The British Ecological Society Brine Shrimp Ecology A classroom-based introduction to ECOLOGY Secondary Science Key Stages 3 and 4 Scottish Stages S1 to S4 All materials in this book have been developed by Michael Dockery and Stephen Tomkins SCIENCE THROUGH ECOLOGY SERIES Published by the British Ecological Society he objective of the Science through Ecology series is to demonstrate that ecology can Tnot only be taught as an investigative process as much as any other aspect of the Science National Curriculum but that, in fact, it offers a particularly exciting way to teach science. Each item in the series enables teachers who are not ecology specialists to get started in teaching the topic as a practical subject, with enough confidence to go on to develop it with enthusiasm and creativity. Also in the same series: Feeding Relationships by Barker and Norris. Other packages of teaching material in the series are proposed or already in preparation. THE AUTHORS Stephen Tomkins is Director of Studies for Biology at Homerton College and is the PGCE Biology Methods Lecturer for the Faculty of Education at Cambridge University. He was formerly a school biology teacher. He is interested in environmental education, science investigations in schools, genetics and human evolution. Michael Dockery works (part-time) as the Education Officer for the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour at Manchester Metropolitan University. He has taught for more than thirty years, from junior school to degree level and has co-authored books on animal behaviour which contain other brine shrimp practicals. He has been a member of the British Ecological Society for over twenty years. THE BRITISH ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY The British Ecological Society has a world-wide membership of over 5000, including many of the World’s leading ecological scientists, and it is the oldest ecological society in the World. Education at all levels has long been seen by the Society as one of its important responsibilities. In addition to the Science through Ecology series, the Society offers teachers at all levels an opportunity to keep in touch with academic ecology, a careers booklet, a teachers newsletter, a specialist members’ group for those involved in teaching ecology, and a range of grants and awards. For further information see the BES web site: http://www.demon.co.uk/bes or contact: The Executive Secretary, BES, 26, Blades Court, Deodar Rd, Putney, LONDON SW15 2NU. Phone 020 8871 9797 Fax 020 8871 9779 Email [email protected] AUTHORS’ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS e should like to acknowledge the help of many teachers and colleagues, Wparticularly Michael Reiss, and members of the British Ecological Society Education, Training and Careers Committee, most particularly David Slingsby, the principal Editor. We were assisted initially by the detailed research of Harriet Elson and helped throughout by technical support from David Barnard at Homerton College. At the outset of the Brine Shrimp Project we were grateful to Cooperative Retail Services, Cambridge, for the provision of several hundred plastic bottles. Tom Wakeford then pioneered and encouraged Stephen Tomkins in the first ‘Bottle Planet Workshops’ at the Edinburgh Science Festival. We thank the many teachers who have suggested ideas at Brine Shrimp workshops and the staff and students at the following schools who have enjoyed working with brine shrimps and tried out investigations: Wakefield High School for Girls; Queen’s School, Chester; Loreto College, Manchester; St Thomas Aquinas Upper School, Chorlton; Urmston Grammar School; All Saints Primary School, Sale; Impington Village College; Swavesey Village College; Norwich High School for Girls and Hinchingbrooke School. We would also like to thank, in particular, the Headmistress and Year 10 students at Alderley Edge School for Girls. Sue Barker, Gary Skinner and John Davenport are thanked for their valuable comments on the first manuscript. We are also most grateful for the support for Michael Dockery which came from Professor Terry Looker, at Manchester Metropolitan University. This book has been developed jointly by the British Ecological Society and Homerton College, Cambridge. Picture credits Stephen Tomkins provided all the line illustrations. The figure on page 31 is by courtesy of the Royal Society and that on page 69 by courtesy of the Institute of Biology. The brine shrimp photograph on the front cover is with permission from the Laboratory of Aquaculture and the Artemia Reference Centre at the University of Ghent. Michael Dockery provided the photograph of pupils, the other photographs were provided by the Natural History Photographic Agency. Copyright & photocopying The British Ecological Society retains the full copyright on all the materials in this publication but any pages may be freely photocopied or electronically copied within an institution purchasing this book. First published by the British Ecological Society 2000. Designed by Martin Hodge, MNL, [email protected]. Printed by Solutions for Business, Royston. ISBN 1 900579 10 3 CONTENTS Section 1. Introduction to the brine shrimp model ecosystem Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 Section 2. Practical activities. Student activity sheets and teacher’s notes Student activity sheets Handling and observing brine shrimps .................................................................. 6 1 Shrimp world - looking at the brine shrimp environment ......................... 7 2 Variation in brine shrimps............................................................................... 10 3 The hatching of brine shrimps - investigating physical factors ................. 12 4The first food - filter feeding for beginners ................................................... 18 5 Testing the algal food hypothesis ................................................................... 21 6 Shrimps galore - setting up your own bottle ecosystem ............................. 23 7 Exploding populations..................................................................................... 27 8 Predatory shrimping ........................................................................................ 29 9 Are shrimps vertical commuters? .................................................................. 32 10 Speedy shrimps - fleeing and finding a mate ............................................... 35 11 Altering the balance - pollution studies ........................................................ 37 12 The sun-seekers - let there be light ................................................................. 39 13 Now go ponding - investigating the biology of ‘water-fleas’ .................... 44 Teacher’s notes for student activities 1-13 Activity 1: Shrimp world - looking at the brine shrimp environmment ......... 50 Activity 2: Variation in brine shrimps .................................................................. 51 Activity 3: The hatching of brine shrimps - investigating physical factors..... 52 Activity 4: The first food - filter feeding for beginners ...................................... 53 Activity 5: Testing the algal food hypothesis ...................................................... 55 Activity 6: Shrimps galore - setting up your own bottle ecosystem ................ 57 Activity 7: Exploding populations ........................................................................ 58 Activity 8: Predatory shrimping ............................................................................ 59 Activity 9: Are shrimps vertical commuters? ...................................................... 61 Activity 10: Speedy shrimps - fleeing and finding a mate................................... 62 Activity 11: Altering the balance - pollution studies ............................................ 63 Activity 12: The sun-seekers - let there be light .................................................... 64 Activity 13: Now go ponding - investigating the biology of ‘water-fleas’ ........ 65 Section 3. Secondary data exercises Teacher’s guide ........................................................................................................... 68 Student data exercises 1 Brine shrimps all around the world ............................................................... 69 2 Salt and survival - the cost of living in a very salty place........................... 70 3 Temperature effects - too hot, too cold .......................................................... 72 4The daily cycle of chemical change ................................................................ 74 5 The brine shrimp sex balance.......................................................................... 75 6 Copper - contamination and pollution .......................................................... 76 7 Brine shrimps in space - Apollo 16................................................................. 78 Answers to data exercises ......................................................................................... 79 Section 4. Illustrations for photocopying Drawings of brine shrimps ....................................................................................... 83 Section 5. The practical brine shrimp guide How to set up a brine shrimp culture ..................................................................... 92 Brine shrimp life history - background information ............................................. 93 Handling brine shrimps in the classroom