Kristen
DeVanna and Brian Elkington working on the pond sinking tubs of
sediment to observe the growth of mayfly larvae and mussels. | 
An REU student was helping to sieve the mud in the pond in front of the Lake Erie Center.
|
|
 |
 | | Graduate
student Kristen DeVanna installing a mesocosm experiment in the pond at
the LEC. The goal of this experiment is to test whether invasive Dreissena
significantly affect the ability of two ecologically important (and
currently threatened) nativebioturbators, unionid mussels and burrowing
mayflies, to mixsediment, and thereby alter critical sediment-water
interface properties. The mixing process, termed bioturbation, is
ecologically important because it influences sediment oxygen levels and
watercontent, organic matter decomposition, nutrient regeneration
(essential for primary production), and the invertebrate community that
lives in the sediment. This mesocosm experiment will be paired with an
in-lake experiment later in this summer. |
|
Research
technician Rachel Lohner and REU student Caroline Barrett
measure light and photosynthesis in mesocosms placed in the LEC pond.
They are working with graduate student Kristen Devanna and advisor C.
Mayer on an experiment designed to assess the effects exotic mussels
and native, sediment-dwelling bio-turbators on primary production and
other biotic variables. | 
REU
student Caroline Barrett (above) uses an in-situ benthic fluorometer to
measure the electron transport rate of algae on the sediment. |
