The purpose of this activity is to understand that microorganisms can survive in many different environments and that microorganisms live in places where conditions are suitable for their growth. Students use commonly available materials to create Winogradsky columns.

The purpose of this activity is to understand that microorganisms can survive in many different environments and that microorganisms live in places where conditions are suitable for their growth. Students use commonly available materials to create Winogradsky columns. The columns are then placed in different environmental conditions. Students monitor bacterial growth in different columns for a six-week period and draw conclusions about the effect of environmental conditions on bacterial growth. (author/ts)

Agricultural & Environmental Systems courses could utilize this activity while covering prokaryotes. The activity could be extended beyond the experiment to discuss bacterial decomposition in landfills, composting, and anaerobic "dead zones" in ponds and lakes caused by eutrophication by fertilizers.

Agricultural & Environmental Systems courses could utilize this activity while covering prokaryotes. The activity could be extended beyond the experiment to discuss bacterial decomposition in landfills, composting, and anaerobic "dead zones" in ponds and lakes caused by eutrophication by fertilizers. Health Science classes might use this activity to expand knowledge of the prokaryotic domains beyond those that will simply grow in oxygenated petri dishes. (jrs)