Conclusion!

The only question to be answered now is, so what? Earlier, I mentioned the purpose of my experiment. I answered that by saying that all over the world fish are placed in different water environments and have to adjust to how climate and weather changes affect them and the temperature of the water they live in. So, I designed an experiment to see how their respiration rates adapt to and changes when the water temperature changes. I tested two different water temperatures and measured the respiration rate of fish in these two different water environments. I previously mentioned that my data agrees with my hypothesis. Because my data and statistical tests support my hypothesis, it can well be inferred that as the water temperature decreases the respiration rate of a fish will decrease as well. However, aquatic life will not be sustainable if the temperature drops to low. As long as it drops a moderate amount in a moderate time frame, the fish in the aquatic environment will be able to survive. 

Analysis

After analyzing my data I have come to realize that my data agrees with my experimental hypothesis. My hypothesis states that if the water temperature decreases then the respiration rate of a fish will decrease as well. I designed an experiment to help me test my hypothesis through a controlled experiment. The data collected through my experimental trials stay consistent as the water temperature is normal and once the temperature decreases so does the respiration rate. After also analyzing my statistical data, the averages I have calculated also agree with my hypothesis. The averages of the water temperature and respiration rate differ only when the temperature is decreased. When the water temperature was decreased the average temperature and respiration rate decreased as well.  Therefore, both my statistical tests and all of the data collected agree with my hypothesis. 

Statistical Tests

• The purpose of statistical tests are to make decisions about the qualitative data collected. They help make the data of the hypothesized experiment more meaningful by calculating an average. 
• To perform the statistical tests on the data I collected first I calculated the average temperature and respiration rate for each fish when the water was normal and decreased. Then I used those averages to calculate the total averages for the water temperature and respiration rate combined for all the fish. 
• To do this I referred back to my data tables. For example, for fish 1 i added up all of the temperatures for the three days it experienced room temperature water and divided the total by 3 to calculate the average temperature for the three days. I followed this same pattern for all of the fish. Then when I finally was able to calculate my total average I added up the three averages I collected and divided by three.
• This is how I calculated the averages for each fish for the 3 days it experienced the different water conditions:

Water Temperaure                                    Respiration Rate

Fish 1: (23.5+24.0+24.0)/3= 23.8 degrees C     Fish 1:(96+132+148)/3= 125.3 BPM

Fish 2: (24.0+24.0+24.5)/3= 24.2 degrees C     Fish 2:(108+148+144)/3= 133.3 BPM

Fish 3: (23.5+24.0+24.5)/3= 24.0 degrees C     Fish 3:(92+152+116)/3= 120.0 BPM 

  

Decreased Water Temperature                    Decreased Respiration Rate

Fish 1: (13.5+14.5+11.5)/3= 13.2 degrees C           Fish 1: (84+72+76)/3= 77.3 BPM      

Fish 2: (13.5+12.5+12.0)/3= 12.7 degrees C           Fish 2: (56+68+56)/3= 60.0 BPM

Fish 3: (12.5+14.0+12.0)/3= 24.0 degrees C              Fish 3: (80+68+68)/3= 72.0 BPM

• To then calculate the total averages I added up each of the individual averages collected for each fish and divided by 3. 

Water Temperature

(23.8+24.2+24.0)/3= 24.0 degrees C

Respiration Rate

(125.3+133.3+120.0)/3= 126.2 BPM

Decreased Water Temperature: 

(13.2+12.7+24.0)/3= 12.9 degrees C

Decreased Respiration Rate:

(77.3+60.0+72.0)/3= 69.8 BPM

Tables of my statistical tests are shown below: 

Graphs!

PROCEDURE!

Data Tables

Materials Used:

1. 3 small gold Fintail Goldfish 
2. One thermometer with a Celsius and Fahrenheit scale
3. Three 64oz plastic containers with stick on thermometers
4. One 2 cup glass liquid measuring cup
5. Stop watch
6. Ice cubes and ice cube tray (6 per fish)

The Fintail Goldfish

• For my experiment I used a total of three small, gold Fintail Goldfish. They are a typical goldfish.  Using more than one test subject is just as important as repetition in repeated trials; it shows accuracy and the data collected makes your hypothesis more plausible. Using three test subjects compared to one enabled me to calculate  three different sets of data on three test subjects allowing the data I collected to form a plausible, truthful, and acurate average. Using more than one test subject can also be used as a basis for comparison.  

The Importance of Repeated Trials

• My experiment took a total of 7 days, 6 of them consisting of trials. The first 3 days I placed the fish in bowls with standard room temperatures and I recorded their respiration rates. The next three days I lowered the temperature of the water in the bowl to see how their respiration rates have decreased. In total I spent three days with each kind of temperature. 
• Repetition is crucial when testing a hypothesis. If I were to only have calculated the respiration rate once, then my calculations would not have been very accurate. However, if I were to test them multiple times I can get a more constant result and figure out an average. Repetition helps prove the worth of the data collected. 

Experimental Hypothesis: 

• If the temperature of the water decreases past room temperature, then the respiration rate will decrease.

Null Hypothesis: 

• If the temperature of the water decreases past room temperature, then the respiration rate will not decrease. 

Independent Variable: 

• The independent variable is the temperature of the water. This is the manipulated variable because  originally the temperature will be at standard room temperature and eventually will decrease. 

Dependent Variable: 

• The dependent variable will be the respiration rate of the fish. This acts as the responding variable because when the temperature changes the respiration rate should change as well. If all goes as planned, the respiration rate should lower as the temperature decreases. 

Control:

• The importance of the control is to use as a basis of comparison. In my experiment, the control group will be when the fish are in standard room temperature water. This serves as the normal environment. This control group will eventually be compared to the data collected when the water temperature is lowered. 

Constants:

• The constants in my experiment were the amount of water in the bowls, the size of the bowls, the areas the bowls were in, amount of food they were given, and amount of ice cubes that were put in the bowl. Constants are just other variables. In a controlled experiement, the variable that is different is the variable that is being tested in the hypothesis. If more than one variable were to be different, then the experiment would not have been as accurate. Constants also are used as comparing factors. 

Purpose:

• Water temperature fluctuates throughout the year. At times, the temperature is warmer and at other times it is colder. After a heavy snowfall during the winter months, the snow begins to melt as the air temperature increases. Soon enough, all the melted and freezing water will travel into the lakes, streams, and rivers as run-off. Because this run-off is so cold, it decreases the water temperature. The big question that lingers is can the wildlife that live in the water accommodate to the change in their environments temperature? How does their behavior change from that at normal temperature? My experiment will thus study the affect water temperature has on fish respiration rate.