The heart rate of Daphnia magna - Lab Report Example

Daphnia is characterized by these features. Daphnia is the small, planktonic crustaceans, which belong to the order Cladocera (Campbell and Jane 12). Their length ranges between 0.2 to 5 mm. These organisms are among the many small aquatic crusteceans often called water fleas. They live in varied aquatic environment conditions that range from freshwater ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, as well as in acidic swamps (Helms, Carl Helms, Kosinski and Cummings, 14). There are two available species of Daphna.

These are Daphnia magna, which is relatively large, and the Daphnia Pulex, which is the smaller size (Campbell 56). Studies have indicated that parameters such as toxins, caffeine, chlorine, and concentration of a fluid, have an impact on the heart rate of Daphnia magna (Helms 23) Generally, Daphnia are characteristically known to possess a transparent body and because of this, it is possible for one to observe effects of substances upon its body without necessarily carried out a surgical procedure.

Research has indicated that it is possible to observe the Daphnia’s heart to be dorsal to its backbone (Helms 32). Notably, on average, under normal conditions, Daphnia has been reported to have a heart rate of about 180 beats per minute (Helms 34) It is worth noting that there are numerous studies that have so far been conducted on the two species of Daphnia. Recent research has indicated that various components have an impact on the heart rate of Daphnia magna (Bertil 45). Key among them includes caffeine, alcohol, acetylcholine, epinephrine and temperature.

Alcohol, which is depressant, when used, it works on the body system slowing down the body activities. In this case, with the introduction of alcohol, the heart rate consistently becomes slower. With excessive alcohol, animals become inactive and might end up dying. This way, alcohol works in such a way as to inhibit the nervous system (Naumann 34). On the other hand, caffeine