Cyanobacterial Motility Experiment:

Cyanobacteria living in microbial mats can move, both up and down, and sideways. They may orient themselves, and find the optimal depth at which to live, using chemical, light or gravity cues. In this activity, use cultures of cyanobacteria to observe and understand these directional responses.

Download Motility Experiment Activity Plan PDF

Microscope Activity:

Cyanobacteria living in microbial mats can move, both up and down, and sideways. They may orient themselves, and find the optimal depth at which to live, using chemical, light or gravity cues. In this activity, use cultures of cyanobacteria to observe and understand these directional responses.

Download Microscope Activity Plan PDF

Microbial Mat Web Lab:

Profiles of oxygen concentration reveal a great deal about what is going on inside a microbial mat. Using this activity, your class can remotely operate an experimental setup containing an oxygen microsensor in our lab at Ames Research Center.

Connect to the Web Lab page

Some Sample Data from Earlier Trials :

Hey, it didn't necessarily work out the first time that we did it either. Benefit from our past work! Here are some spreadsheets with detailed explanations of experiments that we ran. You can use these in conjunction with, or instead of, the activities above.

+ Cyanobacterial Motility Experiment
+ Nitrogen Fixation Experiment
+ Profiles of Oxygen Concentration Experiment