Abstract The Effects of Iron (II) Sulfate on Growth and Carbon Dioxide Sequestration in Thalassiosira pseudonana and Phaeodactylum tricornutum James Krach.

AbstractThe Effects of Iron (II) Sulfate on Growth and Carbon Dioxide Sequestration in Thalassiosira pseudonana and

Phaeodactylum tricornutum

James Krach and Jonathan TamManhasset Science Research

Period 0 – 1

Over the past 50 years, the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii has observed increasing rates of CO2 emmission. The CO2 increase in 1959 was 0.95 ppm/yr, whereas in 2007 the rate of CO2 increase was 2.14ppm/yr. (Tans, 2008) In Martin’s (1993) experiment, FeSO4 was added to an area of the Pacific Ocean with minimal algae growth and exponential growth was observed. In this experiment algae is grown in 2-liter polyethylene terephthalate bottles to prevent contamination by trace elements in glass (Martin, 1982). Thalassiosira pseudonana and Phaeodactylum tricornutum used as model organisms for this experiment due to previous extensive research on these organisms. FeSO4 is added to the algae medium to make the media a 1.44µM solution of iron. (Coale, 2008) Data will be collected using a PASCO GLX Explorer to measure the CO2 concentration and pH of the media.

NeedAccording to the Mauna Loa Observatory, Carbon Dioxide

levels have risen from 1959 to 20071959 – measurements indicate Carbon Dioxide level 0.95

ppm/yr2007 – measurements indicate Carbon Dioxide level 2.14

ppm/yrChanges in Carbon Dioxide are synchronized with the changes

in Temperature (Hied, 1996)An increase in the levels of Carbon Dioxide maybe a

significant reason for Global Warming

Knowledge BaseCarbon Dioxide is a greenhouse gas, which is any gas that traps heat

in the atmosphereThe Greenhouse Effect is when short wavelengths of sunlight hit

the earth’s surface and radiate off in longer wavelengthsGreenhouse Gases such as Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Nitrous

Oxide block the wavelengths from leaving the earth’s atmosphere

Greenhouse Gases are necessary in maintaining heat in the atmosphere, but man’s influence on the environment have led to an unhealthy growth and massive over production of greenhouse gases.

Knowledge BasePhytoplankton are a microscopic plant that live in the ocean

and provide the foundation of the Ocean’s food chain.Phytoplankton reproduce through photosynthesis, which

means they need certain substances to survive.To reproduce properly, Phytoplankton need sufficient

water, sunlight and nutrients in the form of Nitrate, Iron, Silica or Phosphate

Literature Review

Literature Review In 1882, J.A. Stockhardt and J.V. Sachs found that leaves who were

cultured without iron, developed an illness known as chlorosis.The condition involves leaves to lose coloration and become

yellow or white.By using 2 liter bottles as a test vessel, John Martin Michael Gordon

and Steve Fitzwater were able to collect samples of plankton in three water regions around the worldThey tested plankton from The Southern Ocean, The Equatorial

Pacific Ocean and the Northeaster Pacific Subarctic and by adding 1 nanomol of iron per liter, found exponential growth in the plankton of the sea water sample

Literature ReviewSoFEX was an experiment ran by Dr. Kenneth Cole in the

southern oceans influenced by John Martin’s proposal of 1 nanomol of iron per liter in a 15 x 15 kilometer region.

From an Iron Fertilization test called IronEX ran by Cole, data illustrated the different species of plankton grown in a sea sample of water.The five major types of plankton were Prochlorococcus,

Synechococcus, Ultraplankton, Nanoplankton and Pennate Diatoms

It was found that Pennate Diatoms exhibited the most growth, therefore depleted the most carbon dioxide.

Hypothesis1(a) Growth of Phaeodactylum tricornutum will be significantly

different when FeSO4 is added

1(n) There will be no significant difference in growth of Phaeodactylum tricornutum when FeSO4 is added

2(a) Growth of Thalassiosira pseudonana will be significantly different when FeSO4 is added

2 (n) There will be no significant difference in growth of Thasassiosiria pseudonana when FeSO4 is added

PurposeThe purpose of this experiment is to examine the effects that iron fertilization has upon the photosynthetic methods of different types of phytoplankton

(Control) – No concentrations of iron will be added and the concentration of water will remain the same only give a minuscule amount of nutrients for survival

Phaeoda ctylum tricornutum stored in 2 liter clear polycarbonate bottles

Biomass measured using Unico 2100 Series Spectrophotometer (% of light absorbed)

CO2 concentration measured using PASCO Carbon Dioxide Gas Sensor (ppm)

The period of growth is 18 days and the iron solutions will be added on day 1

Tthalassiosira pseudon ana stored in 2 liter clear polycarbonate bottles

Biomass measured in pH – an increase in pH indicates an absorption of CO2 (Coale - Protocol)

(Powder) – 325mg Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (Sigma-Aldrich)

Statistical Analysis followed by Scheffe post-hoc test

(Control) – No concentrations of iron will be added and the concentration of water will remain the same only give a minuscule amount of nutrients for survival

The Effects of Iron (II) Sulfate on the Photosynthetic Methods and Carbon Dioxide Sequestration of Thalassiosira pseudonana and Phaeodactylum tricornutum

(Powder) – 325mg Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (Sigma-Aldrich)

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