does water from different distances in the watershed from a lake affect the growth of algae populations differently?
Independent variable: distance from lake
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata
Does water color affect algae population growth?
Independent variable: water color (via food coloring)
Dependent variables: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata
Do pollutants (magnesium sulfate, sodium fluoride, and synthetic oil) affect the growth of algae populations?
Independent variable: pollutant type
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata
Does concentration of chloride ions affect the growth of algae and water flea populations?
Independent variables: chloride ion concentration, time
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata, abundance (no. individuals/microcosm) of Daphnia magna
Does concentration of microplastics affect the growth of algae and water flea populations?
Independent variables: microplastic concentration, time
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata, abundance (no. individuals/microcosm) of Daphnia magna
Does concentration of bacteria affect the growth of algae and water flea populations?
Independent variables: E. coli concentration, time
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata, abundance (no. individuals/microcosm) of Daphnia magna
Does concentration of nitrate affect the growth of algae and water flea populations?
Independent variables: nitrate concentration, time
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata, abundance (no. individuals/microcosm) of Daphnia magna
Does concentration of phosphate affect the growth of algae and water flea populations?
Independent variables: nitrate concentration, time
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata, abundance (no. individuals/microcosm) of Daphnia magna
Does low dissolved oxygen affect the growth of algae populations?
Independent variable: dissolved oxygen concentration
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata
Does nutrient concentration affect population growth rates of R. subcapitata and Daphnia magna?
Independent variable: nutrient concentration
Dependent variables: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata, D. magna population size
Do light filters of various colors affect population growth rates of R. subcapitata?
Independent variable: color of cellophane around LIAT microcosm, time
Dependent variable: algae cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata
Does temperature affect competition between two phytoplankton species?
Independent variable: temperature (in environmental chambers), time
Dependent variables: cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata, and/or Microcystis aeruginosa, and/or Scenedesmus quadricauda
Does pH affect competition between two phytoplankton species?
Independent variable: pH, time
Dependent variables: cell density (cells/mL) of Raphidocelis subcapitata, and/or Microcystis aeruginosa, and/or Scenedesmus quadricauda
Does photoperiod affect competition between two phytoplankton species?
Independent variable: photoperiod (grow-lights on timers)
Dependent variables: cells/mL of Raphidocelis subcapitata, and/or Microcystis aeruginosa, and/or Scenedesmus quadricauda
Does temperature affect competition between two zooplankton species?
Independent variable: temperature (in environmental chambers), time
Dependent variables: population sizes (no. individuals/microcosm) of Daphnia magna and Ceriodaphnia dubia
Does pH affect competition between two zooplankton species?
Independent variable: pH, time
Dependent variables: population sizes (no. individuals/microcosm) of Daphnia magna and Ceriodaphnia dubia
Does photoperiod affect competition between two zooplankton species?
Independent variable: photoperiod (grow lights on timers), time
Dependent variables: population sizes (no. individuals/microcosm) of Daphnia magna and Ceriodaphnia dubia
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