Prep: 1.5 | Activity: 1.25
This observational microbiology activity introduces students to a slime mold from the genus Physarum, a decomposer found in cool, humid, dark places like the forest floor. Physarum is an intriguing organism that can be used to introduce or discuss multiple subjects: trophic levels, life cycles, mitosis, meiosis, sexual and asexual reproduction, cytoplasmic streaming, chemotaxis, basic navigation, simple decision-making, mechanisms for survival in stressful environments, cell structure, and developmental biology. Students will observe the phenomenon of the plasmodial form of Physarum polycephalum as it streams in search of a food source. Decomposers play a critical role in every ecosystem, transferring energy and cycling matter through the food web. Physarum polycephalum feeds on microorganisms found on dead leaf matter, such as bacteria, fungi, and yeasts, continuing the cycle of decomposition.
What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?
PE MS-LS2-3. Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
Developing and Using Models
Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
Energy and Matter
Use this activity only in accordance with established laboratory safety practices, including appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, chemical splash goggles, and lab coats or aprons. Ensure that students understand and adhere to these practices. Know and follow all federal, state, and local regulations, as well as school district guidelines, for the disposal of laboratory wastes. Students should not eat, drink, or chew gum in the lab and should wash their hands after entering and before exiting the lab. Physarum polycephalumis not pathogenic under normal circumstances. However, treat all microorganisms as potential pathogens.
Sterilize any used plates and other materials that have come in contact with the Physarum by autoclaving for 40 minutes at 121° C and 15 pounds per square inch of pressure. You can also disinfect the plates by covering them in a 10% chlorine bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) and soaking them for 2 hours. Disinfect all work surfaces and wash hands before and after working with the organism. Dispose of disinfected plates and agar in the trash.
Preparation of student plates
A Physarum plate culture comes ready to use or subculture for additional group samples. When the culture arrives, immediately open the shipping container and remove and inspect the culture. The plasmodium is a yellow growth on the surface of the agar. Ensure that the plates are not cracked and the lids are securely taped. To subculture, use a sterile scalpel to remove a pea-size piece of plasmodium with agar from the plate culture and relocate it to the center of a sterile 2% agar plate with the plasmodium side facing down. As soon as you complete the transfer, place 3 to 4 oat flakes on and about the plasmodium to feed the Physarum. You can create multiple plate cultures from one plate using this method. Place the new plates in a plastic bag with the lid side up and store in a dark location. Use within 24 to 48 hours.
Student answers will vary but should include observations of streaming and the plasmodium moving toward the food supply, possibly on several fronts. Over 24 hours, the plasmodium should increase in area, and mass will probably remain unchanged.
Using the correct scientific vocabulary, describe the structure of Physarum polycephalum.
Physarum is a single large cell with multiple nuclei. We observed it in the plasmodial state. Numerous fan-like structures with central veins moved forward and then retreated.
Compare the changes in area covered by the Physarum plasmodium after 24 hours. Was the growth in a particular direction? What could explain the direction of growth?
The area covered by the plasmodium should increase. Growth should be toward the oat flakes/food source. Physarum is ingesting food and increasing its area as it streams toward new food sources.
Diagram a model deciduous forest food web with Physarum as a decomposer and indicate the flow of energy within the food web. Include 2 producers and 5 consumers on at least 3 tropic levels.
Student answers will vary. They must include a producer and at least one consumer. Physarum should be shown as a decomposer. Students should remember that only 10% of energy is transferred up from one trophic level to the next.
Using the data for the weight of Physarum, oat flakes, and the petri dish, explain a decomposer’s role in conservation of matter or cycling of energy and matter, especially carbon.
The total weight of Physarum, oak flakes, and petri dish should remain constant. Students should notice that Physarum flows over the oat flakes and that the size of the oat flakes may diminish. The observation of Physarum increasing in size while the food source decreases in size and the total weight remains constant provides a mathematical model of energy and matter cycling within an ecosystem.
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