Operculum Movement “Observation of the Operculum Movement of Fishes Depending on the Content of Water” Proponents: Resullar, Gillian Mae Lopez, Christian Joy Macalisang, Sarah Lee E. Edradan, Gabrielle Ruth R.

Objective: To determine the factors that affect the movement of the operculum of a fish according to the components of the water the fish lives in.

Materials: Beakers (2) with 600 mL of water each Fishes (2) with the same length, same color, same shape, and specie Detergent soap approximately 1 teaspoon (5 grams) Thermometers (2)

Variables: Controlled Variable: the volume of the water Independent Variable: the content of water Dependent Variable: operculum movement

Procedure: 1.The temperature of the water inside each beaker were measured. 2.The 5 grams of detergent soap was mixed in one of the containers and was stirred thoroughly. 3.Each of the fish was placed in every container. 4.The fishes were observed for at least 10 minutes, wasn’t touched until the time ended.

Observation: Each of the fishes were of the same length, same shape, same color and same specie. But were placed in two different containers at the same time with the same temperature, 30˚C, same volume, 600 mL, but of different components, one is a normal water and the other is with an approximately 1 teaspoon of detergent soap.

Observation: Fish1 (Aryana) was placed in a water with detergent soap; fish2 (Dyesebel) was placed in a normal water with no other components. Both of their operculum, a bony structure covering and protecting the gills in teleost, were observed. But once the specimens were already placed, Aryana’s operculum cannot seem to tolerate the components of the water and is moving more violently than Dyesebel. While Dyesebel’s operculum is moving normally, Aryana’s is moving slowly for every minute that passes.

Observation: In exactly 5mins and 46 sec after it was placed in the container, the latter fish is still alive but it seems like the movement of its operculum has already ceased. Its last movement was recorded as 7mins and 32 sec. Aryana’s death was recorded as on or before 10 minutes. The after effects of Aryana’s death were the falling off of its scales and the enlarging of its size.

Conclusion: Therefore, the group has concluded that one of the factors that affect the movement of the operculum of a fish is the water it lives in. Typical fishes are meant to live in a 2-hydrogen and 1-oxygen atom, H2O. In this case adding a detergent soap makes the fish’s operculum to cause abnormalities.

Conclusion: However, Dyesebel, the fish which was placed in the normal water, died after 12 hours. This just shows that the normal water Dyesebel lives in either was contaminated by another element or lacked the 1-oxygen atom.

Recommendation: The researchers learned many amazing facts. One of those is that a detergent soap’s components can kill fishes. It can weaken one of the breathing organ of a fish. Some people who lives in barrios and such, washes their clothes on a nearby river or stream. Generally speaking, rivers, streams, etc. are bodies of water which is directly connected to the sea.

Recommendation: The saltwater sea is where marine lives are mostly found. Thus, this makes the researchers worry. The proponents, therefore, recommend all of the people to avoid washing their clothes in streams, rivers or in any form of bodies of water that is connected to the seas, so as to avoid the destruction of aquatic resources, especially fish kills.