Daphnia Lab Results Lab Report
Abby Goldschmidt
Honors Biology 2°
Mrs. Gempel
September 3, 2015
Daphnia Lab Results Paper
Abstract
The goal of the study was to observe the effects of multiple chemicals on a Daphnia magna's heart-rate compared to a control (pond water). The different chemicals were caffeine and alcohol. The heart-rate was the main variable in this experiment. The Daphnia's heart-rate was observed for 15 seconds and then multiplied by 4 to show its heart-rate in one minute. This was repeated 4 times for each chemical. The data was averaged at the conclusion. It was discovered that alcohol acted as a depressant, it lowered the heart-rate of the Daphnia in comparison to the control. The caffeine, however, acted as a stimulant to raise the heart-rate of …show more content…
These results are shown in the table and chart below.
Solution
Heartbeats per minute
Pond water (control)
175
Alcohol
120
Caffeine
280
Discussion
From the results, it was confirmed that the alcohol acted as a depressant on the Daphnia. The caffeine, as a stimulant. The graph above shows this data by comparing the results side by side. There was no sporadic data, which shows that this information will be consistent. Both of the hypotheses that were suggested were supported by these results. The caffeine was a common stimulant that caused the Daphnia’s heart-rate to rise significantly. The alcohol solution acted as a depressant, slowing the heart-rate down. It is expected that a human heart-rate would do similar if they were to drink the amounts of each substance proportional to their body, just like this lab. An easy way to test whether or not this test was consistent with the effects on a human would be to make a control variable, and then test the results with 3 separate subjects. One subject would be the control and not consume anything, while a different subject would consume alcohol, and the other would consume caffeine.
Honors Biology 2°
Mrs. Gempel
September 3, 2015
Daphnia Lab Results Paper
Abstract
The goal of the study was to observe the effects of multiple chemicals on a Daphnia magna's heart-rate compared to a control (pond water). The different chemicals were caffeine and alcohol. The heart-rate was the main variable in this experiment. The Daphnia's heart-rate was observed for 15 seconds and then multiplied by 4 to show its heart-rate in one minute. This was repeated 4 times for each chemical. The data was averaged at the conclusion. It was discovered that alcohol acted as a depressant, it lowered the heart-rate of the Daphnia in comparison to the control. The caffeine, however, acted as a stimulant to raise the heart-rate of …show more content…
These results are shown in the table and chart below.
Solution
Heartbeats per minute
Pond water (control)
175
Alcohol
120
Caffeine
280
Discussion
From the results, it was confirmed that the alcohol acted as a depressant on the Daphnia. The caffeine, as a stimulant. The graph above shows this data by comparing the results side by side. There was no sporadic data, which shows that this information will be consistent. Both of the hypotheses that were suggested were supported by these results. The caffeine was a common stimulant that caused the Daphnia’s heart-rate to rise significantly. The alcohol solution acted as a depressant, slowing the heart-rate down. It is expected that a human heart-rate would do similar if they were to drink the amounts of each substance proportional to their body, just like this lab. An easy way to test whether or not this test was consistent with the effects on a human would be to make a control variable, and then test the results with 3 separate subjects. One subject would be the control and not consume anything, while a different subject would consume alcohol, and the other would consume caffeine.