Dissolved Oxygen in an Ecosystem

Oxygen dissolves into water from contact with the atmosphere and from plants in the water. At night, there are high levels of carbon dioxide and low levels of of oxygen. This is because the plants and algae in the water are removing the oxygen for respiration. During daylight hours, however, oxygen levels are high and carbon dioxide levels are low. Plants produce more oxygen than they consume, so more oxygen is provided for the fish and other organisms in the water.

Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved oxygen is the amount of oxygen in water and is needed for cellular respiration. Rapidly moving water contains more dissolved oxygen than stagnant water, and cold water has more dissolved oxygen than warm water. A large river would probably contain higher amounts of dissolved oxygen than a small pond since the pond water is still.

Though the minimum oxygen concentrations required for different fish vary, water with less than 3 mg/l will typically not support fish. At 3-4 mg/l, fish start gasping for air at the surface, and bacteria may die off. In order for fish to survive indefinitely, the water must have an oxygen concentration of above 5 mg/l. 

Aquacheck

The five components of Aquacheck are free chlorine, total chlorine, total hardness, total alkalinity, and pH.

Since chlorine is an important chemical for some processes of water purification, there are traces of it in tap water. Chlorine is highly toxic to fish, so tap water must be treated with dechlorinator. My water had 0 ppm of free and total chlorine, which is good since I'm pretty sure Benson would rather not die.

Water hardness refers to the amount of minerals dissolved in the water. Benson's water had a total of 250 ppm hardness, which was expected since the water around here has a fairly high mineral content.

Alkalinity refers to the water's ability to resist change in pH. Alkalinity can also remove toxic metals from water. Benson's water tested for a total alkalinity of 180 ppm, which means the water is very resistant to change.

pH measures how acidic or basic water is. At a pH of 4, fish reproduction is affected, and at a pH of 3, adult fish die. Benson's water had a pH of 7.2. Though betta fish prefer water that is slightly more acidic, 7.2 is still in the safe range.

Betta Fish Facts

Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are characterized by their vibrant colors and beautiful fins. Since they are so aesthetically appealing, they are often placed in decorative vases and glasses for decoration. Though it's common knowledge that bettas are so gorgeous, many people are unaware of the fascinating truth behind them.

1. Bettas have excellent memories. They are able to recognize changes in their environment, as well as familiar people and things. As a result, they can form a relationship with their primary caregiver.
2. Bettas are capable of taking in oxygen from both the water and air. They can survive out of water for short periods of time and inhale oxygen from the air around them if needed.
3. Betta fish prefer slightly acidic water with a pH range of 6.5-7.
4. Though bettas can tolerate small spaces, it is better to give them more space (at least two gallons) since they are curious animals and can get bored easily.
5. There are many different tail shapes for bettas, including veil-tail (the most common), crown tail, half-moon tail, and double tail.
6. The preferred temperature for betta fish water ranges from about 76- 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. The average life span for bettas is 2-3 years, though some have lived to be 4 or 5.
8. Bettas are carnivores and eat dried bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and pellets.
9. Betta fish enjoy games such as chasing a finger or stick in the water and can be taught tricks such as jumping for food.
10. Since bettas need to be mentally stimulated, it is good to switch out and rearrange the decorations in their tanks to keep things fresh and exciting. 

Dallas World Aquarium Research

Though I have been to the Dallas World Aquarium before, I was unable to go on the class field trip. However, I did some research and learned some interesting facts about some of the organisms in the aquarium.

1. Three-toed sloths are named for the number of fingers they have, not for the number of toes; all sloths have three toes. A more appropriate name would be "three-fingered sloth."
2. Unlike most mammals, the three-toed sloth does not maintain a constant body temperature, so it is limited to warm climates.
3. Though black-footed penguins are protective of their offspring, they will not sacrifice their appetites for them; adult penguins will let their children starve before they starve themselves.
4. The dwarf caiman is one of the most common crocodilian species kept as a pet. However, due to their aggressive temperament, they are not the most suitable pets.
5. Antillean manatees have three or four nails on each flipper to help them hold their food.

Three-toed sloth

Black-footed penguin

Dwarf caiman

Antillean manatee

Benson Update

It's no mystery that Benson has a bubbly personality, but that's not the only thing about him that's bubbly. Lately, Benson has been contributing to the growth of his bubble nest. In the wild and in breeding tanks, male bettas make bubble nests when they want to mate, and the fish spawn underneath the nests. However, the nest building behavior is instinctual for male betta fish, so it is not necessary for a female to be present for them to make nests. Benson's nest is a sign that he is happy and in good health.

In addition to being a bubble blowing bandit, Benson has been extremely energetic lately, adding to my security of his well-being. For example, on 4/29, a bunch of people happened to be surrounding the lab table where his tank is and ended up commenting on how beautiful he is. Benson got really excited and started racing all about. When I showed everyone how he can chase my finger, he started following it without hesitation, impressing everyone. He LOVES being the center of attention. We actually had a little photo shoot, and he got pretty into it. He took a few seconds to pose, and he fluttered excitedly after each picture was taken. Unfortunately, most of the pictures turned out blurry due to him moving around a lot and my pitiful excuse for a camera. I'd like to get a nice new camera to photograph him with, because I definitely see a potential future for him in the modeling industry.

The Pollution Index

The Pollution Index is used to determine the level of organic pollution by studying the kinds of algae in a sample of water. On the Pollution Index Chart, a Pollution Index factor of 1 to 5 is assigned to each of the 20 types of algae that are most tolerant of organic pollution. The most tolerant types are assigned a 5. The less tolerant the algae is, the lower the number it is assigned.

Pandorina (1)

Oscillatoria (5)

The amount of algae, as well as the types of algae present, are indicators of water quality. Batrachospermum, for example, is an indicator of clean water because it lives only in cold water with low levels of organic pollution. Clean water has a low population of algae with high diversity, whereas polluted water has a high population of algae with low diversity.