JCSET | Watershed Studies Institute Research Symposium
Kentucky Lake Zooplankton Analysis
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
Watershed Science
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Michael Flinn; Dr. Tim Spier; Dr. Matt Carroll
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
Since 1988 Hancock Biological Station has been conducting the Kentucky Lake Long Term Monitoring Program (KLMP), a long term data set designed to monitor the changes and variability of Kentucky Lake’s water quality. Multiple physical, chemical and biological parameters are sampled at 8 primary sites at 16 day intervals in correspondence with the passing of the LandSatTM satellite. Zooplankton samples are taken in triplicate at each site using a 20L Schindler trap affixed with a 243µm mesh filter. My project aims to analyze the 36 years of zooplankton data to determine if the zooplankton community of Kentucky Lake has changed, how the zooplankton community changed, and why the zooplankton community changed. I will implement new methods into the KLMP zooplankton procedures to sample for smaller individuals while randomly subsampling future and historical samples for size class analysis. This research could lead to the permanent addition of new methods to the KLMP for a more complete analysis of the zooplankton community. Additionally, this research could allow us to quantify the effects of invasive species and could lead to changes in fisheries management practices.
Spring Scholars Week 2024 Event
Watershed Studies Institute Symposium
Kentucky Lake Zooplankton Analysis
Since 1988 Hancock Biological Station has been conducting the Kentucky Lake Long Term Monitoring Program (KLMP), a long term data set designed to monitor the changes and variability of Kentucky Lake’s water quality. Multiple physical, chemical and biological parameters are sampled at 8 primary sites at 16 day intervals in correspondence with the passing of the LandSatTM satellite. Zooplankton samples are taken in triplicate at each site using a 20L Schindler trap affixed with a 243µm mesh filter. My project aims to analyze the 36 years of zooplankton data to determine if the zooplankton community of Kentucky Lake has changed, how the zooplankton community changed, and why the zooplankton community changed. I will implement new methods into the KLMP zooplankton procedures to sample for smaller individuals while randomly subsampling future and historical samples for size class analysis. This research could lead to the permanent addition of new methods to the KLMP for a more complete analysis of the zooplankton community. Additionally, this research could allow us to quantify the effects of invasive species and could lead to changes in fisheries management practices.