Diatom Investigation By: Devin Kaylyn Jonas Breanna

Question:Are diatoms more frequent in the oldest core layer or the youngest?

Procedure:

1. Gather materials ( 6 slides, 6 cover slips, 3 samples from old layer, 3 samples from young layer)
2. Observe 3 samples of oldest year on slide (make slides)
3. Observe 3 samples of youngest year on slide (make slides)
4. Look at all of the samples
5. Count how many diatoms are one each slide
6. Record data on a chart
7. Display data on a circle graph
8. Present data

Control: amount of sample, scanning the slide, amount of water. taken from same year period, time looking at slide

Variable changed: age from oldest to youngest

Variable measured: differance of diatoms in oldest and youngest years

Data:

Conclusions:We answered our question by observing 3 slides from the oldest and 3 slides from the youngest year. Our answer was that the diatoms were more frequent in the youngest. Our data concluded there were 41 diatoms in the youngest, and 15 in the oldest. Not only were there more diatoms in the youngest year, there was a more of a variety in the youngest year too (Example: Oldest: 10 varieties Youngest: 12 varieties). More in the youngest might mean that the lake climate was more suitable for the certain diatoms.

Further Questions:

What is the differance in the amount of diatoms between every 2 inches in the lake core?

How many differant types of diatoms can you find 5 inches from the youngest year?