Lake Foam

This lake has a slimy, protein-rich foam accumulating on the bank. In this case, the lake was not polluted. These foam bubbles are naturally occurring. Fatty acids, oils, lipids in the water are what create the bubbles. These oils were created by the plants that grew during the season before. When the algae and other plants died, they released what they made back into the water (exits the cell membrane). This normally does not happen in the summer because the living things are still using the oils that they are currently making. It's also note, the oils are made when the cell has plenty of sugar.

Video

Council Bluffs

Iowa Core Standard

MS-LS1-2

Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function

Driving Question

What caused the foam on the lake water?

Probing Questions

Where did the plants' oils come from? How did they make them?
Why does this only happen when there is no algae?
Why is there no algae in the video/picture?

Classroom Suggestions

Students could:

Complete a notice and wonder activity using the photos.
Research what types of materials/substances float
Investigate how plants produce oils.

Resources

Portland Water District | There is Foam Accumulating on the Lake: This gives a test you can do to test if the lake foam is produced naturally or by pollution of some kind.
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy | Whiting: A Natural Occurring Phenomenon: This provides some background as to how this phenomenon occurs.
US Department of Energy } How Plant Cells Decide When to Make Oil:Teacher resource how plants produce oils, showing how cells switch from making sugars to making oils to store energy.

Contributors

Submitted by Nathan Van Zante.