I have to design a lab with an organism is a pollutant. I need 5 increments and 3 responding variables. There are three days to do the lab, with 1 hour or so a day to run experiments. For the rest of the time the organism has to live in a closed shoebox.

 

I was thinking of using some type of water plant, like algae, since water pollutants have faster effects than airborne or soil.

 

For the pollutant, maybe cadmium? Or Ni, or Pb. I know those are major sources of water pollutants, though I'm not sure if they'll have much effect

 

Does anyone have ideas of what increments can be used and what can be observed? I can only think of growth, and I;m not even sure if that will work since the organism is hardly ever exposed to any light.

 

If anyone can help, I'd be really grateful.

Can it live in a shoebox with a light?

That would make things a bit easier.

I'm not certain. it would be most preferable if they let me put a light in. I'd say it's a 50/50 chance I'm allowed to put a light in there.