Association for Biology Laboratory Education

Limiting Nutrient and Algal Growth: Designing an Individualized Student Project
 

Kuei-Chiu Chen

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2013, Volume 34

Abstract

In this original research project, students chose one of the design options to determine the limiting nutrient in an aquatic system. A ‘plant pot’ method involves filling porous plant pots with agar and a nutrient mixture. The plant pots were then placed in clear cups containing pond or stream water. Spectrophotometry was used to estimate chlorophyll a concentration to estimate algal growth. In another design, students grew Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in defined media or natural water enriched with specific nutrients in test tubes. They estimated cell density using a hemocytometer or spectrophotometry and conducted statistical tests. Finally students produced a research paper from this study.

Keywords:  nitrogen, nutrient limitation, nutrient enrichment, phytoplankton, fertilizer, phosphorus

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (2012)