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Name:
Period:
STUDENT WORKSHEET
Lesson 4c: Can You Make a Bloom?
Note: This lesson was created by Phytopia and is available at
http://www.bigelow.org/phytopia/ideas.html
.
It has been reformatted and slightly modified by C‐MORE for this science kit.
Directions:
1.
You should be in the “Phyto Factors” section at this point. (If you do not see “Phyto Factors” in the upper right
hand corner of the screen, click on the menu at the top of the screen, and select “Phyto Factors.” If you have
already viewed the introductory movie for this section, you can skip ahead by clicking twice on the “Next” arrow
at the bottom right corner of your screen.)
2.
Select “Use Bloom Activation Tool.”
3.
View the brief movie to learn how to control the Bloom Activation Tool.
4.
Use the Bloom Activation Tool to complete the exercise below.
Bloom Activation Tool:
Step #1: Use the Bloom Activation Tool to try to create a phytoplankton bloom in the Gulf of Maine. Push the
“Activate” button to start the simulation. Keep track of the conditions you choose and your results in the tables
below. Once you have successfully created a bloom, move on to Step #2 below.
Trial #1:
Conditions Chosen
Sunlight
Temperature
Wind
Results
Number of Blooms Formed
Trial #2:
Conditions Chosen
Sunlight
Temperature
Wind
Results
Number of Blooms Formed
Trial #3:
Conditions Chosen
Sunlight
Temperature
Wind
Results
Number of Blooms Formed
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Step #2: Let’s look back at the conditions you needed to choose to create a bloom. Using your knowledge of
phytoplankton needs, can you hypothesize why those conditions favored a bloom in the Gulf of Maine? Write your
answer in the box below.
Step #3: Now that you have created at least one bloom, investigate it! Drag your cursor over either the false color
image or the true color image of the Gulf of Maine. When you see a blue number appear, click on it and learn more
about the bloom in that area. Use the table below to take notes on what you learn.
Bloom Analysis
Bloom Number
Region of Bloom
Temperature
Depth
Conditions
Organisms Present
Other Information
Step #4: Now let’s take a closer look at one of the organisms you found in your bloom. Click on the organism name,
and you will be taken to either the “Glossary” or “Phyto File” associated with that organism. If you are taken to the
“Glossary”, choose another organism to investigate. Use the table below to take notes on what you learn.
Organism Analysis
Organism Name
Sketch
Trophic Type
Shape
Harmful?
Swim or Suspend?
Other Facts You Find Interesting
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Step #5: Finally, let’s use our knowledge of phytoplankton characteristics to further our understanding of your
organism.
A.
Look at your organism’s “trophic type.” Is your organism phototrophic, heterotrophic, or mixotrophic? What
does this tell you about how your organism gets its nutrition? (If you need help with any of the terms, go back to
your “Bloom Activation Results”, click on the “menu” button at the top of the screen, and then select the
“glossary”.)
B.
Does your organism swim or suspend? What does this tell you about how your organism would respond to the
development of a
thermocline?
C.
What other “cool characteristics” does your organism have that you think make it interesting?