Imagine bacteria from the ocean that have been stranded in a tide pool on the beach as the tide goes out. They will gradually experience the environment becoming more salty as the water in the pool evaporates, until eventually all the water will be gone.

A. Will the bacteria experience a hypertonic or a hypotonic environment? Make a sketch showing the movement of water and/or ions into and/or out of the cell in this environment. Some bacteria will die pretty quickly in this environment. What will kill them?
B. Other bacteria can survive for a while as the water becomes more salty. How? Having what transporter system will be most important for their survival? Explain how this particular type of transporter works to help them survive in an increasingly salty environment.
C. But eventually all the bacteria will die when all the water has evaporated. Why? Explain why water is necessary to maintain the integrity of the cell membrane.