Diatom Investigation Rodney, Jared, Stephen, Kaleb

Question: Which diatom out of 5 diatoms(11-15-8-4-1)appear most in a core sample between a 3ft zone and a 2ft zone.



Procedure: 1. Get a slide, a toothpick and a cover slide.2 Get some of the core sample using your toothpick, apply the core sample to your slide.3 Get some water on your slide and smear on core sample.4 put cover slip on the core sample.5 Put core sample in the microscope.6 Record data.



Varible changed: 2ft to 3ft depth.

Varible controls: How long we look, depth, amount of sediment, keep the same view.
Variable measured: Amount of kinds of diatoms from each core sample.

2 ft core sample:Slide 1: 2 elevens, 1 fifteen
Slide 2: 1 four, 2 eights, 1 eleven
Slide 3: 2 ones, 1 eleven

3 ft core sample: Slide 1: 6 elevens
Slide 2: 1 one, 1 four, 1 eight, 7 eleven
Slide 3: 1 four, 1 eight, 9 eleven

Conclusion: Out of the 5 diatome (1,4, 8, 11, 15) 11 had the most appearances overall. All other diatoms were very even in thier combined appearences. Based on our data, there were more diatoms at 3 ft deep then 2 ft deep. But a vast majority of the 3 ft deep diatoms were number elevens. We determined that the layer all types of diatoms (excludin number 11) does not effect their amounts. Number eleven however is the most common diatom, and it seevs the deeper you go, theres more of this diatom. This diatom must have a specifec trait, unique to it alone, that helps them thrive deeper in the ground. The other diatoms don't seem to prefer one layer over another.

2 Further Questions 1) Which core sample zone (2 ft or 3 ft) has the biggest on average gyrosigma (11) diatoms?
2) Can you find more diatoms by placin 5 drops of water on your slide, as opposed to 1 drop of water?