Simple experiment you use place 50 fleas into each solution as follows: 100% (v/v) water
5% (v/v) alcohol
10% (w/v) alcohol
15% (w/v) alcohol
20% (v/v) alcohol
25% (v/v) alcohol
50% (v/v) alcohol
70%(v/v) alcohol
The flees are still swimming in solution when you leave the lab. The next morning you
return to observe your experiment and count the surviving fleas. Most of the fleas can be
observed by eye however some "sick" feas must be observed with a light microscope to
check them for vital signs (breathing). Your results are as follows:
Live fleas 48 100% (w/v) water
42 5% (v/v) alcohol
22 10% (v/v) alcohol
15 15% (v/v) alcohol
2 20% (v/v) alcohc
1 25% (v/v) alcohol
0 50% (w/v) alcohol
0
70% (v/v) alcohol
Analysis
1 Plot the results
2. Determine the LDSO for the experiment
3. What is the route for alcohol entry into Daphnia and what can you say about its
effect?
4. Is it possible to determine efficacy and potency of alcohol from this experiment?
5. What can you say about possible applications of this experiment to environmental
toxicity testing?