Zombie Alligator 2u186

Zombie Alligator Marc Jordan N. Esteban III-Lithium June 25, 2013

A. Summary May 1997 in Lake Griffin, Florida, large, small, young, adult alligators are found being dead. Floating bodies were found in different areas in the lake and these bodies doesn't indicate external injuries. So a team of scientists and experts were united to solve this mystery. Set 1. Problem: The unidentified reason of the mortality of the alligators in lake Griffin, Florida. Hypothesis 1: The team had a hypothesis that the alligators may be disturbed internally and externally. Data Gathering: First, the team must observe the alligator's behaviour in its environment. They noticed that they are troubled keeping their heads above the water so it can result to drowning and their limit is only 2 hours being submerged below the water. After that, the team get a sample of a dead alligator that is systematically done. They did diagnostic samples, they test its internal organs if there's a virus, foreign bodies, and others. Conclusion: Foreign bodies or viruses invaded the systems of the alligators. Set 2. Problem: There is no obvious indication, corpses are telling them nothing. Hypothesis: A living sample may give an indication or lead to the unidentified mortality of the alligators. Data Gathering: As they get an alive zombie alligator, it seems not to try to avoid the boat as it approaches, it's not active, no fight but still the team needs to assure safety. They took a blood sample with the corresponding procedure, and that blood sample may give clues. Conclusion: The alligator's blood is not functioning properly. Set 3. Problem: The zombie alligator's blood was not disinfected, it is extremely resistant to all infections. Hypothesis: The nervous system of the zombie alligator may give a clue about its behaviour that leads to the death of the alligators Data Gathering: They still have the alive zombie alligator, so they tested its nervous system. They checked if its nerve impulses do work properly in such a condition.

Conclusion: They've found out that the nervous system of the zombie alligator is not working properly. Set 4. Problem: The data that they gathered was not enough, it's not concrete Hypothesis: The zombie alligator's brain tissue may give a definite idea. Data Gathering: Dr. Terry get the brain by the following procedures and the right equipments. He divided the brain into sections and placed it in a slide for observation. They noticed that there are areas where the tissues are dying and these areas are involve in movement and balance. Conclusion: The abnormality in the zombie alligator's brain tissue explains the loss of balance, drowning, disorientation, minimal movements. Set 5 Problem: The identity of the attacker still remain as a mystery. Hypothesis: The water quality of the lake can affect the nervous system of the alligator. Data Gathering: Around lake Griffin, there are Mac farms and human activities that pollute the water in the lake. But all of it were found in the soil but not in the water, still there is the production of cyanobacteria which when they die they produce toxins that attack the central nervous system and causes weakness, paralysis, brain damage and death. Large contents of nutrients from the agricultural and human activities triggers a change in the ecosystem that causes the production of cyanobacteria. Conclusion: The production of neurotoxins from the death of cyanobacteria kills the neuron of an organism. Set 6 Problem: The evidence fails to the theory, another conclusion: Algae does not affect, no cyanotoxins in the alligator, algae not to blame for the lake toxins. Hypothesis: Alligators have a nutrient or dietary deficiency. Data Gathering: One scientist found out that the salmonids and the alligator have the same problem. He said that they lack Thiamine or Vitamin B that protects the neurons and the productivity of neurotransmitters. So the salmonids and the alligators have a nutrient or dietary deficiency. They found out a Gizard Chad inside the alligator's stomach that produces Thiaminace- destroys Thiamine. They

tested 12 alligators to eat Gizard Chad about 3 times a week, but after a couple of weeks, the alligators began to change, they began to be lethargic and they barely move. This experiment ed their hypothesis. Conclusion: Gizard Chad's population rose because of the unstable ecosystem.. The high concentration of cyanobacterias caused an algal bloom that suffocated the lake, it killed the vegetation and other fishes while the population of the Gizard Chad rose up. The large quantity of Gizard Chad caused the increased mortality rate of the alligators.

B. Traits/Characteristics of the Scientists presented The team of researchers, scientists, and experts come up with excellent traits that made the research successful. Importantly, they presented the systematic way of doing things, they immobilized safety precautions, and being sceptical in every procedure they do.

C. Reaction/ Recommendation The procedure was done systematically but it wasn't done in a way that their conclusion and hypothesis are always right. The scientific method has also something to do with their procedure on what happened. In the scientific method, first, you must know what the problem is, do some background research, construct a hypothesis the same on what they did, they also test with an experiment, they did analyze the results and draw a conclusion. The similarity is that if your hypothesis is true, your research is done but on the other hand, if your hypothesis is false of partially true, you must think and try again the same on what they do in the movie. The research would've been done in a faster way if they did some research about other organisms in other places that has the same problem or concept with theirs, arrange some investigations and meeting with people and many more.