Transcript Blooms Galore

BLOOMS GALORE:
Interdisciplinary study using Red Tides
http://biodidac.bio.uottawa.ca/thumb
nails/filedet.htm?File_name=Dino00
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Inspired and created by:
Tan Swee Ngin, Tan Lik Tong, Tan Hong Kim, Hoh Yin Kiong, Beverly Goh
Scenario
Jack and Jill loved going fishing with Dad at the Pasir Ris Beach Park. You could get
some good sized fish if you were patient enough, and used fresh bait. Saturday’s haul
was 12 medium-sized fish from a 3h fishing trip – not a bad day. Mum had cleaned the
fish and was going to prepare them for Sunday dinner.
Early Sunday morning, Dad looked at the newspapers and exclaimed: “Don’t touch the
fish! This news alert from the AVA (Agri-food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore)
cautions that Pasir Ris waters are on a Red Tide Alert. We have to throw everything we
caught yesterday away.” “Red Tides may cause Diuretic Shellfish Poisoning, Paralytic
Shellfish Poisoning, Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning….”, he read out officiously.
“What on earth is a Red Tide?” cried J & J. “What does this have to do with the fish we
caught? How about the oysters and mussels that we bought from the fisherman and the
beach yesterday? Do we have to throw them all away as well?”
Know
Need to Know
Types of nutrients that cause
eutrophication
Eutrophication leads to algal blooms
Certain physical and chemical factors
affect primary productivity
There are toxin and non-toxin producing
microalgae
How red tides affect food supply (higher
level students)
Types of organic nitrogen sources. Distinguish between
inorganic sources (e.g. fertilizers) and organic sources
(e.g. amino acids from decomposition process)
Chemical analyses (qualitative and quantitative) of
water quality parameters, e.g. NO3, PO4, TKN
Biological identification of microorganism that may or
may not produce toxins (e.g. dinoflagellates, and blue
green Microcystis
Analysis of chlorophyll / primary productivity
Chemical Identification of toxins (e.g. neurotoxins,
hepatotoxins, inflammatory)
Learning Goals
Collaborative learning (max 3 per group), PBL, scientific
literacy, analytical and scientific communication skills,
global and environmental awareness, societal
responsibilities
http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/ocean.productivity/index.php
Behrenfeld, MJ, PG Falkowski 1997. Limnology and Oceanography 42:1-20.
Investigation and Activities
Field sampling (plankton tows) of several water bodies – biology lab to identify
microorganisms(cyano-site: http://www-cyanosite.bio.purdue.edu/index.html;
dynoflagellates: www.mnh.si.edu/highlight/sem/dinoflagellates.html)
Harmful Algal Blooms, HABs: http://www.issha.org/Welcome-to-ISSHA/Harmfulalgae
Analysis of physical properties of water (Environmental probes, e.g. conductivity,
temperature, DO, salinity, pH)
Qualitative and quantitative analyses of water quality parameters (PO4, NO3, TKN
using the nutrient analyser – FIA)
Chlorophyll analysis
Analytical techniques for toxins (e.g. HPLC, LCMS) -- Higher Level class, e.g.
MSc
Mathematical Models on plankton blooms – online resources
NOAA monitoring of global phytoplankton productivity
http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/ocean.productivity/standard.product.php
Teacher’s guide & classroom activities for primary, secondary, tertiary level
science
Student products
Assessment
Poster + oral presentation
Written report (lab report)
Journal paper
Brochure/field guide on
phytoplankton sampling
Awareness pamphlet on sources
of nutrient runoff & impacts
Lesson plan on eutrophication
Aquatic food web activity sheets
Group report assessment
MLS, MMM, MSC, AAB,AAY, AAP,
FYP poster & paper assessment
rubrics
Journal reflection on weekly basis
for formative assessment (500
word)
Lesson plan assessment rubrics
Some Resources
Identification keys for micro-organisms (e.g. plankton ID books)
Vogel’s Quantitative Chemical Analysis (by Mendham, Denny, Barnes, Thomas)
Instrument Manuals
Field Sampling gear (e.g. plankton nets)
Microscopes, slides, etc
Marine Biotoxins (www.fao.org/docrep/007/y5486e/y5486e00.htm#Contents)
Newspaper articles: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14324094
http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.com/2010/01/200000-fish-in-farms-off-pasir-risdead.html