Effects of Motor Oil on a Jar Ecosystem
The Effects of Motor Oil in A Controlled Freshwater Jar Ecosystem
Introduction:
“An ecosystem is an environment where plants, animals, and micro-organisms all interact and reside together in a setting” (Simon, Reece, and Dickey, 2010). There are two main types of aquatic ecosystems, freshwater and marine. The main difference between them is that marine ecosystems contain salt, which causes them to be undrinkable without substantial alterations. Freshwater systems contain nearly no salt and provide a majority of the Earths’ drinking water, with little alterations. Freshwater ecosystems are aquatic systems that include both abiotic and biotic components. Abiotic components are the non-living chemical and physical factors in the environment including; radiation, temperature, water, atmospheric gases, and soil. Biotic components include all of the living elements of a community (Simon, Reece, and Dickey, 2010). Motor oil is a contaminant that affects many freshwater ecosystems around the world. It contains a base ingredient of crude oil, with additives to improve certain properties (Green, 1989). Therefore, though the majority of our research for this experiment reflects studies conducted on crude oil contamination of freshwater ecosystems, we expect similar results from the motor oil contamination in our experimental freshwater jar ecosystem. The successful conduction and application of this and similar experiments can be applied towards the successful monitoring and maintaining of freshwater ecosystems’ health. Our hypothesis states that the freshwater ecosystem containing the motor oil will show signs of a shift from heterotrophic to autotrophic domination (Werner, 1985). We will test this variable by observing and recording the various numbers of biotic components (Protozoa and Cynobacteria) and levels of dissolved oxygen in both our controlled freshwater jar ecosystem and our experimental freshwater jar ecosystems and by comparing
Introduction:
“An ecosystem is an environment where plants, animals, and micro-organisms all interact and reside together in a setting” (Simon, Reece, and Dickey, 2010). There are two main types of aquatic ecosystems, freshwater and marine. The main difference between them is that marine ecosystems contain salt, which causes them to be undrinkable without substantial alterations. Freshwater systems contain nearly no salt and provide a majority of the Earths’ drinking water, with little alterations. Freshwater ecosystems are aquatic systems that include both abiotic and biotic components. Abiotic components are the non-living chemical and physical factors in the environment including; radiation, temperature, water, atmospheric gases, and soil. Biotic components include all of the living elements of a community (Simon, Reece, and Dickey, 2010). Motor oil is a contaminant that affects many freshwater ecosystems around the world. It contains a base ingredient of crude oil, with additives to improve certain properties (Green, 1989). Therefore, though the majority of our research for this experiment reflects studies conducted on crude oil contamination of freshwater ecosystems, we expect similar results from the motor oil contamination in our experimental freshwater jar ecosystem. The successful conduction and application of this and similar experiments can be applied towards the successful monitoring and maintaining of freshwater ecosystems’ health. Our hypothesis states that the freshwater ecosystem containing the motor oil will show signs of a shift from heterotrophic to autotrophic domination (Werner, 1985). We will test this variable by observing and recording the various numbers of biotic components (Protozoa and Cynobacteria) and levels of dissolved oxygen in both our controlled freshwater jar ecosystem and our experimental freshwater jar ecosystems and by comparing
References: Gerken and Pekar. (2009). Biology, It’s All About Life. Life on Earth: LSIS 201 Lab Manual. Green, J., and Trett, M.W. (1989). The Fate and Effects of Oil in Freshwater. New York, NY: Elsevier Applied Science.