EXPERIMENT: PROTOZOAN CULTURE


ACTIVITY (PART I): Protozoan Culture. In the following activity, you will grow and observe a number of different protozoans taken from a “dirty” water source. You will need to start this activity today, and then come back to complete it after 2 or 3 days have passed. If there is no open water source available when it is time to complete this project (such as winter months when everything may be frozen), you may want to consider purchasing a Protozoa Hatchery Kit from an education resource. (www.homesciencetools.com offers one at a reasonable price.)

For the opportunity to practice some field biology techniques, we strongly recommend you consider the collection of water samples an important part of this experience. Suggested “dirty” water sources include, but are not limited to: a fresh-water pond or lake, a slow-moving stream or stagnant backwaters of a river, a rain puddle that has stood for a few days, or a bird bath. Be sure to choose a source that you can reach safely. You may need to get creative on how you obtain your samples!

These supplies are needed:

1 water collection container (quart jar)
"dirty" water source
6 grains of rice
1 tsp rich black soil (NOT potting soil)
4 small glass jars (baby food jars)
handful of hay or grass clippings
pinch of hard-boiled egg yolk