Biofilm Simulation at the G.C. Marine Reserve

Biofilm Simulation at the G.C. Marine Reserve

On Friday the class did a lab. We took a paper towel, which simulated the ocean, and we took a gram cracker, which simulated the biofilm plate, and placed it on top. Then we spread icing all over the gram cracker, which represented slime, and placed a gummy lifesaver, which was to represent the gram cracker staying place. After that, we then sprinkled red sprinkles which simulated Red coralline algae, Brown ling johns which simulated Diatoms, rainbow sprinkles and marshmallows which simulated Barnacles, rainbow long john which simulated Coral, and blue or green dots which simulate Oysters. Then after we sprinkled all these "organisms" on the gram cracker, we counted how much we had of each. We looked at pictures of Biofilm plates on the Internet and it showed this one experiment of how a person set biofilm plates in the ocean. The biofilm plates showed different organisms on each. It taught is that at different depths different organisms live and float around. It was really neat to see how many organisms can attain on a Biofilm plate, and it was delicious! Thanks Mrs. Richardson!