Aquaponic #11
LO 1.3 The student is able to apply mathematical methods to data from a real or simulated population to predict what will happen to the population in the future.
LO 2.2 The student is able to justify a scientific claim that free energy is required for living systems to maintain organization, to grow or to reproduce, but that multiple strategies exist in different living systems.
LO 3.43 The student is able to construct an explanation, based on scientific theories and models, about how nervous systems detect external and internal signals, transmit and integrate information, and produce responses
LO 4.18 The student is able to use representations and models to analyze how cooperative interactions within organisms promote efficiency in the use of energy and matter.
LO 1.3 The student is able to apply mathematical methods to data from a real or simulated population to predict what will happen to the population in the future.
- I would calculate the percent change in height for a plant in each system to show the growth rates in each system. This allowed me to predict the growth of other plants in the system, as well as identify how great of an impact the cocoa powder had on the Ocimum basilicum (basil) growth
LO 2.2 The student is able to justify a scientific claim that free energy is required for living systems to maintain organization, to grow or to reproduce, but that multiple strategies exist in different living systems.
- As seen in my carbon, nitrogen, and biochemistry flow charts along with their description, my research demonstrates as well as explain why and how each component of the experiment is necessary for growth. For example, the addition of coco powder was to increase the nitrogen levels within the system as it can be used by the Ocimum basilicum (basil) as an energy source for photosynthesis.
LO 3.43 The student is able to construct an explanation, based on scientific theories and models, about how nervous systems detect external and internal signals, transmit and integrate information, and produce responses
- In my research, I observed that the fishes in my system swam towards the bottom of the system. Since fishes are not like human and can control their body temperatures, the rely on their environment being the right temperature. In both cases the Carassius auratus (goldfish) and the Oreochromis aureus (blue tilapia) lived in temperature slightly below 37 degrees Celsuis. Most likely, the fishes warmer temperatures caused the fishes' hypothalamus to respond by sending a message to the nerves for the muscle to contract resulting in the fish to move from that particular area.
LO 4.18 The student is able to use representations and models to analyze how cooperative interactions within organisms promote efficiency in the use of energy and matter.
- The plants and fish are able to provide O2 and CO2 for each other through photosynthesis and cellular respiration The fish waste contained NH3, which is used by the plants after the process of nitrification and aid in the production of proteins required for photosynthesis. This is an example of the system's efficient use of matter.
- 3. The student can engage in scientific questioning to extend thinking or to guide investigations within the context of the AP course.
- In my research I posed the question of "Does the addition of cocoa powder affect the growth of Ocimum basilicum?". The question was later refined to "Does the addition of cocoa powder increase the growth of Ocimum basilicum?". After a few weeks of data and no growth of basil, I evaluated my question an re-refined the question to be " To what extent does the addition of cocoa powder stunt or increase the growth of Ocimum basilicum?"
- 4. The student can plan and implement data collection strategies appropriate to a particular scientific question.
- In my research, I only collected data concerning the ammonia levels, pH, and height of the plants. Since cocoa powder is high in nitrogen, I attempted to isolate the data so that only changes caused and affected by nitrogen would be examines. Before beginning the experiment, I wrote methods and procedure to have a relative idea on how I was to execute the experiment. After the first week of data collections, I noticed the system with cocoa powder mixed in its pebbles had higher pH as well as ammonia levels, and therefore lowered the amount of powder in mixture, This resulted my plants germinations because a too high ammonia level can yield plant growth