Squid Experiment
Liza Handler
Experiment Background: Squid is a keystone species, negative effects on them can have major consequences down the line. Nearly all of the animals in the oceans ecosystems either eat squid, or are eaten by squid. Squids not only have a vital role in our Oceans ecological community, but they also are important economically. Squid is a main source of food for the tuna and hake, two major commercially important fish. In 2011, fisherman harvested a total of $100 million worth of squid, thats 300 million pounds!
Numerous studies conducted show us that our Earths oceans are persistently acidifying. This has been a reality for more than one hundred and fifty years due to climate change. Climate change is defined by rising
levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Seawater absorbs Carbon Dioxide, which turns in into Carbonic Acid, and makes the water more acidic by lowering its pH levels. Carbon Dioxide levels in the atmosphere are continually rising, which means Oceans acidity levels will continue to rise as well.
Question and Hypothesis:
Question: In using various numbers of holding tanks to create different environments, what differences will the Longfin Inshore Squid (Loligo Pealei) see in it’s hatching time while living in water with todays acidity levels, compared to the levels predicted for about fifty years from today. What will be the impact of increasingly acidic sea water on the Loligo Pealei over time?
Hypothesis: The Loligo Pealei will be vulnerable to high acidity levels in oceans, it will effect their general survival negatively.
Experimental Plan: In order to test the hypothesis that the Loligo Pealei is vulnerable to high acidity levels in ocean water, male and female Longfin Inshore Squid must be collected from the Gulf of Venezuela and then transferred back to a holding tank. Soon, the squids will mate and each female will lay their egg capsule (each including 200-300 eggs). The eggs will be distributed evenly between the tanks. The tanks will vary between constantly exposed to air from the outside (imitating the conditions of the Earths current oceans) to air that will make the seawater about twice as acidic as it is today, which is the condition approximated for oceans in fifty years. Researchers will watch as the eggs hatch and note how long it took. The average hatching time for Loligo Pealei eggs is 5 weeks (35 days).
Experiment Background: Squid is a keystone species, negative effects on them can have major consequences down the line. Nearly all of the animals in the oceans ecosystems either eat squid, or are eaten by squid. Squids not only have a vital role in our Oceans ecological community, but they also are important economically. Squid is a main source of food for the tuna and hake, two major commercially important fish. In 2011, fisherman harvested a total of $100 million worth of squid, thats 300 million pounds!
Numerous studies conducted show us that our Earths oceans are persistently acidifying. This has been a reality for more than one hundred and fifty years due to climate change. Climate change is defined by rising
levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Seawater absorbs Carbon Dioxide, which turns in into Carbonic Acid, and makes the water more acidic by lowering its pH levels. Carbon Dioxide levels in the atmosphere are continually rising, which means Oceans acidity levels will continue to rise as well.
Question and Hypothesis:
Question: In using various numbers of holding tanks to create different environments, what differences will the Longfin Inshore Squid (Loligo Pealei) see in it’s hatching time while living in water with todays acidity levels, compared to the levels predicted for about fifty years from today. What will be the impact of increasingly acidic sea water on the Loligo Pealei over time?
Hypothesis: The Loligo Pealei will be vulnerable to high acidity levels in oceans, it will effect their general survival negatively.
Experimental Plan: In order to test the hypothesis that the Loligo Pealei is vulnerable to high acidity levels in ocean water, male and female Longfin Inshore Squid must be collected from the Gulf of Venezuela and then transferred back to a holding tank. Soon, the squids will mate and each female will lay their egg capsule (each including 200-300 eggs). The eggs will be distributed evenly between the tanks. The tanks will vary between constantly exposed to air from the outside (imitating the conditions of the Earths current oceans) to air that will make the seawater about twice as acidic as it is today, which is the condition approximated for oceans in fifty years. Researchers will watch as the eggs hatch and note how long it took. The average hatching time for Loligo Pealei eggs is 5 weeks (35 days).