• Determine the optimal temperature at which brine shrimp eggs hatch and develop.
• Evaluate the changes, if any, which occur in a brine shrimp culture at various

temperatures.

Materials:
brine shrimp egg culture
Salt water
six test tubes
3 thermometers
3 beakers or test tube racks to hold test tubes
hand lens or dissecting microscope
Petri dishes
Refrigerator (preferably) or ice bath
Incubator or light source

Procedure:
Working with a partner:
1. Place a dropper of brine shrimp culture in a petri dish. Using a hand lens or a dissecting
microscope, observe the culture and describe the characteristics of a healthy brine shrimp
culture.
 
2. Label six test tubes # 1-6. Fill each test tube half full with salt water.
3. Add one drop of brine shrimp culture to each test tube.
4. Place the test tubes in the following locations:

• Test tubes 1 & 2-Refrigerator or ice bath
• Test tubes 3 & 4-Incubator or light source
• Test tubes 5 & 6-Room temperature

Hypothesis:
 

6. After a 24 hour period, pour the contents of each test tube into a petri dish and observe
with a hand lens or dissecting microscope.
7. Record your observations in the data table.

 Data Table:
 

After the observations are complete, answer the following questions
 

Conclusions:
1. Does the data collected support your hypothesis? Why or why not?
 
 

2. Based on your observations, what is the optimal temperature for the hatching and
development of brine shrimp?
 
 

3. Based on your observations, what would happen to organisms in an aquatic ecosystem
if the temperature increased or decreased?
 
 

4. How would this affect the aquatic ecosystem as a whole? (Consider other organisms such as macroinvertebrates and fish.)
 
 

5. Research the effects of thermal pollution on aquatic organisms. Write a short paragraph explaining the effects on an ecosystem as the water warms due to thermal pollution.