After an oil spill, bacteria that can metabolize hydrocarbons are released for bioremediation. After a month, two areas affected by the spill show different levels of improvement. What factor should be measured to determine the difference in effectiveness between the two sites?

Question

A.  Temperature
B.  Oxygen levels
C.  pH
D.  Salinity
E.  Nutrient levels
F.  All of these factors may play a role.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?

  Gather Content
· What do you already know about bioremediation?

  Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?

  Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Answer 1

F.  All of these factors may play a role.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question addresses bioremediation.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o This question is asking you to take what you already know and apply it to this unfamiliar situation.

  Gather Content
· What do you already know about bioremediation?
        o Certain microorganisms are capable of metabolizing hydrocarbon pollutants. The degradation or metabolism of hydrocarbon pollutants by microorganisms is called bioremediation.
        o The rate at which these microorganisms metabolize hydrocarbons is affected by a number of variables including temperature, physical and chemical properties of the pollutant, oxygen availability, pH, salinity, other microorganisms present, and perhaps most critically, nutrient availability.
        o Lab studies have shown that nutritional supplementation of certain microorganisms leads to a significant increase in the rate at which hydrocarbon pollutants can be metabolized.

  Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o All of the listed factors could be important for allowing the bacteria to thrive so they can clean up the oil.

  Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o The question required you to take what you already know and apply it to this unfamiliar situation.
        o Did you recognize that a wide variety of factors can affect the ability of bacteria to survive and multiply, so they are able to metabolize pollutants?