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The Effect of Different OTC Medications
on the Survival Rate of Daphnia
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Researched by Whitney K.
2004-05
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The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of
Pseudoephedrine, aspirin, and Benadryl on the heart rate of daphnia.
I became interested in this idea when I learned about zooplankton that
live in fresh and salt water. I thought that daphnia were interesting,
especially because I could see their heart beating.
The information gained from this experiment could help people
understand about how important it is not to dispose of wasteful product
into our rivers and streams, because of the way it affects the food
chain. If the zooplankton ore harmed, everything above them in the food
chain will also be harmed.
My first hypothesis was that aspirin would increase the heart rate of
daphnia. I based my hypothesis on an encyclopedia of medicines that
said, “Aspirin can speed up the heart”.
My second hypothesis was that Pseudoephedrine would increase the heart
rate of daphnia. I based my hypothesis on an encyclopedia of medicines
that said, “Pseudoephedrine is a drug that speeds the heart up
slightly”.
My third hypothesis was that Benadryl would decrease the heart rate of
daphnia. I based my hypothesis on the common known fact that Benadryl
can cause drowsiness.
The constants in this study were:
- The amount of each medications given to the daphnia.
- The number of seconds that are recorded to find their
heart rate.
- The video camera I used to record their heart rate.
- The microscope I used to record their heart rate.
- The amount of time it takes to film.
- The place where I get the daphnia.
- The environment that the daphnia are stored.
- The type of the daphnia used.
- The age of the daphnia.
- The type of caffeine.
- The type of Pseudoephedrine.
- The type of aspirin.
- The type of Benadryl
The manipulated variable was the type of medication given to the
daphnia.
The responding variable was the heart rate of the daphnia after each
chemical was given to them.
To measure the responding variable I used a microscope to see the
daphnia’s heart beat and a video camera to record the heart beats. I
used the slow motion playback to count the heartbeats for 10.0
seconds.
QUANTITY ITEM DESCRIPTION
1
Microscope
1
Video camera
1
Pseudoephedrine pill
1
Benadryl pill
1
Aspirin Pill
1
Video tape
3
Petri dishes
3
Beakers
1. Gather all of the materials.
2. Set up equipment.
A) Put the microscope on a table.
B) Connect the microscope camera to the microscope.
C) Connect the video recorder to the MC.
3. Fill three beakers with 500 ml of room temperature water (20∞C).
4. Label each beaker:
A) Benadryl
B) Pseudoephedrine
C) Aspirin
5. Crush each pill into powder using a clean hammer and aluminum foil,
and let dissolve in correct beaker.
6. While waiting for the pills to dissolve start control group.
7. Get a Petri dish and fill it half way with water with a large bore
dropper into a second dry Petri dish.
8. Put 11-12 daphnia in just in case some die.
9. Separate the first daphnia from the group.
10. Put the first daphnia under the microscope. Write down tape counter
start point.
11. Start recording once there is a clear view of the heart.
12. Stop recording after about ten seconds. Write tape counter stop
point.
13. Repeat steps 9-12 with exactly 10 of the daphnia in this group.
14. Once the pills have dissolved conduct trials with all of the
different chemicals.
A) Start by filling Petri dish half full of chemical solution to be
tested.
B) Place 11-12 “new” daphnia into the chemical solution.
C) Repeat steps 9-13.
15. Clean up the mess.
16. Watch the video in slow motion and count all of the heartbeats per
daphnia. Use the time code to determine which daphnia is in each test
group.
17. Record data.
18. Graph averages.
The original purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of
Pseudoephedrine, aspirin, and Benadryl on the heart rate of daphnia.
The results of the experiment was that the Pseudoephedrine sped the
daphnia’s heart up, while the other two drugs slowed it down.
My first hypothesis was that aspirin would increase the heart rate of
daphnia. This hypothesis has been rejected since the aspirin was 1.2%
below the control group.
My second hypothesis was that Pseudoephedrine would increase the heart
rate of daphnia. My hypothesis was accepted since it was 0.8% higher
then the control group.
My third hypothesis was that Benadryl would decrease the heart
rate of daphnia. My hypothesis was accepted since it was 4.6% lower
than the control group.
The results indicate that my first two hypotheses should be accepted,
but the third was rejected.
Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if the daphnia were
subjected to household detergents or cleaners if they would it have a
big effect on them?
If I were to conduct this project again I would use more than ten
daphnia.
Introduction
When people dispose of harmful chemicals, or just plain “over the
counter” pills it has a big effect on the microorganisms living in the
water and other places. As larger organisms eat the tiny organisms we
may eventually be eating them, and the harmful toxins we disposed of in
the first place.
Arthropods
An arthropod is the largest phylum of animals. Four out of five of the
animal species are arthropods. Arthropods are most commonly found in
freshwater and airborne environments. Their size can range from
microscopic plankton to an animal seven meters long.
Anatomy
Arthropods have hard exoskeletons and jointed appendages. The
appendages are used to feed, and defend. Arthropods have gills,
used
to exchange gases. They have tracheal systems (air sacs that enter the
body from the pores). An arthropod’s exoskeleton is their greatest
defense from their enemy. When they start molting they are the most
vulnerable.
Crustaceans
A crustacean is a type of arthropod and an invertebrate with a hard
external shell. There are more than 42,000 known species of crustaceans
around the world. Crustaceans are important members of aquatic ecology
and are the basic food providers.
Anatomy
There are three main body parts of a crustacean: the head, thorax, and
the abdomen. Almost all adult crustaceans have a compound eye that is
used to detect motion. Crustaceans can detach body parts to distract
predators and have it grow back the next time they molt. Very rarely
will crustaceans have a simple eye that can detect light, but not
images.
Diet
Some crustaceans will eat each other, but most eat leftover plants or
the remains of animals.
Habitat
Different kinds of crustaceans live in different kinds of places. Some
hide in rocks or weeds, others live in sponge or coral, and some even
burrow in the mud or sand.
Daphnia
Daphnia are a type of crustacean and water flea. There are
approximately 150 known species of Daphnia in North America. Daphnia
pulex are widely used in testing water pollution. Daphnia make good
test subjects since the are small, easy to get, and are transparent so
that you can see everything going on inside of them.
Anatomy
Daphnia have one compound eye, and two antenna limbs that carry oxygen
and food to their mouths. Instead of arms or fins they use their
antenna to swim. They have transparent bodies, which means that you can
see right through them. You can see their heart beating, without a
microscope, and occasionally their food.
Habitat
Daphnia are extremely tolerant of low quality water. Daphnia can also
survive in low oxygen since they can photosynthesize. They can live in
temperatures ranging from 64º-72º F. Daphnia are very
sensitive to
metal ions, copper, zinc, pesticides, detergents, bleaches, and other
toxins.
Reproduction
One daphnia can have 13 billion babies in just 60 days. If the
temperature of the water is warm the egg will hatch a female, if the
temperature of the water is cold the egg will hatch a male. Sometimes
the egg has a hard covering that can withstand heat, cold, and
dehydration.
Medicines
The main goal of medicine is to save lives, relive pain, and keep the
self-respect of sick people. Medical researchers are always searching
for ways to cure and treat different diseases.
History
Back in the prehistoric times people thought that evil spirits and gods
caused diseases. Some people in the early ages would perform surgery to
release the spirits that they thought were causing common
headaches.
An English physician named William Harvey conducted dozens of
experiments to try and find out how blood circulates through the body.
He eventually found out that the heart pumps blood throughout the body.
Aspirin
Aspirin is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. It is a
white and odorless powder.
History
Aspirin was made from willow bark until it was produced in a
laboratory. It wasn’t until 1899 that people figured out what aspirin
was used for. It was eventually known for reliving pain and fever.
Effects
Aspirin is used to: reduce headaches, relive pain (even pain from
arthritis), and can bring fever down from infections. But it can
irritate the stomach and cause stomach bleeding.
Benadryl
Benadryl is an antihistamine drug that occurs as a white crystalline
powder. It is freely soluble in alcohol and water. The chemical formula
for benadryl is C17H21N0 ∑ HCI.
Antihistamine
Antihistamine is a drug that treats allergies, hives, and other
things caused from allergic reactions.
Effects
Some side effects can be sedation, drying of mucous membranes, and
urinary retention.
Psuedoephedrine
Psedoephedrine is used to relive nasal congestion, and cough.
Effects
Psuedoephedrine can cause: anxiety, nausea, dizziness, and sometimes
hypertension (high blood pressure), headaches and palpitations.
Summary
Being careless and just disposing of drugs or pills in the wrong way
not only hurts millions of living things, but it hurts us as well.
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“Aspirin” The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicens.
1989. pg 137.
“Aspirin”, World Book Encyclopedia, 1998.
Bauman, Melissa. “Does Caffeine Affect the Heart Rate of Daphnia?”
March 2001 http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/SOAR/sciproj2001/melissab.html
“Caffeine”, Academic American Encyclopedia, 1998.
“Caffeine”, Encyclopedia Americana, 1999.
“Caffeine”, World Book Encylopedia, 2000. Page 200-201.
Clare, John. “Daphnia: An Aquarist's Guide.” July 2002.
http://www.caudata.org/daphnia
“Classics of Biology: DAPHNIA”
http://ebiomedia.com/gall/classics/Daphnia/feature_main.html
“Crustaceans”, The Animal World, 1997.
“Crustacean”, Encyclopedia America, 1998.
“Crustacean”, World Book Encyclopedia, 1998.
“Daphnia”, Academic American Encyclopedia, 1998.
“Daphnia”, Encyclopedia Americana, 1999.
“Daphnia”, World Book Encyclopedia, 2000.
“Medicine”, World Book Encyclopedia, 1998.
“Water Pollution”, World Book Encyclopedia, 2002.
“Water Flea” Academic American Encyclopedia, 1998, pg 40. |
I would like to thank the following people for helping make my project
possible:
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My dad for staying with me for 6 hours while I did my experiment.
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My mom for getting me all of the pills I needed.
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Mr. Newkirk for helping me get started and complete the project.
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Mrs. Helms for helping me out whenever I needed it.
- Mrs. Clifton for helping me with my research report.
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