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Eutrophication | Virtual Lab

High School
Higher Education
Biology
Physics
Eutrophication
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About This Simulation

Utilize microscopy and spectroscopy techniques to solve a massive fish kill mystery. Investigate how dissolved nitrogen levels and an algal bloom are linked to the fish population.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the nitrogen cycle and its importance for living beings
  • Understand the concept of eutrophication and harmful algal bloom, and the impact that it has on the ecosystem
  • Analyze dissolved nitrogen levels in the water sample
  • Understand the importance of sampling from different locations to get representative data

About This Simulation

Level:
High School
Higher Education
Length:
30
Min
Accessibility Mode:
Available
Languages:
English
Spanish
French
German

Lab Techniques

  • Fish necropsy/dissection
  • Sampling
  • Spectrophotometry
No lab techniques are listed for this simulation.

Related Standards

University:
NGSS:
  • HS-ESS2-5, HS-ESS3-6, HS-ETS1-1, HS-LS2-4
AP:
  • Biology 8.7 Disruption to Ecosystems
LB:
  • 4.2 Energy flow
  • Biology C.6 Nitrogen and phosphorus cycles
No lab techniques are listed for this simulation.

Learn More About This Simulation

Join us in the Eutrophication lab, where you take the role as an environmental investigator and study concept of eutrophication and harmful algal bloom. Use the knowledge you acquire to to solve a massive fish kill mystery.

Help the suffering fish

In the Marine Biology lab, you discovered that the fish were dying of suffocation, and now you want to know more about what caused the low dissolved oxygen levels. In the Eutrophication lab, you will use microscopy to analyze the biological matter in the water and spectrophotometry to study dissolved nitrogen levels. This will give you the data you need to conclude your investigation.

Analyze water samples

In the Marine Biology Lab you discovered that the low oxygen in the water was causing the fish to suffocate. Looking for more data, you will now analyze the water sample using the microscope. In this way you can study the biological matter in the water to find out if the algae could have something to do with the low oxygen levels.

Determine the source of the algal bloom

In the Eutrophication lab, you will learn about the nitrogen cycle and how human activity can influence it. You will analyze nitrogen content in the water sample using spectrophotometry. An interactive map will help you determine the source of the excessive nitrogen run-off that caused the harmful algal bloom.

Will you be able to solve the fish kill mystery?

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