Dissolved Oxygen
This term refers to the amount of oxygen that is absorbed in water, much the same way that carbon dioxide is absorbed within carbonated soda
What is dissolved oxygen
The condition where organisms that rely on oxygen to survive are unable to obtain their necessary levels, so they suffocate
What is hypoxia?
This prolific mammal can only hold its breath for 1-2 minutes, most likely in their own swimming pool or bathtub
What are humans?
These small planktonic crustaceans that are the most abundant multicellular organism on Earth and are found in nearly every body of water
What are copepods?
What are human beings?
The concentration of dissolved oxygen in water that is considered as sufficient for good health for most fish species
What is 8 parts per million (or mg per liter)?
Term used to describe a region of the ocean off of the coast that has oxygen levels below what is necessary for sea organisms (such as fish and crab) to survive
What is a dead zone?
You'd think this big mammal could hold its breath longer as it lives most of its life in the rivers and lakes of Africa, but alas, it can only hold its breath for 5 minutes.
What is a hippopotomus?
This specific genus of copepod is found in tidal pools up and down the West Coast.
What are intertidal copepods (Tigriopus californicus)?
What is that they are not, "Easy to breed and maintain in a laboratory?"
The concentration of dissolved oxygen in water in which you will likely not find any living fish in the water
What is 2 parts per million (mg per liter)?
The term used to describe when deep water with very low dissolved oxygen content and high nutrient composition is pulled up to the surface
What is upwelling?
Different species of these toothy reptiles swim haunt the rivers all across the globe -- they can hold their breath for 15-30 minutes.
What are crocodiles?
The reason that tide pools can vary so significantly in dissolved oxygen levels from day to night.
What is photosynthesis (by photosynthetic phytoplankton)?
An african elephant is pregnant for 22 months, and they raise a their calves for 16 years. This is why they do not fulfill this characteristic for a good model species.
What is "Have a short generation time?"
These three characteristics of a body of water can result in the water having higher dissolved oxygen levels.
What are...
Cold v. Warm
Flowing v. Still
Freshwater v. Saltwater
Surface water v. Deep water
The driving force along the Oregon coast that pushes surface water out to sea allowing deep water to rise to the surface
What is the wind?
These giant mammals of the ocean draw attention to watchers as they break the surface to take a breath, but they can dive again and stay under for up to one and a half hours.
What are whales (blue, humpback, or sperm whale is acceptable)?
By saturating the water with this type of gas to displace the oxygen, we can test the tolerance of copepods to hypoxia conditions in the lab.
What is nitrogen?
A single Drosophilia (fruit fly) can lay 100 eggs a day for 20 days -- this meets the following characteristic of a good model organism.
What is "Breed in large numbers?"
This explosion of photosynthetic algae growth, caused by the release of human waste, can completely deplete water resources of all oxygen
What is an algal bloom?
The reason that winds are getting stronger and more frequent, resulting in an increase in the number of hypoxia events along the Oregon coast
What is climate change?
A literal champion of holding its breath, this tailless arachnid can go 17 days without taking a breath.
What is a pseudoscorpion?
By studying the differences of oxygen tolerances of different strains of copepods, we can apply that science to these commercial species.
What are crabs and shrimp?
This characteristic of model species is indicative of the fact that are genetically similar to many applicable species.
What is, "Occupy a pivotal position in the evolutionary tree," or "Have similar genes or genomes to important species?"