Alternate Solutions

Above is one solution for a filter in the horseshoe habitat. The water flows into the filter and seeps through the sand. The sand filters it of particles and debris. It then flows through the loose gravel and comes out as cleaner, purer water.

This closed system filter has three separate filters. The water flows through the filter from the drainage in the main structure into the filter. It is then filtered through the sand, activated carbon filter, and ceramic filter. The water then flows through a typical water filter and goes back to the main structure.

This design is another closed system filter. There is a mechanical filter that the water flows through first. It uses a dense floss mesh to remove particles and debris from the water. The activated carbon in it removes toxins, odors, and discoloration of water. The water flows through the biological filtration next. This eliminates toxic ammonia and nitrites by collecting beneficial bacteria. The water then flows through the sand and is then piped back to the main structure.

This last alternate solution is another tri-filter system. Water flows through the filter and is filtered through three different filters: activated carbon, ceramic, and a typical drinking water filter, such as a Brita filter. The activated carbon filter removes benzene, pesticides, volatile oils, gasoline, chlorine, and heavy metals from the water. The ceramic filter removes bacteria and larger protozoa. The water filter removes all excess bacteria and chemicals.

Sept. 23-27 MP1 Logs

September 24, 2013

Work Completed: Alternate Solutions

Worked On: putting alternate solutions and research on blog

To Be Completed: Updating blog with alternate solutions and research summary, Model, Initial Presentation

Mentor Contacts: Emailed two mentors. Asked one a question about saltwater filters, and asked the other if we could possibly arrange a date to meet to talk about my project (he works on Fort Hancock).

Issues: I am still very behind on work. I have to update my blog and upload my alternate solutions and research summary. I also must build my model to use during my presentation.

September 25, 2013

Work Completed: Put alternate solutions on blog, Initial Presentation Outline

Worked On: Model

To Be Completed: Model, Rationale Report

Mentor Contacts: Alyssa and I are scheduled to visit one of my mentors at the American Littoral Society located in Sandy Hook. She will be showing us her lab setup from when she raised baby horseshoe crabs.

September 27, 2013

Work Completed: Initial Progress Update Presentation completed

Worked On: Reflection Report

To Be Completed: Reflection report, Testing Procedures

Mentor Contacts: Alyssa and I visited the American Littoral Society on Sandy Hook and showed us her lab setup. We learned a different way to set up our rearing habitat and which materials would be best for the horseshoe crabs.

Background Information

      Only about 10 out of thousands of horseshoe crabs survive to adulthood per year. One of the causes of this is because their habitat is not ideal or safe for maturing eggs. Predators eat the eggs and the baby horseshoe crabs. Because of this, the number of horseshoe crabs is declining. Horseshoe crabs are used for medicine and are known to help treat certain cancers.

The decreasing numbers of horseshoe crabs affect even humans. Scientists use their blood to help fight certain cancers. Their blood contains a compound known as LAL, or Limulus Amebocyte Lysate, which immediately clots around viruses and fungi.

Building a habitat for baby horseshoe crabs would increase numbers of adult horseshoe crabs. Numbers have dropped and horseshoe crabs are becoming an endangered species. Simulating an environment for them to be raised in would keep them safe, but would also be a familiar environment for them.

 

The stakeholders in this situation would be the horseshoe crabs, the birds that eat them, medical researchers, and other variables that would be affected by the decline of horseshoe crabs. Shore birds, like Red Knots, eat horseshoe crabs and their eggs. They depend on them. Medical researchers extract their blue blood for the components in it that treat certain cancers. The declining numbers of horseshoe crabs affect the food chain and humans.

 

The mood of our rearing habitat should be scientific. The habitat will be placed in a laboratory setting for future MAST seniors to use.

 

 

 

 

 

Sept. 14-20 MP1 Logs

September 14, 2013

Work Completed: Design Brief, blog was created, design brief was posted on blog

Worked On: Background Information, Research/Brainstorming, Specifications and Limitations.

To Be Completed: Background Information, Research/Brainstorming, Specifications and Limitations, and Alternate Solutions

Issues: I am very behind on work and due dates are coming up fast.

Mentor Contacts: Emailed a few people and I now have two mentors! I can now email or call them when help is needed.

September 16, 2013

Work Completed: Background Information

Worked On: Specifications and Limitations, uploading documents to blog

To Be Completed: Research/Brainstorming, Specifications and Limitations, Alternate Solutions

Issues: Blogger will not let me copy and paste my background information document onto my blog. The pictures appear as white text boxes, and it is taking me more time than planned to upload each picture onto Blogger.

September 20, 2013

Work Completed: Background Information and Specs & Limits are now on blog

Worked On: Research/Brainstorming, Alternate Solutions

To Be Completed: Alternate Solutions, Research summary on blog

Specifications and Limitations

Specifications:

• Filtration system must accommodate a shallow water environment
• Simulate ocean flow and waves
• Provide clean saltwater using biological, chemical, and/or physical filtration system
• Retain cold water temperatures

Limitations:

• Filter must be relatively small in size
• Filter cannot add height to tank
• Must use pump to simulate water flow
• Filtration system must be suitable for saltwater tank
• Habitat must always have supply of cold saltwater

Design Briefs

Team Design Brief
Design, build, and test a rearing habitat for a climate controlled laboratory setting to accommodate five hundred 3 month old horseshoe crabs so future MAST students can rear the crabs until 6 months and increase the survival rate from about 0.01% to a goal of about 5%.

Individual Design Brief

Design and create the marine environment for a rearing habitat for a climate-controlled laboratory setting to accommodate five hundred 3 month old horseshoe crabs so future MAST students can rear the crabs until 6 months and increase the survival rate from about 0.01% to a goal of about 5%.