Goldfish Report

Investigation of Temperature vs. Breathing Rate

Jake DeShon Monday 11 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. BIOL 1101 Lab Due: September 20, 2010

Jake DeShon email: 924213758@gsc.edu Gainesville State College 1

Goldfish Report
Explained purpose of the Lab/Research

The purpose of this lab is to investigate the relationship between the change in the water temperature and the breathing rate of the goldfish. Goldfish breath using their gills to process the oxygen that is dissolved in the water. Water flows out of the goldfishs body through an opening on the back of its operculum. The operculum helps the goldfish breath. Fish are ectotherms, so their bodies are unable maintain a consistent body temperature on their own. Due to this fact, ectotherms have the ability to change their own behavior to respond to the fluctuations in environment temperature. The rate at which goldfish breaths can be one of the behaviors that can be monitored when its environment changes. The goldfish must constantly pump water across its gills in order to obtain oxygen and release carbon dioxide. The oxygen, which is obtained via the gas exchange that a fish participates in when it is breathing, can be used within the goldfishs cells to breakdown carbohydrates to produce ATP. The breathing rate, which can found by counting the number of opercular flap movements per minute, is a direct response to the bodys need for ATP on the cellular level. ATP is essential in many chemical based reactions within the cell. By measuring the breathing the rate of the fish at different temperatures, one can hypothesize the breathing rates relationship to ATP production within the cells of the goldfish. Identified Research Question What is the effect of temperature on the breathing rate of goldfish? Statement of Hypothesis

Working Hypothesis: As the temperature of the water decreases, the fishs breathing rate will slow down. Null Hypothesis: As the temperature of the water increases, the fishs breathing rate will stay the same. I intend to test my working hypothesis by slowly adding crushed ice to the tub of tap water surrounding the goldfish in the glass beaker and observing the goldfishs operculum flap movements as the temperature slowly decreases. Procedure The procedure of this lab starts with creating a working hypothesis and null hypothesis on the relationship between the breathing of a goldfish and the water temperature. In order to test the working hypothesis, one must move the goldfish from the fish tank and into a large glass beaker filled with dechlorinated water at room temperature. The glass beaker must be placed in a plastic tub of tap water that is filled about half an inch high. The operculum movement has to be observed at room temperature and at the other designated temperatures. One must add ice to the water in the plastic tub at a slow, constant rate to manipulate the water temperature without killing the goldfish. Place the Celsius thermometer in the water of the large glass beaker to get accurate results. Once all results are recorded, clean up the materials and return them to where they belong. Let the instructor place the goldfish back into the tank at a later time. The materials needed to perform this experiment are a Celsius thermometer, a large beaker of dechlorinated water at room temperature, a goldfish, a plastic tub, a large glass beaker, and a watch.

Results Data Table Group Data Breathing Rate vs. Water Temperature

Trial

Starting Temp (23C) 132 144 140

20C

15C

10C

1 2 3 Average Breathing Rate*

112 136 124

60 56 68

40 44 32

138.7

124

61.3

38.7

*The breathing rates are measured in operculum movements per minute.

Class Data Breathing Rate vs. Water Temperature

Group

Starting Temp (23.4C) 120 122.6 121 104 138.7

20C

15C

10C

1 2 3 4 5 Average Breathing Rate*

101.3 104 77 62.6 124

85.3 64 76 72 61.3

52 24 31 33.3 38.7

121.26

93.8

71.72

35.8

*The breathing rates are measured in operculum movements per minute. Control Group Data Breathing Rates at Time Intervals Corresponding to Ice

Trial 1 2 3 Average Breathing Rate* Water Temp

1 128 136 140

2 120 112 132

3 148 124 144

4 132 128 128

134.7

121.3

138.7

129.3

23C

23C

23C

23C

*The breathing rates are measured in operculum movements per minute. Graph of Group vs. Class Results

4.

At which temperatures did the lowest and highest breathing

rates occur? The highest breathing rate, approximately 138.7 operculum movements per minute, occurred at the starting temperature of 23 C. The lowest breathing rate, approximately 38.7 operculum movements per minute, occurred at the temperature of 10C. 5. How did your group data differ from that of the class? If

differences existed, what factors contributed to the differences? The operculum movement count calculated by my group was higher than the class average at the initial starting temperature, 10C and at 20C, but it was lower than the class average at 15C. The factors that contributed to the differences are that it is difficult to observe and record the number of opercular movements using the naked eye and

that each group had their own unique goldfish to use for the experiment. Discussion / Conclusion The conclusion that I have made from this experiment are that goldfish breath a great deal more in warm water as opposed to cold water.The breathing rate of the goldfish dropped as the water temperature decreased. Also, goldfish are much more active in warmer water than in colder water. An additional observation that I made was that it is quite difficult to see the operculum movements of the goldfish with the unaided eye. The observations that I made during this experiment support my working hypothesis. The limitations of the experiment are the age, health and participating fatigue of the goldfish. 6. Given your data, what is the relationship between water

temperature and breathing rate in goldfish. Provide an explanation as to why the relationship exists. The relationship between water temperature and breathing rate in goldfish is a direct relationship. The relationship exists because the breathing rate of a fish is a natural response to the need of ATP for its cells. When a fish swims in warmer water, the need for ATP is higher due to its necessities to execute the chemical reactions within its cells.