Name:

Teacher Name:

Net Primary Productivity of Aquatic Plants

Prelab
1. Most of the oxygen and biomass on Earth comes from the ocean. Identify two organisms in
the ocean that are producers.
Phytoplakton and Kelp

2. Identify two organisms that serve as producers in freshwater sources such as ponds, lakes,
streams, and rivers.
Algae and duckweed

3. Identify five components of their environment that producers need to survive. For each
component, describe why it is essential.
(Hint: Consider the photosynthesis equation and your knowledge of biogeochemical cycles
from earlier in the unit.)

Sunlight: Helps plants convert light into energy through photosynthesis.

Water: Needed for nutrient absorption and photosynthesis.
Carbon Dioxide : Used in photosynthesis to make food and oxygen.
Nutrients: Important for plant growth.
Oxygen: Used in respiration to release energy from sugars.

Control Procedure
1. Collect all necessary materials, including the dissolved oxygen kit and a water sample. We
will use tap water.
2. Carefully collect a water sample. Ensure the sample is free from debris or contaminants.
3. Follow the instructions provided with the dissolved oxygen kit to test the water.
Control Questions
1. What is your water source?
Tap water

2. What is the initial dissolved oxygen reading (with units)?

ppm

Reflection
1. A healthy aquatic environment has a dissolved oxygen concentration of 8 ppm. If the
reading were significantly higher or lower, it would signal potential issues with oxygen levels
that may require further investigation and adjustments in the aquarium environment. Was
this water sample capable of supporting aquatic life? Explain why or why not.
If the reading is 8 ppm or higher, the water is good for aquatic life. A much lower
reading means there may not be enough oxygen for fish and other aquatic
organisms.

Experimental Design
My location choice was

For my hypothesis, I chose

Aquatic plants here will grow better and produce more energy than those in a
polluted area.

Type of aquatic plant

The independent variable is

The dependent variable is Dissolved oxyegn levels

Briefly describe how you would use the materials listed to design an experiment testing the primary
productivity of aquatic plants in

.I will take two identical bottles, fill them with water from different places, and add the
same amount of aquatic plant to each. Then, Ill measure the oxygen levels before
and after exposing the bottles to light for several days to see how much the plants
produce.
Procedure
1. Fill two identical bottles with water sourced from each of the three designated water
sources. Submerge the bottles underwater, ensuring the caps are screwed on tightly while
releasing any air pockets or bubbles. Once secured, reseal the caps.

2. Take a dissolved oxygen measurement from each of the three samples. This will allow you to
determine your initial dissolved oxygen.

3. Using scissors, cut a 2-4 cm segment of the chosen aquatic plant for each bottle. Add the
same amount of plant material to both bottles, replacing the caps afterward. To prevent air
pockets or bubbles, it may be necessary to add more water or cap the bottle underwater
again.

4. Cover one of the bottles with black paper. If using an opaque container instead of paper,
place it over the bottle after completing the following step.

5. Clearly label each bottle with the location that the sample is being pulled from. This
ensures proper identification and tracking of the experiment.

6. Position both bottles near a light source, such as a window, plant light, or clamp light. Allow
the bottles to remain in this location for a duration of 2-4 days to facilitate the experiment's
progression and observation

7. Take off the black paper or container covering the dark bottle.
8. Document observations for both the dark and light bottles. Pay particular attention to any
newly formed air pockets or bubbles.

9. Place both bottles on a paper towel and carefully unscrew the lids.
10. Measure the dissolved oxygen in the two bottles. Maintain water stability during this
process, minimizing movement, as it can introduce additional oxygen from the air,
potentially skewing your results. Record the measurements in the data table, including the
appropriate units.
Data
Table 1: DO Data for
Location Treatment Initial DO Final DO Observations
Lake A 7.5 9.5 Some bubbles formed, water clear
light

Lake A 7.5 6.0 No bubbles, water unchanged

dark

River B 6.8 89 Few bubbles, slight green tint

light

River B 6.8 5.9 No bubbles, water clear

dark

Pond C 7.2 9.1 Visible plant growth, bubbles formed

light

Pond C 7.2 5.8 Water murky, no visible changes

dark

Table 2: Respiration Rate for

Location Initial DO Final DO Dark Respiration Rate
Lake A 7.5 6.0 2

River B 6.8 5.9 0.9

Pond C 7.2 5.8 1.4

Table 3: GPP for

Location Final DO Light Final DO Dark GPP
Lake A 9.5 6.0 4

River B 89 5.9 3.0

Pond C 9.1 5.8 3.3

Table 4: NPP for
Location GPP Respiration Rate NPP
Lake A 4 2 2

River B 3.0 0.9 2.1

Pond C 3.3 1.4 1.9

Table 5: Alternative NPP for

Location Final DO Light Initial DO Light NPP
Lake A 9.5 7.5 2.0

River B 89 6.8 2.1

Pond C 9.1 7.2 1.9

Table 6: Carbon Conversion for

Location NPP Amount of C arbon
Lake A 2 0.95

River B 2.1 1.0

Pond C 1.9 0.9

Analysis
1. Did the analysis conducted in this lab effectively address the initial question posed?
Provide a comprehensive explanation of whether your findings align with the original inquiry.
The analysis answered how different water environments impact plant productivity.
Light increased oxygen levels in all samples, showing more photosynthesis and
higher productivity. In contrast, the dark bottles had less oxygen because
respiration uses it up. The experiment showed both photosynthesis and respiration.
2. Propose one modification to this experiment that could enhance the validity of the results.
Explain how implementing this modification would contribute to a more robust and reliable
investigation.
To improve the experiment, we could extend the light exposure time or test different
light intensities. This would give us better data on how light affects oxygen
production and provide a stronger study of photosynthesis rates.

3. Examine the changes in the dark bottles to determine the processes that occurred. Did
photosynthesis, cellular respiration, or both processes take place in the dark bottle?
In the dark bottle, no photosynthesis happened because there was no light. The
drop in oxygen shows that only respiration occurred, which uses oxygen and
releases carbon dioxide. This was seen in the final oxygen readings for all samples.

4. Examine the changes in the light bottles to determine the processes that occurred. Did
photosynthesis, cellular respiration, or both processes take place in the light bottle?
In the light bottle, both photosynthesis and respiration happened. But since
photosynthesis makes more oxygen than respiration uses, there was a net increase
in oxygen. The higher final oxygen levels in the light bottle show that light is
important for oxygen production through photosynthesis.