Activity No.

Biological Characteristics of Water

Group No. 2 Date Performed: September 15, 2021

Members: Brobo, C.A & Andrade, J Date Submitted: September 17, 2021
1. Sedgwick Rafter method

Procedure:
A. Phytoplankton cell count using the Sedgwick Rafter method

1. Prepare the Sedgwick Rafter.

Figure 1. Procedure 1

2. Take a clean cover slide and place it diagonally on top of the Sedgwick Rafter slide.

Figure 2. Procedure 2

3. Take your sample, shake it up a little bit so you get the cells all mixed up.

Figure 3. Procedure 3
4. Take the pipette and squeeze in and out a couple of times and start to fill the
Sedgwick Rafter slide from the corner, squeeze slowly and hold the pipette as close
to horizontal as you can. Wipe it of if you spill anything.

Figure 4. Procedure 4

5. Bring the cover slide around to cover fully the Sedgwick Rafter slide.

Figure 5. Procedure 5

6. Put your sample on the microscope to settle for three to five minutes that allows
most of the sample to settle out.

Figure 6. Procedure 6
 7. Scan and observe.

Figure 7. Procedure 7

2. Hemocytometer Method

1. Prepare your sample. After removing a 100ml of your cell suspension, place it in a
micro-centrifuge tube.

Figure 1. Procedure 1

2. Dilute the suspension by adding a 100 ml of Trypan blue.

Figure 2. Procedure 2
3.. To begin counting, prepare the disposable hemocytometer.

Figure 3. Procedure 3

4. Take your sample, carefully pipette a drop of your sample into the well of the
counting chamber allowing capillary action to draw the sample in. Take care not to
overfill the counting chamber.

Figure 4. Procedure 4

5. View the counting area under 10x magnification using an inverted microscope.

Figure 5. Procedure 5
6. Using a microscope, focus on one of the four by four grids on the hemocytometer.
Observe.

Figure 6. Procedure 6
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Chlorophyta
Class: Clorophyceae
Order: Volvacales
Family: Volvocaceae
Genus: Volvox
Species:Algae
Scientific Name: Volvox aureus
Common Name: Green alga
Description:
The plant body of volvox is a hollow sphere called coenobium. The cell look like a ball a
spherical in shape. They have a cup-shaped chloroplast. It is surrounded by its own large
gelatinous, sheath, which may be conflicting with the sheaths of adjoining cells or may be
distinct from one another. Then they are distinct they are angular by mutual compression and
are usually hexagonal in outline.
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum:Viridiplantae
Class: Chlorophyta
Order: Sphaeropleales
Family: Microsporaceae
Genus: Microspora
Species: Microspora amoena
Scientific Name: Microspora amoena
Common Name: Kützing
Description:
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Phylum:
Class:
Order:
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Genus:
Species:
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Description:
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Table 1. Classification of algae group
Algae Group Characteristics Role in Ecosystem Species example
(Give 2)
Chrysophyta  Instead of a cell They are Chrysophytes
(Golden-brown wall, diatoms ecologically (golden algae) and
algae and Diatoms are encased by a significant because xanthophytes
silica shell, they are the primary
(yellow-green algae)
known as a
source of food for
frustule that
varies in shape zooplankton and they
and structure make up part of the
depending on plankton and
the species. nanoplankton that
Golden-brown are the foundation of
algae, rival the the aquatic food
productivity of
diatoms in the chain.
ocean. They are
usually known
as
nanoplankton,
with cells only
50 micrometers
in diameter.
 Both are found
in fresh and salt
water
environments.
 In many
chrysophytes
the cell walls
are composed of
cellulose with
large quantities
of silica.
Formerly
classified as
plants, they
contain the
photosynthetic
pigments
chlorophyll a
and c. Under
some
circumstances
they will
reproduce
sexually, but the
usual form of
reproduction is
cell division.
Pyrrophyta (Fire  Are unicellular They can synthesize Dinoflagellates
algae) algae both types of And Cryptomonads
commonly chlorophyll, type a
found in oceans and type c, and
and in some
contain high levels
fresh water
sources that use of carotenoids
 flagella for (yellow pigments).
motion. Some Pyrrophyta,
 Separated into such as Gymnodium
two classes, that and Gonyaulax are
makes the water
dinoflagellatesn
red due to their
abundances, and responsible for red
can produce tides and secrete
harmful algal neurotoxins that
blooms. cause massive fish
Like fungi, some death.
species are
bioluminescent.
Chlorophyta (Green  Most species Because of their Sea lettuce, horsehair
Algae) thrive in photosynthetic algae and Dead
freshwater activity, they are the man’s finger
environments, most important
but there are a
producers in the
few species that
can be found in ecosystem. They are
the ocean. the major sources of
 Green algae has krill and other
cell walls made aquatic animals, they
of cellulose, and serve as food for
some species many heterotrophs.
have one or two
flagella.
 Contains
chloroplasts and
undergo
photosynthesis.
 Multicellular
species usually
grup in colonies
ranging in size
from four cells
to several
thousand.
For reproduction, some
species produce non-
motile aplanospores
that rely on water
currents for transport,
while others produce
zoospores with one
flagellum for
swimming to a more
favorable environment.
Rhodophyta (Red  Commonly Red algae are Cynaidioschyzon
Algae) found in ecologically merolae and
tropical marine significant as Chondrus crispus
locations. primary producers,
 Lacks flagella
providers of
and centrioles.
structural habitat for
 Grow on solid
surfaces other marine
including organisms, and their
tropical reefs or important role in the
attached to primary
other algae. establishment and
  Reproduces maintenance of coral
asexually by reefs, these species
monospored found in the coral
(walled, reefs are called
spherical cells
carolline algae,
without
flagella) that are which secretes a
carried by water shell of carbonite
currents until around themselves.
germination. Some red algae are
 Also reproduce economically
sexually and important as
undergo
providers of food
alternation of
generations. and gels.
Members of the
division have a
characteristic clear red
or purplish color
imparted by accessory
pigments called
phycobilins.

Guide Question
1. What is the reason for the light and dark bottle setup in the primary productivity of
the aquatic ecosystem?
- This is to measure the rate of respiration in the dark bottle as the dissolved
oxygen decreases in the bottle.
2. Identify the factors that affect primary productivity in an aquatic ecosystem.
- The availability of nutrients and light, by temperature, moisture levels,
carbon dioxide levels, community interactions.
3. Chlorophyll a is the most abundant form of chlorophyll, why?
- Different pigments absorb different kinds of wavelength of light, allowing the
plant to capture the maximum amount of energy from the sun. Chlorophyll a
is the most abundant because it is the most important photosynthetic
pigment because it is directly involved in the conversion of light energy into
chemical energy. It absorbs wavelengths of 430nm and 662nm, and reflects
green light strongly so it appears green to us.
4. What is the importance of Chlorophyll in the aquatic ecosystem?
- Chlorophyll in aquatic ecosystems are important because it is the green
pigment found in plants that is vital for photosynthesis, which helps store
nutrients and food for the plant and is the primary source of food or they are
the primary producers, one of them are phytoplanktons. Measuring
chlorophyll in water is important to estimate the abundance of
phytoplankton.
5. What is the significance of biological characteristics in determining the quality of
water?
- When the quality of water is poor, it will not only affect the aquatic life that
is within, but also the surrounding ecosystem, is the water quality is poor,
then the algae and phytoplankton are affected as well.

Reference:
 https://www.lenntech.com/eutrophication-water-bodies/algae.htm
 https://www.thoughtco.com/major-types-of-algae-373409
 https://www.britannica.com/science/algae/Classification-of-algae
 http://domainbiology.blogspot.com/2017/10/pyrrophyta-or-fire-algae-dino-
flagellata.html
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_algae
 https://www.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/meetthealgae/learn-more/major-groups
 https://www.fondriest.com/environmental-measurements/parameters/water-quality/
 https://www.britannica.com/science/Volvox