Laboratory Exercise 1

Instrumentation and Familiarization in Ecology Laboratory

COURSE TITLE : Biology 113 (General Ecology)

LAB INSTRUCTOR/PROFESSOR : Ma’am Lomboy, Christine Anna Lou Miano

DATE PERFORMED : September 24, 2022________

DATE SUBMITTED : September 22, 2022_________

Group No. : _________________________

 Laboratory Exercise 1

Name: Escanilla, Lloyd T. Date: September 24,2022

I. ABSTRACT

Science can be exciting, but it can also be hazardous since you may be dealing with materials,
chemicals, or minerals that could injure you or someone else. This is why it is critical to be familiar
with your laboratory equipment. You should always be familiar with your lab equipment before
doing any sort of experiment since you will not be able to utilize your materials or repair any
mistakes that you may make with your equipment if you do not know how to use it properly. It can
be difficult and unsafe to conduct experiments without precise information or expertise. When you
don't know what chemicals are utilized for what.

II. INTRODUCTION

Ecologists use field studies and sampling schemes to gather data in natural environments. Like
other scientists, ecologists use statistics to describe and make inferences from data. They also use
computer simulations to model complex phenomena. The Importance of Laboratory Apparatus
Working in a laboratory would be impossible without laboratory apparatus. Experiments, quality
controls, chemical reactions, establishing hypotheses, and testing diverse substances all need the
use of laboratory apparatus.

On the other hand, not knowing what you are doing in a laboratory can set you back in
a variety of ways. Particular laboratory equipment can have dangerous side effects if not
handled properly and familiarizing and knowing how to safely operate all laboratory
equipment in your purview will limit these kinds of accidents and create a safe working
environment.

Working safely with dangerous compounds necessitates the use of suitable laboratory
equipment. This task requires frequent maintenance and examination of laboratory equipment.
Many laboratory incidents can be traced back to faulty usage or maintenance of laboratory
equipment. This chapter addresses safe techniques for handling equipment commonly used in
laboratories.

In this experiment we tackle about what are the different lab apparatus used in the laboratory
and how to properly use them. Also, to be familiar with the different ecological laboratory
equipment and its importance in conducting an experiment.
III. MATERIAL/METHODS

A. Hydrometer - A hydrometer is an instrument used to

determine specific gravity. It operates based on the Archimedes principle that a solid body
displaces its own weight within a liquid in which it floats

B. Secchi disk - A Secchi disk is an 8-inch (20 cm) disk with

alternating black and white quadrants. It is lowered into the water of a lake until it can no
longer be seen by the observer. This depth of disappearance, called the Secchi depth, is a
measure of the transparency of the water.

C. DO meter - Dissolved oxygen refers to oxygen

dissolved in water. Its concentration is expressed as the amount of oxygen per unit volume
and the unit is mg/L. Biologically, oxygen is an essential element for respiration of
underwater life and also acts as a chemical oxidizer. The solubility of oxygen in water is
affected by water temperature, salinity, barometric pressure, etc. and decreases as water
temperature rises. The membrane electrode method measures a diffusion current or
reduction current generated by the concentration of dissolved oxygen or partial pressure of
oxygen to obtain the concentration of dissolved oxygen.
D. Measuring tape - A tape measure, or
measuring tape is a type of hand tool typically used to measure distance or size. It is like a
much longer flexible ruler consisting of a case, thumb lock, blade/tape, hook, and sometimes
a belt clip.

E. Psychrometer - A psychrometer is a hygrometer

made up of two thermometers that are identical. One thermometer's bulb is kept wet, causing
it to record a lower temperature than the dry-bulb thermometer due to evaporation cooling.
A psychrometer is a device for measuring air humidity.

F. Digital light meter - A digital light meter is a device

used to measure the amount of light in one area via the use of a digital readout meter. Most
digital light meter units are able to measure up to 5,000-foot candles, and the measuring unit
is typically separate from the meter itself for easy manipulation and for better
measurements.
G. pH meter - A pH meter is an instrument used to
measure hydrogen ion activity in solutions - in other words, this instrument measures
acidity/alkalinity of a solution. The degree of hydrogen ion activity is ultimately expressed as
pH level, which generally ranges from 1 to 14.

H. Handheld refractometer - A traditional

handheld refractometer is an analog instrument for measuring a liquid's refractive index. It
works on the critical angle principle by which lenses and prisms project a shadow line onto a
small glass reticle inside the instrument, which is then viewed by the user through a
magnifying eyepiece.

I. Seawater refractometer - Seawater Refractometer

offers exceptional accuracy, for measuring the absolute salinity of seawater at a temperature
of 25°C/77. Most refractometers used within the aquarium hobby are not specifically
designed for reef aquariums and use an algorithm for the measurement of brine (NaCl –
rather than seawater) and at a temperature of 15°C/59 °F rather than 25°C/77 °F. Thus, a
measurement deviation of up to 1.5ppt is possible, which can have a significant adverse effect
on coral growth and coloration.
 J. Hygrometer - A hygrometer is an instrument used to measure
the amount of water vapor in air, in soil, or in confined spaces. Humidity measurement
instruments usually rely on measurements of some other quantities such as temperature,
pressure, mass, a mechanical or electrical change in a substance as moisture is absorbed. By
calibration and calculation, these measured quantities can lead to a measurement of
humidity. Modern electronic devices use temperature of condensation (called the dew point),
or changes in electrical capacitance or resistance to measure humidity differences

IV. RESULTS/ ANALYSIS

Ecosystem health indicators are measurements that assist us determine where to take action
to restore ecosystem health and the benefits that go along with it. We can determine the health
of an ecosystem using condition indicators. They consist of markers for habitat, species, and
resources like carbon and water. Any biotic or abiotic component that affects living creatures
is referred to as an environmental factor, ecological factor, or eco factor. Temperature outside,
the amount of sunlight, and the pH of the soil and water where organism dwells are examples
of abiotic factors.

V. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

In laboratory and diagnostics plays an important role in our current biological and clinical
researches. A scientist’s laboratory equipment is his/her set of tools that are very important
in the advancement of science. This type of tools they use depends on the problems they are
trying to solve and without them they could do nothing but hypothesize in a laboratory. If
you work in a molecular laboratory setting, you certainly will encounter many kinds of
expensive and complicated instruments, and knowing how to use these tools can only
benefit you and your lab mates. This is especially true if you are expected to use them while
pursuing your area of research, experiments and other testing.
 VI. REFERENCES.
Dotson, D. J. (2019, March 2). Tools for Measuring Abiotic Ecological Factors. Sciencing.

Retrieved September 24, 2022, from https://sciencing.com/tools-measuring-abiotic-

ecological-factors-6853255.html

Ford, J. (2019, April 9). What are the ecological instruments and their uses? – AnswersToAll.

Retrieved September 24, 2022, from https://answers-all.com/language/what-are-the-

ecological-instruments-and-their-uses/