Name ___________________ Period _________________

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Goldfish Respiration Lab

Problem:
How Does Temperature Affect Respiration Rates of Fish?

Purpose:
In this lab you will slowly change the water temperature of a fish and determine how
changing the temperature affects the fish's respiration rate.

Hypothesis:
As the temperature increases, the respiration rate will __________________.

Procedures:

1. The goldfish will start at room temperature (15-20 C). You will check the temperature
and record the number of breaths the fish takes at room temperature for 60 seconds.

2. Add ice to lower the temperature.

3. Place a thermometer in the fish's glass and watch as the temperature slowly changes.
When the temperature is in the 10-14 C range, record the respiration rate again for 60
seconds.

4. Add more ice to lower the temperature. When the water reaches 5-9 C, count the
respiration rate again for 60 seconds. Record the information.

5. Change the cold water for warm water and repeat the above steps, recording data for
the other two temperature ranges on the table 21-25 C and 26-30 C.

6. Ask 3 other groups for their respiration data. Record their information for Fish 2, Fish
3, and Fish 4.

7. Determine the average respiration rate for each temperature range. Add the fish
respiration for each temperature and divide by 4.
 Data:
Record the number of breaths your fish takes at each of the following temperature
ranges. Record data from other groups near you so that you can compare your fish to
theirs to get an average.

Temperature Your fish Fish 2 Fish 3 Fish 4 Average

26-30 C

21-25 C

15-20 C (room)

10-14 C

5-10 C

Use your data to create a LINE graph. Use one line to represent YOUR FISH, and
another line to represent the AVERAGE. Use different colors for each line. Make a color
key.
Analysis & Conclusion
1. What happened to the respiration rate when the water temperature decreased? Use
numbers.

2. What happened to the respiration rate when the water temperature increased? Use
numbers.

3. Can you name anything else that could have changed the breathing rate of the
goldfish?

4. Did the goldfish's behavior change as the water got colder or warmer?

5. Look at your graph. Did your fish follow the average line or was it off?

6. Which line on the graph is more accurate, your fish line or the average fish line?

Why is it more accurate?

7. Was your hypothesis supported or rejected?

8. What were the controls of this experiment? (What was kept the same?)

9. What was the variable of this experiment? (What was the ONE thing you changed?)

10. How does temperature affect the respiration rate of a goldfish?