Impacts of Energy Drinks on Daphnia
(An Extension to Ward's Effects on Daphnia Activity)
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ward
'
s
science
Recommended Grade Level(s):
Appropriate for: 9th+ Grade
Time Requirements:
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Activity Time: 45 minutes
Teaching Topics & Concepts:
Ecosystem dynamics, modeling
Materials:
• Ward's Effects on Daphnia Activity (470018-280)
• Daphnia Magna
• Pipettes
• Microscope
• Depression Microscope Slides and Coverslips
• Energy Drink
Background:
Every student has had some exposure to energy drinks. These popular beverages are composed of caffeine, sugar, and
sometimes herbal supplements. Do these drinks have the same effect as the controlled level of caffeine? How do they compare
with other caffeinated drinks? After recording the effects of Caffeine from the lab, what do you think the effect of the additional
ingredients will be on the Daphnia?
Procedure:
1. Add two Daphnia to each of the chambers in the depression slide.
2. Add a cover slip over each chamber and place the slide onto the microscope.
3. Count the heart beats of the control Daphnia for 10 seconds
4. Repeat this procedure three times and calculate an average heart rate.
5. Wick one drop of energy drink into the second chamber.
6. Wait for one minute and measure the heart rate of the treated Daphnia as above.
7. Repeat the measurements after two and five minutes of exposure.
8. Graph your results.
Find materials for this activity at wardsci.com.
Discover more free activities at wardsworld.wardsci.com
Treatment BPM @ 1 minute BPM @ 2 minutes BPM @ 5 minutes BPM @ 10 minutes
Control
Treatment 1
Treatment 2
Treatment 3
