Buoyancy Study

None of the fish specimens used in our study were harmed. At the conclusion of our study, the fishes were monitored in recovery tanks, and now they are ready to be adopted into new homes.

Fig. 1: Equipment for the Buoyancy Study: A. - Erlenmeyer flasks with wide openings, 2050ml volume capacity; B. - fish net for transferring fish specimens; C. - thermometer [not mercury filled!]; D. - screen scrunchies; E. - clamps (plastic or metal); F. - 30cc syringe; G. stoppers with plastic tubing.

 

Fig. 2: The erlenmeyer flask / stopper / tubing / clamp / syringe set-up provides a closed (air-tight) system. Air is pumped out of the flask using the syringe, and the clamp prevents air from re-entering the flask system. This creates a negative pressure system, and the specimens: Cyprinid: Carassius auratus - Goldfish, and Cichlid: Thorichthys meeki - Firemouth Cichlid, experience a "buoyant" condition. Much like my diving experience, when I do not have enough weight on my weight belt. ;->

 

Fig. 3: Carassius auratus, Goldfish, the star of the show.

 

Fig. 4: Buoyancy observations are carried out on a cyprinid: Carassius auratus, Goldfish.

 

Fig. 5: Buoyancy obsevations are carried out on a cichlid: Thorichthys meeki - Firemouth Cichlid.

 

Fig. 6: Becky Steinhart observing the buoyancy regulating ability in another cichlid: Amatitlania nigrofasciata - Pink Convict.

 

Fig. 7: Angélique Pichette is carefully monitoring the buoyancy regulating ability in Carassius auratus, Goldfish.

 

Fig. 8: Student Amy McKee and lab instructor, marie Thérèse Rush, discuss the experimental set-up and the concern for establishing parameters (i.e. decreasing pressure only) and the effects on the fish specimens.

 

Fig. 9: Students Heather Braid and Siannon Plaatjes setting up their closed pressure system.

Fig. 10: Samantha Gillespie and Brianna Bleecker finding humour in the condition of their fish specimen (cf scuba diving and being buoyed up by not enough weights). The fish was unharmed. The fish eventually re-established neutral buoyancy.

 

Fig. 11: Becky Steinhart, John O'Leary, and Ben Ragan, observing the time taken for the test specimen to re-establish neutral buoyancy.

 

Fig. 12: Student, Spenser Walker and Lab instructor, marie Thérèse Rush, discussing criteria related to the re-establishment of neutral buoyancy in Carassius auratus, Goldfish.

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Created: Feb. 22, 2010