Eco/Limno Lab Syllabus

BI 3184 Fall 1999
Laboratory Schedule

30 AUG and 2 SEP:

-Laboratory goals and objectives and preliminary sampling
-Schedule, expectations, necessary equipment, duties
-Collection for Freshwater Ecology requirements
-Laboratory notebook or Service-learning journal
-Kanokolus Beach and Boat Landing
-Demonstration of aquatic plant preparation: wet mount, dry mount
-Plankton sample for "shapes and sizes" in laboratory
-Demonstration of bivalve mollusk preparation
-Routine data: date, time, location, observers, weather, water conditions, water quality, pH, temperature, Secchi transparency dissolved oxygen, conductivity, alkalinity, orthophosphate
-Lake Winnecook Inventory (LWI)

Bring:

-plant presses - 2 enamel pans -herbarium sheets -6+ dip nets -GPS -pH, alkalinity, O2, PO4 kits -O2 and conductivity meters -Secchi kit -green 5 gallon pail -collecting containers -isopropanol -sealable bags

-aerial net -MDDS forms and printed materials -acetone -nymph vials -boots -pencils -forceps -thermometers -plankton net -LWI forms -debrief poster and markers in laboratory

6 and 9 SEP:

-Unity Pond by boats for vertical data
-Kanokolus boat landing and bay (do not leave my sight and signal)
-Routine data at shore and LWI
-Temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity meter profiles
-Temperature, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, pH profiles with kits and depth sampling bottles
-Sampling for collections as possible
-Demonstration of arthropod collection
-Plankton samples for qualitative analyses

Bring:

_ pH, alkalinity, O2, PO4 kits _ O2 and conductivity meters _ Secchi kit _ 2 Van Dorn samplers _ Kemmerer sampler _ line _ messengers _ Lund & Boston Whaler _ keys _ 10 PFD's _ fuel _ safety gear _ green 5 gallon pail _ collecting containers _ isopropanol _ sealable bags _ 1 plant press _ 2 enamel pans

_ herbarium sheets _ 6+ dip nets _ GPS _ aerial net _ MDDS forms and printed materials _ acetone _ nymph vials _ boots _ pencils _ forceps _ thermometers _ plankton net _ LWI forms _ debrief poster and markers in laboratory

13 and 16 SEP

-Stream invertebrates and sampling
-Halfmoon Stream at Thorndike Village, ME 220
-Routine data -Macroinvertebrate introductions
-Qualitative sampling by rock turning or kick 'n' pick nets
-Quantitative sampling by Surber and Hess samplers
-MDDS for larvae, maybe exuviae, possibly adults
-Variety of algae

Bring

_ all available dip nets _ kick screen(s) _ Surber and Hess samplers _ all available plain dissecting trays _ collecting jars _ lots of isopropanol _ pH, alkalinity, O2, PO4 kits _ O2 and conductivity meters _ green 5 gallon pail

_ collecting containers _ sealable bags _1 plant press _ 2 enamel pans _ herbarium sheets _ aerial net _ MDDS forms and printed materials _ acetone _ nymph vials _ boots _ pencils _ forceps _ thermometers _ plankton net _ GPS _ debrief poster and markers in laboratory

20 and 23 SEP

-Comparative limnology of local great ponds (long labs)
-20th: Sandy and Sanborn (1430-1720 plus 1530-1645 the 21st)
-23rd: Carleton and Plymouth (1230-1645 hrs)

-Everything at two new locations
-Plunder and pillage the flora and fauna
-All water conditions
-Plankton in laboratory or preserved based on clock

Bring:

_ pH, alkalinity, O2, PO4 kits _ O2 and conductivity meters _ Secchi kit _ 2 Van Dorn samplers _ Kemmerer sampler _ line _ messengers _Lund boat _ keys _ 6 PFD's _ fuel _ safety gear _ green 5 gallon pail _ collecting containers

_ isopropanol _ sealable bags _ 1 plant press _ 2 enamel pans _ herbarium sheets _ 6+ dip nets _ GPS _ aerial net _ MDDS forms and printed materials _ acetone _ nymph vials _ boots _ pencils _ forceps _ thermometers _ plankton net _ debrief poster and markers in laboratory

27 and 30 SEP

-Stream net comparisons
-Compare Surber and Hess or kick screen and kick'n'pick methods
-Each at three locations with 3 minute sample time
-Routine data

Bring:

_ 6+ dip nets _ kick screen(s) _ Surber and Hess samplers _ all available plain dissecting trays _ collecting jars _ lots of isopropanol _ pH, alkalinity, O2, PO4 kits _ O2 and conductivity meters _ green 5 gallon pail _ collecting containers _ sealable bags

_ 1 plant press _ 2 enamel pans _ herbarium sheets _ GPS _ aerial net _ MDDS forms and printed materials _ acetone _ nymph vials _ boots _ pencils _ forceps _ thermometers _ plankton net _ debrief poster and markers in laboratory

28 and 30 SEP

-Light and dark bottle production in the laboratory
-0700-0830 hrs team collects lake water and routine data
-By 0930 hrs team incubates light and dark bottles on boat seat
-Other team samples To dissolved oxygen with 4 repetitions
-No sooner than 1400 hrs team fixes all light and dark bottles
-Each light or dark bottle sampled for Tt dissolved oxygen at lecture
-Option to check pH or alkalinity if adequate bottles available
-Temperature difficult to control compared to in situ

Bring:

_ pails _ transportation _ routine data materials _ light and dark Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) bottles _ oxygen testing equipment

4 and 7 OCT

- 25 Mile Pond Monitoring
-Emphasis on plankton with samples returned to laboratory
-Deep benthic sampling
-Cores
-Eckman dredges
-Peterson grabs

Bring:

_gravity corer with nose and inserts _ line _ Eckman dredge _ cable _ messenger _ Peterson grab _ cable _ messenger _ wash buckets _ soil sieves _ sedimentation cone _ Winogradsky column _ pH, alkalinity, O2, PO4 kits _ O2 and conductivity meters _ Secchi kit _ 2 Van Dorn samplers _ Kemmerer sampler _ line _ messengers _ Lund & Boston Whaler _ keys _ 10 PFD's _ fuel _ safety gear

_ green 5 gallon pail _ collecting containers _ isopropanol _ sealable bags _ 1 plant press _ 2 enamel pans _ herbarium sheets _ 6+ dip nets _ GPS _ aerial net _ MDDS forms and printed materials _ acetone _ nymph vials _ boots _ pencils _ forceps _ thermometers _ plankton net _ LWI forms _ debrief poster and markers in laboratory

only 14 OCT

-China Lake comparative limnology
-Usual monitoring at north end of China Lake
-Plunder and pillage the flora and fauna
-All water conditions
-Plankton in laboratory or preserved based on clock

Bring:

_ pH, alkalinity, O2, PO4 kits _ O2 and conductivity meters _ Secchi kit _2 Van Dorn samplers _ Kemmerer sampler _ line _ messengers _Lund boat _ keys _ 6 PFD's _ fuel _ safety gear _ compound and broadfield microscopes and illuminators _ green 5 gallon pail

_ collecting containers _ isopropanol _ sealable bags _ 1 plant press _ 2 enamel pans _ herbarium sheets _ 6+ dip nets _ GPS _ aerial net _ MDDS forms and printed materials _ acetone _ nymph vials _ boots _ pencils _ forceps _ thermometers _ plankton net _ debrief poster and markers in laboratory

18 and 21 OCT

Kanokolus Bog: The Dance Walk on water. Where the plants prey on the herbivores and carnivores. Lots of new biota for the uninitiated.
Let's be careful out there!

Bring:

_ flagging tape _ poison ivy preventive _ personal collecting gear _ minimal other gear _ sense of adventure _ plankton net _ sealable bags _ BOD bottles to return pitcher plant lagg, pool, mat water _ water quality testing kits in laboratory _ compound and broadfield microscopes and illuminators

_ aerial net _ MDDS forms and printed materials _ acetone _ nymph vials _ boots _ pencils _ forceps _ thermometers _ plankton net _ GPS _ debrief poster and markers in laboratory

25 and 28 OCT

-Stream discharge
- Bither Brook velocities
- depth profiles
- attempt both current meters a riffle, a pool, the run above the last ledges
- Calculate discharges in the laboratory
- Routine monitoring for water quality and macroinvertebrates
- 25Mile Pond shallow shore quick visit, use the Citizen Scientist Monitoring form

Bring:

_ Swoffer and Pygmy current meters _ stop watches _ calculators _ 6 dip nets _ kick screen(s) _ Citizen Scientist forms _ pH, alkalinity, O2, PO4 kits _ O2 and conductivity meters _ green 5 gallon pail _ collecting containers _ sealable bags _ 1 plant press

_ 2 enamel pans _ herbarium sheets _ aerial net _ MDDS forms and printed materials _ acetone _ nymph vials _ boots _ pencils _ forceps _ thermometers _ plankton net _ GPS _ debrief poster and markers in laboratory

1 and 4 NOV

- 25 Mile Pond Monitoring
- Emphasis on plankton with samples returned to laboratory
- Vertical tows compared by nets and horizontal tows

Bring:

_ all available plankton nets _ lines _ messengers _ spray bottles _ pH, alkalinity, O2, PO4 kits _ O2 and conductivity meters _ Secchi kit _ 2 Van Dorn samplers _ Kemmerer sampler _ line _ messengers _ compound and broadfield microscopes and illuminators _ Lund boat & Boston Whaler _ keys _ 10 PFD's _ fuel _ safety gear _ green 5 gallon pail _ collecting containers _ isopropanol _ sealable bags _ 1 plant press

_ 2 enamel pans _ herbarium sheets _ 6+ dip nets _ GPS _ aerial net _ MDDS forms and printed materials _ acetone _ nymph vials _ boots _ pencils _ forceps _ thermometers _ plankton net _ LWI forms _ debrief poster and markers in laboratory

8 and 11 NOV

- Plankton analyses in laboratory
- Identification as possible
- Counts: drops, Sedgwick-Rafter slide, Petersen cell
- Illustrations

Bring:

_ lots of manuals _ slides _ coverslips _ droppers _ fine forceps _ Sedgwick-Rafter counting cells _ Petersen cells _ glycerin _ compound and broadfield microscopes and illuminators _ calculators

_ aerial net _ MDDS forms and printed materials _ acetone _ nymph vials _ debrief poster and markers in laboratory

15 and 18 NOV

- Final Unity Pond monitoring; probably from trestle
- One last time: if the weather is beautiful, then 1 vertical series by boat

Bring:

_ 1 plankton net _ line _ messenger _ spray bottle _ 3 dip nets _ pH, alkalinity, O2, PO4 kits _ O2 and conductivity meters _ Secchi kit _ 1 Van Dorn samplers, line, messengers _ GPS _ green 5 gallon pail _ collecting containers _ isopropanol _ sealable bags _ aerial net, MDDS forms and printed materials _ acetone

_ nymph vials _ boots _ pencils _ forceps _ thermometers _ plankton net _ LWI forms _ debrief poster and markers in laboratory

29 NOV and 2 DEC

- Mapping: Small watersheds An introduction to reading maps and aerial photographs
- Watershed boundaries
- watershed area
- Discharge calculations

Equipment:

_ USGS maps _ DeLorme atlases _ aerial photographs _ polar planimeters _ map measurers _ measuring devices

_ markers _ dot grids _ MDDS lat-lon grid _ calculators _ stereoscopes _ debrief poster and markers in laboratory

6 and 9 DEC

- MFC Contract presentations (may continue 15 DEC)
- Each team presents contract product
- Clients in audience? Invitations based on schedule
- Any necessary presentation equipment arranged by students

Bring:

_ Evaluation instruments
_ presentation and audience
_ debrief poster and markers in laboratory

BI 3184 Fall 1999
Laboratory Grading

Grading for the laboratory component of Freshwater Ecology/Limnology for Fall 1999 will be according to the following plan:

_ Weekly attendance and demonstrated field skills: 10%
_ Data collection demonstrated by journal/notebook: 10%
_ Collection for Freshwater Ecology: 50%
_ Laboratory Reports or Homestudy assignments: 30%

Laboratory Reports of Homestudy tasks will be assigned weekly until Thanksgiving Break. Submissions will be due at the end of the laboratory session two weeks after assignment.

While many of the organisms handled during class and laboratory activities for BI 3184 will be returned to the wild after collection, examination, and identification, many class activities will cause morbidity and mortality to organisms.

You are expected to develop a Collection for Freshwater Ecology of appropriately fixed and preserved specimens. Live specimens are not acceptable in the collection. You may find dead specimens that are of adequate quality to include in the collection.
Molluscs must be presented as empty shells.
An arthropod exuvium may be an acceptable specimen.

You will be expected to dissect, and essentially destroy, a variety of organisms during examination, identification, and analysis of those organisms.
Ethical concerns of individual students will be addressed by the class in the lecture hall.

One responsibility of each member of every group at all times is SAFETY! Watch and attend to other members of your group. Be cautious and alert near, in, or on the water whether walking, wading, floating on docks, crossing bridges, or boating.