
Water pH and Tadpole Survival
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How does the pH (acidity or alkalinity) of water affect how long a tadpole survives? Six tadpoles were placed in separate bowls. Two bowls held acidic water. Two held neutral water. Two held basic (alkaline) water.
All the tadpoles received the same food and the same amount of water. The water was changed every other day with fresh drops to keep the pH steady. Indicator strips confirmed the pH each day.
The acidic tadpoles died on the very first day. Both the neutral and basic tadpoles survived the entire 33-day test. Even a small shift toward acidic water can be fatal for tadpoles.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that if one tadpole lives in neutral water and another lives in acidic water, the one in neutral will live longer.
Science Concepts Learned
pH and Aquatic Life
Acid levels in water can determine whether aquatic animals live or die. Six tadpoles were placed in separate bowls — two in acidic water, two in neutral water, two in basic (alkaline) water. All received the same food, and indicator strips confirmed the pH each day. The tadpoles in acidic water died on the very first day. Both the neutral and basic groups survived the entire 33-day test.
Method & Materials
You will fill 6 bowls with water, add acidic or basic drops to two of the bowls, and place one tadpole in each bowl. You will also feed the tadpoles and change the water every other day.
You will need 6 bowls, 6 tadpoles, tadpole food, acidic drops, basic drops, indicator strips, water, and a net.
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See what’s includedResults
The results showed that the acidic tadpoles did die on the first day, while the basic tadpoles survived the whole test. This suggests that tadpoles are able to survive if the pH is slightly basic, but if the pH becomes slightly acidic, the results may be fatal.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting because it shows how even small changes in the environment can have a big impact on the life of an organism.
Also Consider
Variations to consider include testing the effects of different pH levels on the tadpoles, or testing the effects of different temperatures on the tadpoles.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.Related video
These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
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