Abstract
Methods/Materials
In order to do this, we set up light bulbs of different frequencies and intensities (the independent variables) within self-contained boxes, and allowed the columns to grow within without outside influence. Our control group was 450 Lumens, and we periodically tested temperature and pH (the dependent variables). We also observed each Winogradsky column during these tests for any plant, algal and bacterial growth.
Results
Through our experimentation, we found that acidity increased over time likely due to cellular respiration, while the higher the intensity, the higher the temperature. Algae growth overwhelms plant growth at 1600, though generally vegetation increases with intensity and decreases under color bulbs, and bacterial growth was strongest under the full light spectrum bulb.
Conclusions/Discussion
These results were expected, though our columns in general exhibited less growth than predicted. In the future, we would be interested in determining at what temperature the algae growth exceeds plant growth as well why was bacterial growth hindered in some of the columns.
This project tested the effects of various light frequency and intensity on a pond ecosystem to simulate global warming.
Science Fair Project done By Grant King; Sarah Lamp