Name _________________________________________________________ Plankton Wars! Plankton are organisms that drift; they cannot swim against prevailing ocean
currents. Usually, plankton are very small, microscopic organisms, but some
larger animals, like certain jellyfish, are also considered plankton. Plankton are
divided into two groups, plants (phytoplankton) and animals (called
zooplankton). Phytoplankton make their own food through photosynthesis
(using sunlight to combine carbon dioxide and water into sugar), but
zooplankton are heterotrophs and must ingest other organisms in order to get food.
Plankton are usually heavier than water. This is important because if a planktonic organism just floated on the
surface of the water, it might get too warm or experience too much light exposure from the sun and dry out. So,
plankton tend to sink in the water column. However, phytoplankton need to stay where sunlight penetrates – in
the Euphotic Zone (top 50 meters of the ocean). Many types of zooplankton feed on phytoplankton so they also
need to stay in this zone. Both types organisms rely on adaptation to help prevent sinking. These adaptations
include the following:
1) Small size (small things sink slower than large things)
2) Long spines or projections that increase drag
3) Long, thin, or flattened shape to increase surface area without
increasing volume
4) Contain small amounts of oil (which is lighter than water)
One thing to note is that many zooplankton are able to swim
upward in the water column very slowly to maintain their
position. However, if they sink too quickly or are too heavy, they
will go straight to the bottom of the ocean and not be able to get
back up. This requires energy, so any adaptations that help them
stay in the Euphotic Zone help zooplankton to conserve energy.
Phytoplankton do not have the same swimming ability as
zooplankton, thus they are dependent solely on slow sinking
adaptations to help them stay in the Euphotic Zone.
Your task is to design a phytoplankton that sinks the slowest. You will be provided with materials and have 3 class periods + 30 minutes of study hall/recess to work on this project. Materials: • 2 Styrofoam peanuts • Yarn • 2 Paper clips • 1 Plastic bag • 1 Balloon • 1 Lump of clay • 4 Toothpicks • Tin foil • 2 Straws • 2 Popsicle sticks • 2 Rubber bands • 2 Index cards • 30 cm of tape -­‐ The final day to test your plankton will be Thursday January 16. -­‐ Since we are missing Wednesday’s class for the art field trip, you are required to spend 1 study hall OR 30 minutes of recess working on your plankton. -­‐ Each person in your group will keep a daily journal that details modifications to your plankton design in words and pictures. -­‐ Each person will also turn in a typed response to the questions below – due Friday 1/17. While you may work together as a group to answer these questions, everyone must submit their own work. Response Questions -­‐ due Friday 1/17 – either email Ms. Bell an attachment or set up a Google Doc and share it with her ([email protected]) 1. Why do phytoplankton and zooplankton need to remain in the Euphotic zone? 2. Why is it helpful for all types of plankton to have adaptations to prevent sinking? 3. The fact that phytoplankton are close to the sun facilitates what process? Please explain the following things about this process: -­‐What is its purpose? -­‐What are the ingredients and how do they get turned into products? -­‐Is there any waste and how does the cell get rid of it? -­‐How does the phytoplankton use the end product of this process? 4. Describe the design process and adaptations that you gave to your plankton over the course of this design challenge. What worked well? What did not work well? What can you conclude? By Friday 1/17, each person must turn in: __________________ This packet – completed __________________ Labeled sketch of the final design of your plankton __________________ Typed response questions Plankton Wars Journal Day 1 Brainstorming: Game Plan for HW for Monday 1/13: What was accomplished in class on Tuesday 1/14? What does your plankton look like now? Why did you give the plankton the adaptations that you did? How well is your plankton floating? What do you need to do to make it better at floating? Game Plan for HW for Tuesday 1/14: What did you accomplish in your study hall/recess time? Date and time attended study hall/recess: Teacher signature: Game plan for HW for Wednesday 1/15 What did you accomplish in class on Thursday 1/16? Sketch and Label your FINAL design in the space below