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About This Simulation
Become an environmental investigator and solve a massive fish kill mystery. Use a spectrophotometer to analyze oxygen levels in the water and unravel the mystery.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the basic concepts of sample collection
- Analyze the level of dissolved oxygen level in your water sample using a spectrophotometer
- Learn the concepts of a calibration curve, linear regression and extrapolation
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About This Simulation
Lab Techniques
- Spectrophotometry
- Sampling
Related Standards
- No direct alignment
- Environmental Science 1.3 Aquatic biomes
- Environmental Science 8.6 Thermal pollution
- Biology Topic 5: Evolution and biodiversity
Learn More About This Simulation
This short, targeted simulation is adapted from the full-length “Marine Biology” simulation.
Can you get to the bottom of a mysterious massive fish-killing? In this simulation, you will be an environmental investigator to solve this fish kill mystery. You will analyse the oxygen levels in the water using a spectrophotometer and discover the impact of the oxygen levels on the fish.
The mass fish-killing
Meet Trisha at the bay where you learn of a mass fish killing. Make a hypothesis about what happened and discuss how you could find the cause of the fish killing. Take samples from the site of the fish killing before returning to the lab.
Analyze the oxygen levels in water
You collected water samples from the bay where the fish were found. Start your analysis by learning about the principles of spectrophotometry. To measure the absorbance of your samples you need to add a coloring agent that has more intense color if more oxygen is in the sample. Use a spectrophotometer to measure the absorbance of the water sample and samples containing a known amount of oxygen. Plot a calibration curve to compare the dissolved oxygen levels in the water sample to the known value samples to investigate whether low oxygen in the lake could have caused the massive fish death. Do the results of this analysis correspond with the symptoms exhibited by the fish?
Solve the mystery
After gathering evidence by analysing the dissolved oxygen levels in the water samples, you will need to figure out what caused the massive fish death. Will you be able to solve the mystery?
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North Dakota State College of Science
“They did the simulation at home, then completed the in-person lab within 30 minutes, no questions asked, and passed the quiz with flying colors.”
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University of Westminster
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Modesto City Schools
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San José State University
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FAQs
Find answers to frequently asked questions.
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A Labster virtual lab is an interactive, multimedia assignment that students access right from their computers. Many Labster virtual labs prepare students for success in college by introducing foundational knowledge using multimedia visualizations that make it easier to understand complex concepts. Other Labster virtual labs prepare learners for careers in STEM labs by giving them realistic practice on lab techniques and procedures.
Labster’s virtual lab simulations are created by scientists and designed to maximize engagement and interactivity. Unlike watching a video or reading a textbook, Labster virtual labs are interactive. To make progress, students must think critically and solve a real-world problem. We believe that learning by doing makes STEM stick.
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