Presenter(s)

Jacob J Clancy

Download

Download Project (447 KB)

Description

The chemical makeup of a body of water can vary greatly depending on what kind of lake it is, the time of year and what kind of runoff enters the water. There are many abiotic factors that make up the water chemistry of a lake such as nutrient availability (Nitrogen and Phosphorous), pH, temperature, oxygen content and conductivity. Each of these factors plays important roles in the successes of many organisms that reside in the lake. The many species of zooplankton and phytoplankton thrive in different water chemistry conditions. Water chemistry and physical parameters (pH, conductivity, temperature, dissolved oxygen) will be measured with YSI Electronic Probe. Secchi disk and an electronic light meter will assess light penetration in the water column that is crucial to photosynthesis. Nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorous, will be sampled and sent to a lab for measurement. Phytoplankton and zooplankton species will be identified and quantified for productivity studies, ecological succession and community biodiversity. Water chemistry and its relationship to the zooplankton and phytoplankton populations of Silver Lake will be measured in the spring and fall of 2016 to assess seasonal changes in relation to chemical and environmental factors. Silver Lake has had no prior limnology studies conducted on it, so it is a novel system for this kind of study. This study can be used to compare it to other lakes, rivers and reservoirs in Ohio such as Lake Erie and Grand Lake St. Mary’s that have all had harmful algal bloom problems in the past.

Publication Date

4-5-2017

Project Designation

Honors Thesis - Undergraduate

Primary Advisor

Patrick K. Williams

Primary Advisor's Department

Biology

Keywords

Stander Symposium project

Water Chemistry, Biotic Factors and Their Effects on the Populations of Zooplankton and Phytoplankton in Silver Lake in New Carlisle, Ohio Compared to selected Ohio Lakes and Reservoirs.

Share

COinS