Brainy Briny Fake Fluorescent Food: Microplastic zooplankton bioaccumulation using brine shrimp

Unveil the hidden world of microplastic pollution and its impact on aquatic life with our engaging and hands-on educational kit. Designed for middle school through high school students, this kit offers an exciting opportunity to explore the concept of bioaccumulation through a captivating experiment involving live adult brine shrimp.

Kit Contents:

1. Live Adult Brine Shrimp: Your kit includes approximately 20 adult brine shrimp. You will divide these into two separate groups in tissue culture flasks for treatment and control.  They will vary in length from 0.5 to 2mm in length.

2. Tissue Culture Flasks, 50mL x2:  You will add the brine shrimp to both of the tissue culture flasks using the included pipetter. The control group will have no additional treatment. The treatment group will have microplastics added to it.    One group serves as the control group, experiencing no treatment, while the other is the treatment group.

3. Pipetter, 3mL:  A pipette will help you to move the brine shrimp into the tissue culture flasks as well as transfer them into the petri dishes for observation by your students.

4. Fluorescent Microplastic:  We are using a fluorescent acrylic microplastic that is small enough to fit into the mouthes of the filter-feeders, brine shrimp.  By adding the microplastic to ONE of the tissue culture flasks, the treatment, you will witness how these tiny particles can be bioaccumulated by the organisms.

5. LED Keychain Blacklight: Illuminate the microplastic that the brine shrimp have eaten and watch it fluoresce inside of their gastrointestinal system.  This essential tool allows you to detect and display the effects of microplastic bioaccumulation in a visually striking manner.  This is not UV, but just a blacklight.  

6. Magnifying Lens:  Probably more for us old people than the students.  It shows up close the details of these organism.  

7. Petri Dishes X3, or 6-half dishes:  These dishes are great for opening and placing a treatment and control into the top and bottom halves.  This allows for three stations for observing the results of treatment and control. 

Experiment Procedure:

1. Group Allocation: Begin by dividing your live adult brine shrimp into two groups - the control group and the treatment group.

2. Microplastic Introduction: Add the fluorescent microplastics to the treatment group's environment, the tissue culture flask. Watch as these microplastics become part of their diet over the course of the experiment.

3. Overnight Observation: Allow the brine shrimp to consume the fluorescent microplastics overnight. The experiment will unfold as the microplastics make their way into the shrimp's gastrointestinal systems.

4. Blacklight Revelation: The magic happens when you shine the LED keychain blacklight on the brine shrimp from the treatment group. Use the pipette to transfer the brine shrimp into the Petri dishes for student observation. Witness their entire gastrointestinal systems fluoresce with a captivating yellow glow. This striking demonstration effectively showcases the concept of bioaccumulation of microplastics.

Educational Value:

This kit serves as an invaluable tool for educators and students alike. It fosters a deeper understanding of the consequences of microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems. Through hands-on exploration, students will learn about bioaccumulation, an essential concept in environmental science. The visual impact of the fluorescent brine shrimp offers a memorable and engaging experience that will leave a lasting impression.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Understanding of microplastic pollution
• Awareness of bioaccumulation
• Critical thinking and data analysis
• Environmental stewardship

The "Microplastic Bioaccumulation Educational Kit" transforms complex environmental issues into an accessible and captivating learning experience. Bring the world of microplastics to life, and inspire the next generation of environmental champions. Order your kit today and let your students embark on a journey of discovery like never before!

Curriculum:

• Middle school slide presentation (google slides)
• Middle school Handouts (google sheets)
• Middle school lesson plans (google sheets)
• Setup and how-to video (Youtube)

Shipping:

These live organisms will ship on Mondays (Perhaps, Tuesday if you are in the western side of the US.) We ship using USPS Priority mail, that will take 1-3 days to arrive in any part of the our fine country.  

OPEN IMMEDIATELY on receipt:  Uncap the brine shrimp so the gasses in the bag can equilibrate with the atmosphere.  

 

Elanor, teacher in San Diego: "Fluorescent poop gets my students involved...why is always poop?"