BLOOMS GALORE: Interdisciplinary study using Red Tides

1. BLOOMS GALORE: Interdisciplinary study using Red Tides Inspired and created by: Tan Swee Ngin, Tan Lik Tong, Tan Hong Kim, Hoh Yin Kiong, Beverly Goh http://biodidac.bio.uottawa.ca/thumbnails/filedet.htm?File_name=Dino001b&File_type=gif Scenario Jack and Jill loved going fishing with Dad at the PasirRis Beach Park. You could get some good sized fish if you were patient enough, and used fresh bait. Saturday’s haul was 12 medium-sized fish from a 3h fishing trip – not a bad day. Mum had cleaned the fish and was going to prepare them for Sunday dinner.  Early Sunday morning, Dad looked at the newspapers and exclaimed: “Don’t touch the fish! This news alert from the AVA (Agri-food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore) cautions that PasirRis waters are on a Red Tide Alert. We have to throw everything we caught yesterday away.” “Red Tides may cause Diuretic Shellfish Poisoning, Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning….”, he read out officiously. “What on earth is a Red Tide?” cried J & J. “What does this have to do with the fish we caught? How about the oysters and mussels that we bought from the fisherman and the beach yesterday? Do we have to throw them all away as well?” http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/ocean.productivity/index.php Behrenfeld, MJ, PG Falkowski 1997. Limnology and Oceanography 42:1-20. Investigation and Activities Field sampling (plankton tows) of several water bodies – biology lab to identify microorganisms(cyano-site: http://www-cyanosite.bio.purdue.edu/index.html; dynoflagellates: www.mnh.si.edu/highlight/sem/dinoflagellates.html) Harmful Algal Blooms, HABs: http://www.issha.org/Welcome-to-ISSHA/Harmful-algae Analysis of physical properties of water (Environmental probes, e.g. conductivity, temperature, DO, salinity, pH) Qualitative and quantitative analyses of water quality parameters (PO4, NO3, TKN using the nutrient analyser – FIA) Chlorophyll analysis Analytical techniques for toxins (e.g. HPLC, LCMS) -- Higher Level class, e.g. MSc Mathematical Models on plankton blooms – online resources NOAA monitoring of global phytoplankton productivity http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/ocean.productivity/standard.product.php Teacher’s guide & classroom activities for primary, secondary, tertiary level science Student products Poster + oral presentation Written report (lab report) Journal paper Brochure/field guide on phytoplankton sampling Awareness pamphlet on sources of nutrient runoff & impacts Lesson plan on eutrophication Aquatic food web activity sheets Assessment Group report assessment MLS, MMM, MSC, AAB,AAY, AAP, FYP poster & paper assessment rubrics Journal reflection on weekly basis for formative assessment (500 word) Lesson plan assessment rubrics Learning Goals Collaborative learning (max 3 per group), PBL, scientific literacy, analytical and scientific communication skills, global and environmental awareness, societal responsibilities Some Resources Identification keys for micro-organisms (e.g. plankton ID books) Vogel’s Quantitative Chemical Analysis (by Mendham, Denny, Barnes, Thomas) Instrument Manuals Field Sampling gear (e.g. plankton nets) Microscopes, slides, etc Marine Biotoxins (www.fao.org/docrep/007/y5486e/y5486e00.htm#Contents) Newspaper articles: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14324094 http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.com/2010/01/200000-fish-in-farms-off-pasir-ris-dead.html