Ideas for advanced science project

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Rare Cichlids

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Dec 2, 2000
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I'm looking for ideas for a high school science project concerning fish. I have over a year to work on it and even the most advanced ideas will be considered. My original thoughts were about raising several large groups of F1 or wild Amphilophus labiatus (Red Devils) in large 200-300g ponds in hopes of discovering what factors trigger hypertrophy of the lips in this species. But recently I've came up with another idea.

I live in an area that is riddled with dozens of large freshwater lakes and rivers. And there are dozens of interesting coldwater species native to these bodies of water. So I have been trying to think of an experiment that would involve snorkeling and observing these fish in the wild. But I can't think of an actual "experiment" I can do with this idea. There are many species of sunfish native to this area, and I suspect some may be hybriding. So an experiment to prove or disprove this would be excellent. but I have no idea how to do this other than DNA tests. And I have no idea how to go about that (and I suspect it would also be very expensive, if even possible). Gar are native to my area also, and because they are a highly sought after aquarium species, I have thought about doing an experiment with them as well. Something on the breeding habits of gar (again this is an "experiment", so there has to be a Question to be solved). My only problem with this (other than not having an experiment to link observing them in the wild to) is that they are native to a river that may not have good visability.

As you can see, I have a basic idea, but need some guidance as how to justify my swimming in the lakes with the fish, as an experiment :)

Please help
 
If you want to work with native fish, contact your Game and Fish or Department of Natural Resources. They should be able to provide you with lots of research topics, as well as some expertise, possibly funding, depending on. The WY G&F works with a lot of high school science projects.
 
Originally posted by Rare Cichlids
I'm looking for ideas for a high school science project concerning fish. I have over a year to work on it and even the most advanced ideas will be considered. My original thoughts were about raising several large groups of F1 or wild Amphilophus labiatus (Red Devils) in large 200-300g ponds...
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Make sure you aren’t releasing exotics into your local ecosystem like that jerk with the snakeheads a while ago. (Or your experiment will be how long before the authorities ban species "x" from the LFS).

The other suggestion about contacting your local F&W branch is a good one. They can likely put you in touch with their technicians and scientists. It may be possible to visit a lab and/or pick their brains. These people probably did similar science projects years ago.

A year isn't really long enough to do a lot of breeding experiments because you are trying to observe some trait develop over generations. This is why although monkeys are very similar genetically to humans; we usually use mice or fruit flies for inheritance studies.

Some species commonly change sex depending on conditions. I don't know what those conditions are. (For reptile eggs it is often simply the incubation temperature). This would be a feasible experiment and you could likely draw some conclusions about why this may have evolved. Perhaps someone else can suggest a fish that does this and is easily sexed.

Another idea is that hormone (or whatever) that builds up and stunts a fish's growth. I believe it is an evolutionary development to limit a fish's size when it gets trapped in a pool (like when the Amazon River floods the forest and then retreats.)

Good luck with whatever you decide

Gumby
 
Thanks for that idea Oriongirl. I'll look into that.

NJ devils fan, tank cycleing doesn't really interest me at all. I'm looking to do something with fish, not just aquarium related.

I doubt the Red Devil would be able to find their way out of my basement into the the lake.

I know a year isn't a long time to do breeding experiments. Thats why I haven't mentioned trying any.

I also know about the sex change in some species. I'm already ahead of you on that. Midas cichlids actually decide which sex to be after they're a few inches long. I've thought about this, but don't know if I want to do an experiment on them.


Thanks
 
I would just get a hold of some guppies and use them as a genetics experement. you could be into your 5th or 6th generation after a year. That should be enough to get some data from.
 
Originally posted by JP457
I would just get a hold of some guppies and use them as a genetics experement. you could be into your 5th or 6th generation after a year. That should be enough to get some data from.
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Guppies? Sounds like a fantastically boring expiriment :)

Like I said earlier. I doubt I will do anything on genetics. Mainly because I am only interested in the genetics of the Midas Complex (rapid sympatric speciation in the Nicaraguan crater lakes), and it is impossible to do an experiment on this in a year.

I'm hoping to get some experiance from this that will help me in my career, not just get me out of class for a science fair. But, with the amount of effort I plan to put into this I would be surprised if I didn't win the first in the local science fair, atleast.


Thanks
 
idea?

Watching my rainbow cichlids change color last night...I thought of your project.

You could study rainbow cichlids, for example, and attempt to figure out the reasons for which they change color. It is quite incredible to see them change from black to yellow to blue to greenish--all in a matter of seconds.

Apparently, it's because of their mood---but how do you determine a fishie's mood!?

You could try--with various experiments controling light, heat, food, etc., and time of day, and then back it up with some research that might explain the physiological reasons for the color changes.

I dunno, just something I thought might be fun and interesting!
 
I'm starting a research project in Autumn with one of my Profs. on the head musculature of different Etheostoma in the nation and comparing them to what they eat. I'm also comparing them to a Stizostedion and Perca species, since they're primitive forms of darters. So you don't always have to pick something alive to have a good project.
 
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