Microanalysis in Science and Engineering

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Microanalysis in Science and Engineering

• Climate Analysis Using Planktonic Foraminifera.
• Earth Science or Biology

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Contact Information

• Jenene Kell and Jenny Norris
• kellj_at_k12tn.net
• norrisj_at_k12tn.net
• Warren County High School

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Performance Indicators

• Earth Science Standard 4.0 Geologic History
  Recognize that fossils contained in sedimentary
  rock provide clues to life forms, changes in
  those life forms, and environmental changes.
• Biology Standard 6.0 Biological Evolution
• Predict how environmental changes will
  encourage or discourage the formation of a new
  species or extinction of an existing species,
  given a written scenario.

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Performance Indicators

• Mathematics Curriculum Standards (Statistics)
• Construct and draw inferences from charts,
  tables, and graphs that summarize data from
  real-world situations.
• Mathematics Content Standard 1.0
• Solve multi-step real-world problems involving
  whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and
  percents.

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Textbook Reference(s)

• Modern Earth Science. Holt, Rhinehart, and
  Winston. Austin, 2002. (Chapter 18 A View of
  the Earths Past, pgs. 344-363)
• Biology Principles and Explorations. Holt,
  Rhinehart, and Winston. Austin, 2001. (Chapter
  13 The Theory of Evolution, pgs. 274-299)

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Materials Needed

• Graph paper
• Calculator
• Mounted slides of microfossils, including forams
• Compound light microscope

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Rubric
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Special Notes

• We are assuming that the students have background
  information regarding fossils and the geologic
  time scale.
• The activity included in this lesson deals with
  Neogloboquadrina pachyderma. Mounted specimens
  of this microfossil are not required. Any foram
  slide will be sufficient in order to provide
  examples to the student.
• Sediments for this lesson can be collected from
  the Coon Creek area in Selmer, TN.
• We expect this lesson to last 1 period (block
  scheduling).

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Title Page for Classroom

• Climate Analysis
• Using
• Planktonic Foraminifera

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Engagement

• Observe the displayed sediments.
• Where do you think this sediment was collected?
• Do you think this sediment contains any fossils?
• Sieve the sediment.
• Extract any microfossils found.
• Examine this specimen under the microscope.

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Exploration

• Does anyone remember what the definition of a
  fossil is?
• What do you think a microfossil is?
• Do you think we can find any microfossils in our
  region?
• Do you think that there are any living relatives
  of these microfossils?

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Explanation

• The microfossils that we are studying today are
  called foraminifera or forams. Forams are
  single-celled amoeboid protists. They are
  abundant all over the ocean. There are
  approximately 4,000 species living today. Forty
  of these species are planktonic (live in the
  upper water column) and the rest are benthic
  (found in sea bottom or ground water sediments).

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Explanation

• The foraminiferal test is typically 0.05mm to
  0.5mm. Some may be as large as 18cm. They
  remain single-celled despite possible large
  sizes.
• Typical forams may be viewed under a compound
  light microscope. However, there are defining
  characteristics of the three main types of forams
  that are best viewed using an electron microscope.

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Explanation

• Electron microscopy is an imaging technology that
  uses the properties of electrons rather than
  light.

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Explanation
The electron microscope allows your sample to be
magnified up to 100,000 times.
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Explanation

• The environmental scanning electron microscope
  (ESEM)
• at TTU in Cookeville, TN was used to capture
  many of the images youll see today. A unique
  property of this microscope is that it allows us
  to view samples at pressures up to 20 torr and in
  more natural environments.

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Explanation

• The three main types of forams include
• 1. Hyaline exhibits a perforated test
  (shell).

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Explanation

• 2. Agglutinated exhibits a test composed of
  small particles that have been glued on.

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Explanation

• 3. Porcellaneous exhibits an imperforated,
  smooth test that resembles porcelain.

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Extension or Elaboration

• CLIMATE ANALYSIS USING PLANKTONIC FORAMINIFERA
• 1) You have been given a series of samples
  containing planktonic foraminifera representing
  time from the present to 160,000 years ago. After
  your analysis of the material, you decide to look
  at the climatic signal from these samples. You
  are aware that a particular species of
  foraminifera, Neogloboquadrina pachyderma, is an
  excellent recorder of water temperature through
  geologic time. When the earth experiences periods
  of relatively cold temperatures, ocean waters are
  cooler and Neogloboquadrina pachyderma forms its
  test (shell) such that it coils to the left.
  Alternatively, during periods of relatively warm
  temperatures when ocean waters are warmer,
  Neogloboquadrina pachyderma constructs its test
  with a coiling direction to the right. Therefore,
  you have separated out the specimens of
  Neogloboquadrina pachyderma from your samples.
  For each sample you have counted how many of this
  species coil to the left and how many coil to the
  right. Your data is recorded in Table 1. Your
  next step is to calculate the percentage data for
  each sample. You must calculate percentage data
  so that your information is not biased by the
  total amount of foraminifera present in the
  sample. Complete the worksheet in Table 1 by
  calculating the total number of Neogloboquadrina
  pachyderma for each sample and the percentages of
  right- and left-coiling forms of the species. The
  first sample is done for you on the worksheet.

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Extension or Elaboration
Table 1. Coiling Ratios Worksheet
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Extension or Elaboration

• 2) Next, use graph paper to plot your results. On
  the vertical axis you should plot the age of the
  samples with "0" at the top and "-160,000" at the
  bottom. On the horizontal axis, plot the
  percentage of right-coiling Neogloboquadrina
  pachyderma with "0" on the left side and "100"
  on the right side. You should now have a graph
  representing the climatic signal derived from the
  coiling ratios of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma.
• 3) Analyze your graph and make an interpretation
  of the climatic history on our planet during the
  last 160,000 years. Describe this history in your
  lab report and provide evidence for this
  interpretation.

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Evaluation

• Lab reports over the previous activity will be
  collected from each group of 3-4 students.
• Teacher will use the rubric to evaluate student
  mastery of the performance standards.

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End Notes

• Fossil records can be excellent indicators of
  environmental changes that have occurred during
  Earths history.
• Microscopes, especially electron microscopes,
  have aided in the study of microfossils.
• Microfossils can also be used to predict trends
  in climatic changes of the Earth.

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References

• www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fosrec/Olson2.html
• www-bprc.mps.ohio-state.edu/foram/whatarefor.htm
• www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/collections/micro.html