experimentation
Background info
The experiment focuses on a genus of brown algae, Sargassum. Sargassum can be found in tropical and temperate waters and are mostly in shallow water or coral reefs. Some of the species of Sargassum are free-floating, made buoyant by bladders filled with gas. The Sargasso Sea is an ecosystem dominated largely by free floating Sargassum. This floating jungle is so dominated by Sargassum that some organisms such as the pipefish have gained Sargassum-like camouflage, to blend in with the surrounding algae.
Hypothesis
How does the level of pH in the water affect the growth of Phaeophyta?
Experimental Design
The variable changed in this experiment would be the level of pH in the water, and the variable that would respond and be measured would be the growth of the Phaeophyta. For the experiment to have accurate results, the water would need to be the same temperature for all different pH levels, and the same supply and amount of light to be provided. The Phaeophyta whose growth is being measured would all need to be the same size as well. Equipment needed would be water tanks, salt water, a light source and a temperature regulator. For the experiment, Sargassum will be grown with high acidic levels of pH in the water, also with neutral levels, and with low, basic levels of pH. For each different level, the kelp would be measured every day for 30 days to see how the pH levels affect growth.
Possible results
A possible outcome of this experiment is that the algae grows faster and thrives in high levels of pH, and are smaller the lower the levels of pH are.