Pond Laboratory - Great Pond

ORGANIZATIONAL OUTLINE OF POND FIELD TRIP

For this field trip the class will be divided into ten groups. For the first half of the laboratory, groups 1 through 5 will study the shoreline and shallow water environment of a marsh, while groups 6 through 10 will perform studies in the open water environment of the pond. At the midpoint of the laboratory session the groups will switch so that all groups have the opportunity to study both pond environments. PLEASE NOTE: EACH GROUP IS EXPECTED TO FILL OUT AND TURN IN TO THE INSTRUCTORS A DATA CARD FOR EACH WATER ANALYSIS PROCEDURE PERFORMED.

LAB OBJECTIVES:
Marsh and shallow water environment

1. Learn characteristics of the littoral zone.
   
   1. Consider abiotic factors that affect a marsh ecosystem.
      
   2. Become familiar with aquatic plants and zonation
   3. patterns.
      
   4. Collect and identify typical animal species.
      
   5. Study adaptations and interrelationships between
   6. plant and animal species.

2. Learn characteristics of the limnetic and profundal zones.
   
   1. Consider hydrogeology of mesotrophic lake.
      
   2. Learn abiotic factors that affect lake ecosystem, especially impact of algal blooms on cold water fishery.
      
   3. Measure physical factors
      
      1. temperature, dissolved O2 and light (P.A.R.) profiles
         
      2. pH
         
      3. alkalinity (buffering capacity to acidification)
         
      4. Secchi disc (turbidity)
         
   4. Use Kemmerer water sampler and Hach kits to measure plant nutrients and decomposition products.
      
      1. nitrates
         
      2. phosphates
         
      3. hardness (calcium + magnesium)
         
      4. hydrogen sulfide
         
      5. tannin/lignin
         
   5. Learn techniques used for sampling aquatic biota
      
      1. Eckman dredge for sediment sampling.
         
      2. Plankton tow for sampling organisms in the water column.