1. Patrick Leech Pittsburgh Central Catholic PJAS 2009

2. Runoff Surface runoff Materials that are commonly transported by surface runoff are fertilizers, petroleum, pesticides, herbicides, and SALT

3. Runoff continued Not only harms aquatic plants but also affects drinking water Ontario research team discovered that only about 45% of salt stays on the surface of the water Rest absorbed in shallow aquifers Exceeds recommended safe amount of salt for drinking water

4. Former Experiments Effects of road salt on the environment were first noticed in the 1950s Along the Minnesota highway, trees within a 3.4 mile radius of the road were showing indications of salt related death. During the same time period the New Hampshire Government reported the death and removal of about 14,000 trees due to salt related problems.

5. Algae Most algal deaths result from salt intrusion During winter, road salt runoff increases algal death Many attempts have been made to create a safe ice melt salt

6. Algal Importance Base of aquatic food chain  Used as a bio-indicator for aquatic environments

7. Calcium Chloride(CaCl 2 ) The most universal road salt Exothermic reaction with water heats up ice or snow Lowers the freezing point of snow (colligative property)

8. Dehydration Directly alters tonicity of organisms Cells lose water through hypertonicity when exposed to salt Some salts can be toxic at high concentrations or interfere with biological processes

9. Safe Salt Ex. “Safe Paw” Has a dual effect in which a liquid is released instantly melting snow distant from the pellet Core immediately heats up melting snow directly around it Exothermic heat process Claims- environmentally safe and lessens irritation to animals (dogs paws)

10. Euglena Common algal like protist Extremely tolerant of many habitats Capable of survival in both salt and water environments A partial heterotroph can attain food through endocytosis and photosynthesis

11. Chlamydomonas Common unicellular algae Valuable experimental model for biochemistry, genetics, etc. Exclusive to this organism are ion channels that are directly stimulated by light

12. Purpose To determine if a “safe salt” has any effect on algal growth/survival

13. Hypothesis Null: The presence of “Safe Paw” will NOT have a significant effect on either Euglena or Chlamydomona’s growth/survival Alternative: The presence of “Safe Paw” WILL have a significant effect on both Euglena and Chlamydomona’s growth/survival

14. Materials 20% Safe Paw solution (20 grams Safe Paw per 100mL Spring water) Euglena gracilis Chlamydomonas rheinhartii Soil water (sterile) Spring water 30 test tubes (13 x 100 mm borosilicate culture tubes) Pipettes (macro + micro) Pipette tips Science Kit Educator spectrophotometer Test tube rack

15. Procedure 1. The following ingredients were pipetted into 13 x 100mm borosilicate culture tubes: 0% salinity.1% salinity1% salinity Euglena Chlamydomonas 3mL Spring water 1mL Chemical (Safe Salt) 0mL.05mL.5mL Soil Water 1mL.95mL.5mL Total mL in test tube 5mL

16. Procedure continued 2. Placed tubes on window that received an equal amount of light 3. Algal growth was monitored every day for one week using a spectrophotometer set at 430 nm

17. Euglena Growth Curve Time Elapsed (Days) P-value=.0666

18. Chlamydomonas Growth Curve Time Elapsed (Days) P-value=.057 P-value=.062

19. Results and Conclusions The null hypothesis, that the presence of “Safe Paw" will NOT have a significant effect on both algae’s growth/survival, is ACCEPTED (p-value >.05) The alternative hypothesis, that the presence of “Safe Paw” WILL have a significant effect on both algae‘s growth/and survival, is REJECTED

20. Limitations and Extensions Limitations Algae was not kept at the same temperature each day Weather variations could have small effects of data Only tested two concentrations Did not utilize a negative control (Calcium Chloride) Algal cultures might not have been in optimal health Extensions Greater sample sizes. Algal health- the study will be repeated using a fresh culture and a longer period of observation

21. Sources "Evaluating Support for the Current Classification of Eukaryotic Diversity". PLoS Genet. 2 (12): e220. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0020220. PMID 17194223. p://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1713 255. alga, algae". Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language Unabridged with Seven Language Dictionary. 1. Encyclopedia Britannica "De-icer damaging thousands of trees on mountain passes". The Seattle Times (19 March 2008). Retrieved on 18 March, 2008. Aliphatic Chains of Esterified Lipids in Isolated eyesptos of Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris1 www.oercommons.org/courses/algae-experiments en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrophotometer

22. Sources continued Chapman, V.J. (1950). Seaweeds and their Uses. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd Round, F E (1981). The Ecology of Algae. London: Cambridge University Press. hamptonroads.com/2008/01/odu-experiment-turning-sewage- algaebased-biodiesel-flourishing www.dow.com/productsafety/finder/cacl