Name _________________________________ Class __________________ Date _________________________ Edit File

QUICK LAB

Life in Moving Water

Streams and rivers are bodies of water that move at different speeds,
ranging from very slow and calm to fast and turbulent. OBJECTIVES
• Model a stream or
river niche.
• Describes
PROCEDURE adaptations useful
Firmly attach a few suction cups to the bottom surface of the for life in moving
pan. Then carefully arrange larger rocks and then smaller rocks water.
on the bottom of the pan. Pour substrate (small pebbles, sand, or
MATERIALS
soil) to a depth of about 1 in.
For each group
Tilt the pan over the bowl. Pour the cup of water into the top • bowl
end of the pan. • cup
What happens to the ground material as the water flows down • pan, rectangular
the pan? • small suction cups
____________________________________________________ • substrates (pebbles,
rocks, sand, and/or
____________________________________________________ soil) to be used as
____________________________________________________ ground material
____________________________________________________ • water
For each student
____________________________________________________
• gloves
____________________________________________________ • lab apron
____________________________________________________ • safety goggles
What organisms might live in an ecosystem like this? Do you
think they are mobile (able to move freely) or sessile (unable to move
freely)?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

ScienceFusion 55 Unit 2, Lesson 2

Module D Lab Manual Aquatic Ecosystems
Original content Copyright © by Holt McDougal. Alterations to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Name _________________________________ Class __________________ Date _________________________

Quick Lab continued

What did the suction cups represent? In the space below, draw pictures of
two different adaptations you think organisms may use to fasten themselves
to the soil or to rocks in moving water.

Suggest one way that you could investigate how realistic your ideas for
adaptations are.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

ScienceFusion 56 Unit 2, Lesson 2

Module D Lab Manual Aquatic Ecosystems
Original content Copyright © by Holt McDougal. Alterations to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Name _________________________________ Class __________________ Date _________________________ Edit File

QUICK LAB

Light Penetration and Water Clarity

Some natural waters, including streams and ponds, have very clear
water. Others have cloudy (or turbid) water. The cloudiness is caused OBJECTIVES
by the amount and kind of matter mixed with the water. In this lab, • Compare the
you will predict how water clarity affects light passing through an amount of light
aquatic ecosystem and use an experiment to test your prediction. penetration in clear
water with that in
cloudy water.
• Describe how water
PROCEDURE clarity might affect
living things in an
Discuss the importance of sunlight on food chains and food
aquatic ecosystem.
webs. Brainstorm with your partner about how clear water and
cloudy water might affect the sunlight that enters a body of
MATERIALS
water. Record your prediction.
For each pair of
___________________________________________________ students
___________________________________________________ • beakers, large (2)
• coins, shiny (2)
Fill two large beakers with water. Place both on the dark sheet
of paper. Drop a shiny coin into each one. • flashlight
• flour
Add a small amount of the flour to one beaker and stir. • paper, dark
Shine the flashlight into each beaker from the top. Observe the • stirring stick,
appearance of the water, the light, and the coins. wooden or spoon
• water
Draw each beaker and your observations of its contents in the
space below. Include a way to show how the light behaves in
your sketch.

ScienceFusion 57 Unit 2, Lesson 2

Module D Lab Manual Aquatic Ecosystems
Original content Copyright © by Holt McDougal. Alterations to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Name _________________________________ Class __________________ Date _________________________

Quick Lab continued

What differences did you observe between the two water samples?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Explain what happened to the light in the cloudy water.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
How might the food chains in an aquatic ecosystem be affected by cloudy
water?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

ScienceFusion 58 Unit 2, Lesson 2

Module D Lab Manual Aquatic Ecosystems
Original content Copyright © by Holt McDougal. Alterations to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.