What you’re doing:
You will be using your purchased kit for growing algae for this particular assignment and preparing a laboratory notebook style write up. That will include an aerator, algae, culture vessel, and secchi disk. This is a low cost method for you to actually raise a viable live feed. Students will culture this species and document this in an online lab book and create a short reflection on the relevance of this experience.
Why you’re doing it:
This particular assignment relates to the course project in planning for the larval cycle of a finfish or if doing molluscs culture planning for larval nutrition.
What you need to know:
Before beginning this assignment, reflect on the positives and negatives of growing a live feed. Review Chapter 9.1.2 Microalgaes from the textbook (Aquaculture: Farming of Aquatic Animals and Plants). In this chapter they discuss culture methods and commercial production of algaes.
(1) Algae Culture Kit and Growing SuppliesLinks to an external site.
(2) Secchi StickLinks to an external site.
This kit will include the method and supplies for anyone to grow Nannochloropsis an ecologically and industrially important strain of algae. It contains everything you need to grow a laboratory-grade culture at home or at your desk! It includes the following:
Instructions: information about the strain of algae, illustrated growing protocol, culture care lessons, life-cycle background of batch-culture cycles.
Culture flask: tissue culture flask (50 ml volume) with a breathable cap (included in the smallest kit only)
Culture inoculum: 1ml in a dense culture in a 1.5ml micro-centrifuge tube.
Nutrient Fertilizer: our nutrients are a modification of the media formula called f/2 (Guillard and Ryther 1962, Guillard 1975). It uses NaNO3 (sodium nitrate) and NaPO4 (sodium phosphate) as the nitrogen and phosphorus sources.
Culturing Salts: Add salts to a 500ml bottle of drinking water (water not included in the kit).
Using the directions from the kit you will set up the nutrient salt water
Instructions:
Students will culture and provide evidence they have set up and cultured the organisms via an online lab notebook that they create.
Section 1 picture of set up
Section 2 description of methods in step-by-step bullet points and variables related to algae growth(light provided, water type, salt, etc).
Students will measure the density of their algae cultures with a secchi disk by day and present data in table format. This is the best way to measure (turbidity) and a way to extrapolate cell density overall.
Students will reflect in a lab notebook conclusion on the use of this species of algae and its relevance to aquaculture.
This assignment will help you on the course project with thinking about your species profile and considering the larval nutrition stage of your culture or any special requirements needed for live food culture. Will your organism require a live feed at any stage of their life cycle? If not what feed is required for each stage.
Rubric
Week 4 Assignment I: Growing a Live Feed
Week 4 Assignment I: Growing a Live Feed
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSet Up
Students will provide a picture of their set up.
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMaterials and Methods
Students will describe their set up and all the variables they are trying to control for
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeResults of Their Live Algae Grown
Students will construct a data table by day that shows the density of their algae cultures with accompanying pictures as they grow.
20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeConclusion
Students will formulate a conclusion and reflect on this experience addressing the role of live algae cultures in aquaculture.
30 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSources
Outside sources relevant to the discussion are utilized and cited using APA style.
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeConventions of Writing
Uses correct grammar, appropriate terminology, and spelling.
10 pts
Total Points: 90
