INTERN APPLICATION
Global Environmental Agency
760 United Nations Plaza
New York, New York 10017
A. General Information:
NAME: Mette Halle E.
Last First Middle Initial
General Mailing Address: 172 Lloyd Road
Street
Montclair NJ 07042
City State Zip
Education:
Institution: Hillside Date attended: 2004-2005
Institution: Montclair Kimberley Academy Date attended: 2005-2010
B. Please describe of the topic you wish to study. Include a complete description of the 2 variables you plan to study and how these two variables are related to one another. You may complete this on a separate page and attach it or may use additional space.
The topic that I wish to study is the effect of UV radiation on the oxygen production of Elodea. The two variables in my experiment that I plan to study are UV radiation, and Elodea. Elodea is a primary producer in many water ecosystems, including lakes and rivers. It serves as prey to a wide assortment of animals, such as muskrats, beavers, and waterfowl (especially ducks). Elodea also provides shelter to many small fish, invertebrates, and amphibians, as coral reefs do. Therefore, their survival in many marine ecosystems is vital.
UV rays are invisible rays of energy produced by the sun. Though in larger proportions UV rays can be harmful in many ways to some organisms, they are also useful for humans specifically because they provide Vitamin D.
Elodea obtains food through photosynthesis, therefore getting its energy from the sun’s rays. As the earth becomes more heavily polluted, the earth’s stratosphere has shown more than about a 4% decline in volume each decade since the 1970s. Therefore, more of the sun’s ultra violet rays penetrate through the layer of ozone, affecting multiple organisms on the earth’s surface. So, by studying these two variables I am focusing on the effects of UV radiation, which will be representing the sun’s rays, on samples of Elodea and compare it to regular light without UV radiation and determine whether or not UV radiation is harmful to Elodea, and if so, to what extent. Elodea is beneficial to the human population because it does go through the process of photosynthesis, therefore producing more oxygen for the human population. Elodea makes an especially important difference in oxygen production because it is family to a large assortment of photosynthesizing plants. Elodea is also an underwater plant which rapidly spreads, therefore it is commonly found where it can survive. Elodea also has the ability to survive in deep or shallow water, and in different sediment types. If UV rays are harmful to Elodea, then as time went on and Elodea depleted in population, oxygen levels would as well because Elodea is so similar to other green plants and is common in many rivers and lakes.
The effect of UV light on the population of Elodea is a highly beneficial question to the company of GEA. It is a great concern to multiple scientists, because plants are one of the first links in the food chain. Variations in Elodea’s population could potentially cause greater disturbances in the balance of other life forms like small fish, waterfowl, invertebrates, and amphibians. As increased levels of UV radiation continue to penetrate the earth’s atmosphere, the food chain will be affected negatively.
C. Please include your experimental question and the hypothesis you have formulated to answer the question. Identify the independent and dependent variables.
Experimental Question: How does ultraviolet radiation affect the oxygen production on Elodea?
Independent Variable: UV light
Dependent Variable: Elodea
Hypothesis: If UV light radiation affects the photosynthesis process of Elodea, then the Elodea will begin to fail and eventually perish.
D. Explain what you predict the results will be from your experiment. Include a brief explanation as to why you are making this prediction.
I predict that the Elodea under the ultra violet light will slowly begin to die as it is exposed to increased amounts of UV light and as a whole, produce less oxygen. I predict this partly because other green plants and algae are decreasing in population around the world, due to “holes” in the ozone layer. It is possible that small amounts of UV light will help the Elodea to grow, as some UV light is beneficial to humans because it provides us with Vitamin D. In a human’s case, too much UV light could cause skin cancer. So, this leads me to think that after being exposed to increased amounts of UV light, the Elodea will begin to fa, and not produce as much oxygen as the blue green algae being experimented on with a regular light.
E. Describe the experimental procedure that you think you will need to conduct to find your results.
To find my results, I will most likely follow a procedure allow these lines:
-Take picture of tank before exposure to lights
-Observe Elodea ((may need microscope) What color are the leaves? Is the plant shrinking, or crippling? Etc.)
-Place dissolved oxygen sensor into water
-Record level of oxygen currently being produced by Elodea in both tanks
-Turn both lamps on (UV light and regular light)
-Time exposure for 20 minutes
-Turn lamps off
-Observe Elodea (same observations as before lamps were turned on)
-Observe picture taken before exposure
-Experiment this way each day- increase exposure time by 10 minutes every time experiment is conducted
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