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Unit 2 science meets real life
This report analyzes school absences at Truman Middle School that occurred between the current and previous fiscal years. Four schools and three classes were analyzed. Most absences were attributed to stomach aches, headaches, diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. The band class at Truman Middle School saw higher than average absence rates. A hypothesis is that a "Red Tide" caused by bioluminescent dinoflagellates may be responsible for sickness in students and lasting one to two weeks with common symptoms like those seen. While the dinoflagellates' bioluminescence deters grazers and attracts predators, the true cause remains a mystery.
Unit 2 science meets real life
- 1. School Absences A COMMUNITYHEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORT BY: VICTORIA A PULIDO
- 2. Preliminary Observations: Whereand When the Absences occurred Absences occurred between the present and fiscal year ending. 7th Grade Attendance Data Final Term Number of schools analyzed: 4 Number of classes analyzed: 3 Determination of analysis: Inconsistent
- 3. Preliminary Observations: The apparentreason for the absences Stomach ache Headache Fever Diarrhea Vomiting
- 4. Truman Middle SchoolBand Class Student Reason for absence Symptoms Interviews T1 Sick Stomach ache, headache, fever No T2 Sick Stomach ache, vomiting, fever No T3 Sick Stomach ache, headache, diarrhea No T4 Sick Stomach ache, diarrhea Yes T5 Sick Stomach ache, diarrhea, fever No T6 Sick Stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhea Yes T7 Family vacation None No T8 Sick Stomach ache, headache, diarrhea No T9 Sick Stomach ache, diarrhea, fever No T10 Sick Stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhea, fever Yes
- 5. 7th Grade AttendanceData Truman Middle School 24- Apr 27- Apr 28- Apr 29- Apr 30- Apr 1- May 4- May 5- May 6- May 7- May 8- May 11- May 12- May 13- May 14- May 15- May 18- May 19- May 20- May 21- May 22- May 25- May 26- May 27- May 28- May 7th grade (450 students) 5.2 3.8 5.7 4.9 4.9 7 6.6 6 4.9 5.3 5.9 6.2 5.8 5.4 6.5 5.7 5.2 5.9 8.6 7.1 5.6 6.1 4.9 5.7 5.5 PE classes (225 students) 5 4.7 5.5 5 6 6.2 6 6.3 5.2 5 5.7 5.8 5.9 4.9 6.6 5.7 5.3 5.2 7.3 6.8 5.8 5.5 5.2 4.9 5.2 Band class (30 students) 0 0 3.3 0 3.3 6.7 3.3 3.3 3.3 0 10 6.7 0 0 3.3 0 0 0 33.3 23.3 13.3 6.7 0 3.3 0 Art classes (62 students) 3.2 4.8 4.8 3.2 1.6 4.8 3.2 6.5 4.8 8 6.5 3.2 4.8 6.5 6.5 4.8 3.2 1.6 4.8 4.8 3.2 4.8 6.5 1.6 4.8
- 6.
- 7. Hypothesis 1: Whatis the “Red Tide”? If exposed how long will the sickness last? What are the most common symptoms of sickness? Historically how long will the “Red Tide” be here? What are dinoflagellates bioluminescent?
- 8. Hypothesis 2: Bioluminescenceis a light produced through an enzymatic chemical reaction within the cells of Lingulodinium polyedrum when they are agitated at night. One theory for the bioluminescence is that the light both deters grazers of the dinoflaellates and also attracts the predators of the grazers which are mostly visually oriented organisms
- 9. Rebuttal of alternative/local hypothesis These single celled organisms are one of several species that are responsible for harmful algal blooms (HABs), and are actively monitored along the California coast. While this organism is not currently known to produce toxins, it does generate a surfactant like protein that can be extremely deleterious to marine life, especially marine birds. As the protein coats the animals feathers it greatly reduces their natural water proofing ability causing them to suffer hypothermia. Although the mechanism is not clearly understood, the red tide remains a mystery.
- 10.
Editor's Notes
- #3 Truman Middle School was impacted the most and during the month of April
- #4 There is a mystery that appears annually on the coastal regions of Southern California and that would be called “Red Tide”. Red Tide has swept through San Diego and Orange Counties for decades. This algae bloom spreads phosphorescent phytoplankton up and down the coast. The bioluminescence does play a role in the food chain and it appears to be a defense mechanism. Apparently the glow not deters natural grazers of these dinoflagellates but also attracts those organism’s predators, however based on this natural change in the ocean it causes sickness to those who are exposed to the waters.
- #5 Reason for absences…based on updated data
- #6 Data has been taken from the months of April thru May of current school year. Possibilities of reason of absences was due to the “Red Tide” effect, that causes sickness due to exposure to the sea waters.
- #8 The organisms that form this red tide are phytoplankton, tiny single celled plants. Like terrestrial plants they light and have nutrients to grow. It is likely that this red tide was preceded by some sort of injection of nutrients into upper layer of the ocean. This could have happened through an uplifting of the deep, nutrient rich water by variety of physical forces. Some of these forces are local (enhanced mixing) and some are remote. The red tides have been appearing since before recorded history they are a natural phenomena but they are very difficult to sample because they are so unpredictable. The organisms forming this red tide are very sensitive to turbulence. The red tide organisms are also being eaten by other organisms, and bacteria, once the mortality becomes higher than their growth rate, the red tide will disappear. It could be a day or it could be months, its like the weather very unpredictable. Symptoms of sickness are vomiting, fever, headache, stomach ache and diarrhea.
- #9 California Department of Public Health has issued an early start to the annual mussel quarantine due to increasing levels of both domoic acid and the PSP toxins. The annual quarantine went into effect in April instead of the usual May 1 start date. The annual quarantine applies to the sport harvesting of all species of mussels along the entire California coastline, including all bays and estuaries. This advisory warns consumers not to eat sport harvested bivalve shellfish (mussels, clams, scallops), the viscera and other internal organs of lobster and crab or the internal organs of small finfish like anchovy and sardines.
- #10 According to an anonymous town resident, the spike in absences was due to the annual anniversary of the death of the town’s founder, Jeremiah Potts. The founder died during the month of May following an unexplained illness, and ever since his death, he haunts the public buildings causing symptoms similar to the illness that he succumbed to. Based on belief the possibilities of Jeremiah Potts being exposed to this algae is very strong however cause of death is still unknown.