Ecosphere Activity
White, J.S., Maskiewicz, A.C. (2014). Understanding cellular respiration in terms of matter &
energy within ecosystems. The American Biology Teacher, 76, 6, 408-414.
NOTE: This slide presentation includes all tasks including the extra cellular respiration tasks.
Ecosphere Task 1:�(With your group)
The ecosphere is a self-contained miniature ecosystem encased in glass. Inside each ecosphere are micro-organisms (bacteria), red brine shrimp, algae, �and filtered sea water. The �ecosphere is a self-sustaining �ecosystem, so you never have �to feed the life within. These small� spheres can survive for more �than eight years. The large �spheres have been known to �last for over 20 years.
Ecosphere Task 1:�(With your group)
The ecosphere will thrive for over eight years without the owner having to add or remove anything from the sphere. However, this is not the case with any combination of organisms in a closed container. The company that created these spheres had to find the right combination of organisms that would survive together for an indefinite period of time.
Explain why this combination of organisms allows this sphere to survive for such a long time? Be specific. Provide a diagram to represent your ideas.
Group Discussion: Record your group’s diagram on a white board and be prepared to share it with the class.
Ecosphere Task 2:(On your own)
A student analyzing the sphere hypothesized that if the algae, or the bacteria, or the brine shrimp were removed from the sphere, the other organisms in the sphere would not survive. Do you agree with this? Why or why not? Explain.
Ecosphere Task 3:
When the algae or the bacteria are removed from the sphere, all the organisms in the sphere do indeed die. However, when the shrimp are removed from the sphere, the sphere is still able to survive indefinitely. The algae and bacteria continue to grow and survive. Explain why or how this is possible. Be specific.
[Hint: Data on the composition of the Ecosphere water over time can be useful.]
Ecosphere Task 4:
Thinking about the sphere with algae and bacteria only, what is “organic debris” in this sphere? What is the mechanism for it decaying? In other words, does something decay it or does it decay on its own after it dies? What is your evidence?
i) why does the algae die?
ii) why doesn’t the algae breakdown/decompose/dissolve?
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Ecosphere Task 5:�
Ecosphere Water Quality Data - No Bacteria�With Snails, Shrimp and Algae |
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Parameter | Acceptable Range | Day 1 | Day 10 | Day �20 | Day �30 | Day 100 |
Turbidity | 10 - 25 NTU | 12 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 |
Dissolved Oxygen | > 5.0 mg/L | 6.3 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.3 |
Carbon Dioxide | > 2.5 mg/L | 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.2 |
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) | 0.05 - 0.09 mg/L | 0.06 | 0.057 | 0.053 | 0.05 | 0.041 |
Ammonia (NHx) | 0.02 - 0.05 mg/L | 0.03 | 0.035 | 0.041 | 0.045 | 0.044 |
Organic Phosphorus (P) | 0.010 - 0.05 mg/L | 0.015 | 0.025 | 0.029 | 0.038 | 0.037 |
Dissolved Phosphates (POx) | 0.02 - 0.09 mg/L | 0.05 | 0.045 | 0.039 | 0.031 | 0.009 |
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�One of the functional roles of the bacteria is to keep the sphere clean by removing the shrimp waste. In the first trials to create a functioning sphere, the researchers used small snails similar to those in a fish tank. These snails are known to eat the waste of fish, brine shrimp and other marine organisms. Although the snails were able to keep the sphere “clean” the brine shrimp and algae did not survive for a long period of time. Explain why the snails were not able to keep the sphere alive.
[Hint: Data on the composition of the sea water with shrimp, algae, and snails is included below.]
Ecosphere Task 6: (part A)
Ecosphere Task 6: (part A)�
Ecosphere Task 6: (part B)�
Ecosphere Task 6: (part C)�
Ecosphere Task 7: �
Ecosphere Task 8: �
Ecosphere Water Quality Data – Algae Only No Shrimp or Bacteria |
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Parameter | Acceptable Range | Day 1 | Day 10 | Day �20 | Day �30 | Day 100 |
Turbidity | 10 – 25 NTU | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 |
Dissolved Oxygen | > 5.0 mg/L | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.3 |
Carbon Dioxide | > 2.5 mg/L | 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.4 |
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) | 0.05 – 0.09 mg/L | 0.06 | 0.057 | 0.053 | 0.05 | 0.041* |
Organic Nitrogen (N) | 0.010 – 0.05 mg/L | 0.021 | 0.026 | 0.034 | 0.041 | 0.052* |
Organic Phosphorus (P) | 0.010 - 0.05 mg/L | 0.015 | 0.025 | 0.032 | 0.043 | 0.053* |
Dissolved Phosphates (POx) | 0.02 - 0.09 mg/L | 0.05 | 0.041 | 0.032 | 0.021 | 0.011* |
*outside acceptable range |
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Ecosphere Task 9: �
Ecosphere Water Quality Data – Algae Only No Shrimp or Bacteria |
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Parameter | Acceptable Range | Day 1 | Day 10 | Day �20 | Day �30 | Day 100 |
Turbidity | 10 – 25 NTU | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 |
Dissolved Oxygen | > 5.0 mg/L | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.3 |
Carbon Dioxide | > 2.5 mg/L | 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.4 |
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) | 0.05 – 0.09 mg/L | 0.06 | 0.057 | 0.053 | 0.05 | 0.041* |
Organic Nitrogen (N) | 0.010 – 0.05 mg/L | 0.021 | 0.026 | 0.034 | 0.041 | 0.052* |
Organic Phosphorus (P) | 0.010 - 0.05 mg/L | 0.015 | 0.025 | 0.032 | 0.043 | 0.053* |
Dissolved Phosphates (POx) | 0.02 - 0.09 mg/L | 0.05 | 0.041 | 0.032 | 0.021 | 0.011* |
*outside acceptable range |
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Ecosphere Task 10: �
Ecosphere Water Quality Data – Algae Only No Shrimp or Bacteria |
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Parameter | Acceptable Range | Day 1 | Day 10 | Day �20 | Day �30 | Day 100 |
Turbidity | 10 – 25 NTU | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 |
Dissolved Oxygen | > 5.0 mg/L | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.3 |
Carbon Dioxide | > 2.5 mg/L | 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.4 |
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) | 0.05 – 0.09 mg/L | 0.06 | 0.057 | 0.053 | 0.05 | 0.041* |
Organic Nitrogen (N) | 0.010 – 0.05 mg/L | 0.021 | 0.026 | 0.034 | 0.041 | 0.052* |
Organic Phosphorus (P) | 0.010 - 0.05 mg/L | 0.015 | 0.025 | 0.032 | 0.043 | 0.053* |
Dissolved Phosphates (POx) | 0.02 - 0.09 mg/L | 0.05 | 0.041 | 0.032 | 0.021 | 0.011* |
*outside acceptable range |
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