Effects of Wavelength on the Photosynthetic Oxygen Production of ​Euglina gracilis

Authors

  • Basima Spindari
  • Jasleen Jassal
  • Milan Tiwana
  • Sabrina Cheema

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to determine the photosynthetic oxygen production of Euglena gracilis when exposed to different wavelengths of visible light. Prepared E. gracilis was distributed accordingly into numerous vials. Prior to incubation, the prepared E. gracilis underwent O2 concentration measurements using an Oxygen Probe Meter and cell counts under a compound microscope at 1000x magnification. Final O2 concentration measurements and cell counts also took place at the end of our experiment. These vials were then placed under 3 different light treatments: red, green, and normal light (positive control). Our negative control was left away - unexposed to a specific light intensity. Each light treatment was surrounded with black plastic and covered with different colored acetate paper (red, green, and clear). Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way ANOVA test, obtaining a p-value of 0.02972 and an F-statistic value of 6.68462. Therefore, we reject the null hypothesis and conclude that the productivity of E. gracilis does differ between the different light treatment groups. The amount of photosynthetic oxygen production of E. gracilis allowed us to determine where in the environment, E. gracilis is producing the most oxygen - thus, benefiting other organisms (i.e. Salmon) in the food chain in a particular environment. It is crucial to understand the metabolic processes that E. gracilis undergoes and the role it plays in its environment.

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Published

2020-07-09

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Articles