Freshwater sponges as indicators of water pollution: an investigative undergraduate lab

This lab uses freshwater sponges as model organisms to examine the biological effects of water pollution. Specifically, the focus of this laboratory module is on the effects that chemicals of environmental concern (e.g., endocrine disrupters) have on sponge growth and development. Contamination of aquatic ecosystems is a serious issue in environmental science. Identifying which chemicals we should be concerned with, and determining the consequences of contamination by specific compounds, is a major area of current research. Undergraduates are constantly exposed to news of environmental deterioration, yet few have an idea of how bioassays can help set national drinking water standards or shape environmental guidelines/laws. Our laboratory activity represents Reprinted From: Hill, M. S. and A. L. Hill. 2002. Freshwater sponges as indicators of water pollution: an investigative undergraduate lab. Pages 385-389, in Tested studies for laboratory teaching, Volume 23 (M. A. O’Donnell, Editor). Proceedings of the 23rd Workshop/Conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE), 392 pages.