AQUATIC ECOLOGY (FISH 212)

Laboratory Exercise No. 3

Determination of Primary Productivity
GERSHON S. LAJOLA
BSFAS 2A

INTRODUCTION
Primary productivity of an ecological system, community, or any part thereof, is defined as the rate at which
radiant energy is stored by photosynthetic and chemosynthetic activity of producer or organisms in the form of organic
substances which can be used as food material (Odum, 1971). One way to determine primary productivity in aquatic
ecosystem is through measuring the dissolved oxygen, as autotrophs produce organic compounds from carbon dioxide
and water during photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6H20 —> C6H12O6 + 6O2. This process represents the onset for quantifying
the energy flow in the aquatic ecosystem.

OBJECTIVE
At the end of this activity, the students are expected to be able to:
1. Enumerate other ways of determining primary productive in marine water and freshwater
2. Determine the primary productivity of water through the light-and-dark bottle method
3. Discuss the principle behind light-and-dark bottle method
4. Derive the gross primary production, net primary production and respiration

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A. Methods in determining primary productivity
1. Paste and label the methods in determining primary productivity
2. Enumerate the advantages and disadvantages of each sampler

B. Light-and-dark-bottle set up
1. Obtain six clean “BOD” (Biological Oxygen Demand) containers. Two bottles each for Control, Dark and Light.
2. Label the bottles as follows: L – Light (L1 and L2), D – Dark (D1 and D2), C- (C1 and C2).
3. Tie the dark bottle and light bottle to a rope, which is attached to a weight and a float.
4. The two bottles for Control (C ) is the initial starting bottle and serves as a baseline so no modification is
needed. Bottles for Dark will be wrapped with aluminum foil. Cover the bottoms of the bottles with aluminum
foil so that no light can enter. These bottles serve as the dark (no light) control. Bottles for Light will have no
screens with 100% exposure to light.
5. Turn the containers upside down and use a paper towels to remove any water around the outside of the
stoppers or lids.
6. Collect water using the 2 bottles for Control (C ) and measure the dissolved oxygen using the Water Quality
Test Kit. Record the readings.
7. For Light and Dark. Completely fill each bottle with a water sample from the lake or pond. Make sure that no air
is trapped at the top of any bottle. Handle bottles gently.
8. Let the light and dark bottles float freely or submerge the bottles into the lake or pond.
9. After 2 hours, get the dark and light bottles and measure the dissolved oxygen using the Water Quality Test Kit.
Record the readings.

C. Data Manipulation
Calculate the respiration rate and the gross and net productivity for the natural water samples using the
following equations:
Respiration rate = [Control bottle (ml DO/L) - Dark bottle (ml DO/L)] /hours
Gross Productivity = [Light bottle (ml DO/L) - Dark bottle (ml DO/L)] /hours
Net Productivity = [Light bottle (ml DO/L) - Initial bottle (ml DO/L)] /hours
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A. Methods in determining primary productivity (add rows if necessary)
1. Name and photo of device used
Beakers
2. Name and photo of device used
pH Meter
3. Name and photo of photo of device used
BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) Bottles
Advantages (add number if necessary)
1. Accurate measurement of smallest of liquid
volumes.
2. It's easier to deliver' volumetric container.
Disadvantages (add number if necessary)
1. Requires formal lab training using is accurately.
2. The tall, thin shape of the cylinder is not suitable
for solution storage.
Advantages (add number if necessary)
1. it is a lot simpler to use than using test strips or
completing a titration experiment.
2. simple to use and are not affected by human error
such as color blindness.
3. It is used for various types of applications.
Disadvantages (add number if necessary)
1. You will need to clean it regularly to avoid possible
contamination of samples.
2. There is a possibility of breaking due to fragile
glass electrodes.
3. A special buffer solution is required to calibrate it.
Advantages (add number if necessary)
1. It provides an index to assess the effect
discharged wastewater will have on our environment.
2. Is used extensively for treating wastewater, as
decomposition of organic waste by microorganisms
is commonly used for treatment.
Disadvantages (add number if necessary)
1. The amount of time (5 days) required to obtain the
results.
2. Handle with care because it is fragile.
 B. Primary Productivity Data
Calculation:
Respiration rate = -0.30

(7.55-8) / 1.50 (1hour and 30 minutes) = -0.30

Gross Productivity (GPP)= 0.43

(8.65-8) /1.50 (1 hour and 30 minutes) = 0.43

Net Productivity (NPP) = 0.73

(8.65-7.55) 0 1.50 (1 hour and 30 minutes)= 0.73

Data Sheet
Bottle Bottle DO DO Gross Net Respiration
label Replicate reading average Productivity Productivity rate
(ml DO/L) (ml DO/L) (ml (ml DO/L/hour) (ml DO/L/hour)
DO/L/hour)
Control c1 1 7.6 7.55 0.43 0.73 -0.3
c2 2 7.5
Light l1 1 8.6 8.65
l2 2 8.7
Dark d1 1 8.1 8
d2 2 7.9

C. Discussion
1. Name at least two ways for dissolved oxygen to enter an aquatic ecosystem and at least two ways for it to be
lost from an aquatic ecosystem.
Dissolved oxygen (DO) refers to the concentration of oxygen gas incorporated in water. It can enter the
water as a byproduct of photosynthesis. While most photosynthesis takes place at the surface (by shallow
water plants and algae), a large portion of the process takes place underwater (by seaweed, sub-surface
algae and phytoplankton). Oxygen enters water through several methods, including diffusion from the
atmosphere, rapid movement of water (waves, e.g.), or as a byproduct of photosynthesis (generated by
seagrass and green algae.

2. Differentiate NPP and GPP measurements.

Gross primary production (GPP) is the total rate at which material is produced and Net Primary
Production (NPP) is the rate at which material is accumulated in excess of respiration. In other words, NPP
is GPP minus respiration.
3. Explain how the light and dark bottle method of rate of oxygen production is used to measure aquatic net
productivity.
The light/dark bottle is a way of measuring primary production by comparing before and after
concentrations of dissolved oxygen. Bottles containing seawater samples with phytoplankton are incubated
for a predetermined period of time under light and dark conditions. In this method, a sample of water is
placed into two bottles. One bottle is stored in the dark and the other in a lighted area. Only respiration can
occur in the bottle stored in the dark. The decrease in dissolved oxygen (DO) in the dark bottle over time is
a measure of the rate of respiration.

4.1 What is eutrophication?

is characterized by excessive plant and algal growth due to the increased availability of one or more limiting
growth factors needed for photosynthesis (Schindler 2006), such as sunlight, carbon dioxide, and nutrient
fertilizers. Eutrophication occurs naturally over centuries as lakes age and are filled in with sediments
(Carpenter 1981).
 4.2 What is the common effect of eutrophication?
Consequences of eutrophication include excessive plant production, blooms of harmful algae, increased
frequency of anoxic events, and fish kills. Which occurs when the environment becomes enriched with
nutrients, increasing the amount of plant and algae growth to estuaries and coastal waters.
4.3 What is the implication of this effect on DO and primary productivity?
Factors influencing the primary productivity are: Temperature: It controls the enzyme-mediated dark
reaction rate of photosynthesis. Availability of nutrients and photosynthetic capacity of plants also influence
the rate of primary productivity. Species succession is also a regulating factor.

CONCLUSION:
Both photosynthesis and respiration can occur in the bottle exposed to light. The difference
between the amount of oxygen produced through photosynthesis and that consumed through
aerobic respiration is the net productivity. The productivity of the primary producers is especially
important in any ecosystem because these organisms bring energy to other living organisms by
photoautotrophy or chemoautotroph

LITERATURE CITED

Photo credits: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https//www.dwkltd.com%2Fen%2Fpyrex-beakers-low-form-griffin

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metrohm.com%2Fpt_br%2Fproducts%2
F2%2F9130%
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https//2Funmclakeproject.wordpress.com%2F2014%2F08%2F04
%2Funmc-lake-biochemical-oxygen-demand

Advantages and Disadvantages

https://chrominfo.blogspot.com/2019/04/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-ph-meter.html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/chemical-oxygen-demand
Discussion
https://www.vernier.com/experiment/bwv-25_primary-productivity/
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/eutrophication
https://www.vernier.com/experiment/bwv-25_primary-productivity
http://www.differencebetween.net/science/nature/difference-between-npp-and-gpp/
https://www.fondriest.com/environmental-measurements/parameters/water-quality/dissolved-oxygen
https://www.epa.gov/caddis-vol2/dissolved-oxygen

Source:
Odum, E.P. and Barrett, G.W., 1971. Fundamentals of ecology (Vol. 3, p. 5). Philadelphia: Saunders.
EDVOTEK, Inc. 2017. Dissolved Oxygen and Aquatic Primary Productivity. EDVOTEK and The Biotechnology Education Company.