PASCO EcoZone User manual

Instruction Sheet
012-10624B
EcoZone System
ME-6668
800-772-8700 www.pasco.com
®
Included Equipment
• 3 EcoChambers with lids
•Tray
• 3 grommets for coupling chambers
• 28 assorted stoppers for closing unused holes (6 small
probe stoppers, 8 large probe stoppers, 6 small
stoppers, 8 large stoppers)
• Cotton rope for wicking moisture between chambers,
900 cm
• Syringe and plastic tubing with connector for sampling
water, replenishing water, and injecting pollutants
Recommended Equipment
• PASCO Interface
• PASCO Data Collection Software
• Advanced Water Quality Sensor (PS-2230)
• Oxygen Gas Sensor (PS-2126A)
• Carbon Dioxide Sensor (PS-2110)
• Temperature Sensor (PS-2125)
• Weather Sensor (PS-2154A)
• Turbidity Sensor (PS-2122)
• Water Quality Colorimeter (PS-2179)
• ezSample Water Quality Testing Kits:
• Iron (EZ-2331)
• Nitrate (EZ-2333A)
• Ammonia (EZ-2334)
• Phosphate (EZ-2337)
• Chlorine (EZ-2339A)
See the PASCO website at
www.pasco.com
for more information about PASCO equipment.
Introduction
The PASCO ME-6668 EcoZones System is designed to
help students model and understand the complex
interactions within and among different ecosystems. The
three clear acrylic EcoChambers are designed to
accommodate PASCO sensors, making qualitative and
quantitative measurements as easy as visual
observation.
Students can measure many aspects of the traditional
ecosystem—terrestrial, aquatic, and decomposition
chambers. Students can also use each chamber
individually by decoupling the chambers and
constructing a single biome.
×3 ×6 ×8 ×6 ×8

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The unique design of the EcoZones allows the system to
remain closed, which allows for measurements to have a
minimal impact on the system. Environmental science
probes can be used to actively measure variables in the
ecosystem model. A syringe and tubing are included to
extract water for chemical testing, replenished water
without opening the system, and inject pollutants for
chamber manipulation.
Set-up and Experiment
Considerations
Before setting up the EcoZone System, there are some
things that should be taken into consideration.
Consider what you are interested in measuring. There
are nine open spaces available for sensors in the lids of
the chambers. If you intend to measure water quality
(dissolved oxygen, conductivity, etc.), consider using the
Advanced Water Quality Sensor, which supports several
different probes, instead of individual sensors.
A cotton rope is included to allow for efficient wicking of
water from the aquatic chamber to the other chambers.
Be sure that this wick covers each chamber sufficiently.
Lay the wick underneath the plants both under and over
the plants in the terrestrial chamber, for example, to
ensure that plants receive sufficient water. Use
approximately 36 inches of rope.
Caution: This wick is very efficient at moving water
through the chambers. Do not use more than one
strand, or you will deplete your aquatic chamber and
flood the other chambers. Also, it is not necessary to
completely submerge the wick in the aquatic chamber.
Only a small amount of rope at the surface is needed to
move the water. Recommendation: Test the wick first to
determine how much is needed for your situation.
Cotton rope is used for its excellent wicking ability.
However, cotton in contact with soil may decompose
over a period of weeks. You may need to check and
replace it periodically.
Equipment Set-up
Important: When carrying the EcoZone System, do NOT pick the
system up by the aquatic chamber (the heaviest chamber). Pick the
entire system up by the tray.
1. Place the three EcoChambers into the custom tray.
2. Connect the EcoChambers using the rubber
grommets as illustrated.
3. Fill each EcoChamber according to the instructions
in the lab you are performing.
4. Select the sensors and interface that you intend to
use for the experiment.
5. Place the lids onto the EcoChambers, lining up open
arches at the bottom of each lid with the rubber
connection grommets on the chambers.
6. Insert large stoppers with holes into the holes in the
lids.
7. Insert probes into the holes in the stoppers.
8. Insert small solid stoppers into unused holes in the
larger stoppers.
9. Connect the sensors to the interface.
Sensor Calibration
Calibrate sensors prior to using them in an experiment.
Refer to the documentation provided with each sensor
for calibration instructions.
Note: In most cases, sensors do not require calibration.
If, for example, you wish to measure only relative
dissolved oxygen changes, the sensor does not to be
calibrated.
Data Analysis
Graphs showing two variables changing over time are
most valuable in the EcoZones experiments because
Chambers connected with grommets

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they show the relationship between related quantities,
such as oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations, and
how these relationships changes over time.
Example Activities
• Construct a traditional ecosystem with acquatic,
terrestrial, and decomposition chambers.
• Construct a single biome, such as a desert, trundra,
or mangrove biome.
• Monitor the effects of light on the photosynthesis of
a plant in a single chamber.
Sample Data
Concentrations of oxygen (black) and carbon dioxide (gray) change as a
light is turned on and off.
Relationship between the relative humidity (black) and temperature (gray)
within a terrestrial chamber over 24-hours
Technical Support
For assistance with any PASCO product, contact
PASCO at:
Limited Warranty
For a description of the product warranty, see the PASCO catalog.
Copyright
This document is copyrighted with all rights reserved. Permission is
granted to non-profit educational institutions for reproduction of any part of
this manual, providing the reproductions are used only in their laboratories
and classrooms, and are not sold for profit. Reproduction under any other
circumstances, without the written consent of PASCO scientific, is
prohibited. Version: 2016-05-04.
Trademarks
PASCO, PASCO scientific, PASCO Capstone, SPARK SLS, SPARKvue
and PASPORT are trademarks or registered trademarks of PASCO
scientific, in the United States and/or in other countries. All other brands,
products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of,
and are used to identify, products or services of, their respective owners.
For more information visit www.pasco.com/legal.
Product End of Life Disposal Instructions:
This electronic product is subject to disposal and
recycling regulations that vary by country and region. It
is your responsibility to recycle your electronic
equipment per your local environmental laws and
regulations to ensure that it will be recycled in a manner
that protects human health and the environment. To find
out where you can drop off your waste equipment for
recycling, please contact your local waste
recycle/disposal service, or the place where you
purchased the product.
The European Union WEEE (Waste
Electronic and Electrical Equipment)
symbol (to the right) and on the product
or its packaging indicates that this
product must not be disposed of in a
standard waste container.
Address: PASCO scientific
10101 Foothills Blvd.
Roseville, CA 95747-7100
Phone: [phone] (worldwide)
800-772-8700 (U.S.)
Web: www.pasco.com
Email: [email protected]