ESS Seneca Lake Lab Report
Research Question: How does water depth and water temperature affect the amount and diversity of zooplankton (or macro invertebrate) in the water?
Variables:
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Independent Variables
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Dependent Variable
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Spots of sampling
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Macro invertebrate levels
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Relative depth of water
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Temperature of water
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Introduction: Seneca Lake is approximately 3.7 miles at the widest point and 630 feet at the deepest point. According to the packet the lake can get as warm as 72 degrees F and as cold as 38 degrees F. The lake contains several types of macro invertebrate that live all over the lake such as
stonefly larva, crayfish, amphipod, and mayfly larva. On a website it is shown that areas with lower depths result in higher amounts of macro invertebrate variations and levels. Seneca Lake is one of the eleven finger lakes and is the largest lake when it comes to total area and it is also the deepest of the eleven finger lakes. Hypothesis: I believe that the deeper the portion of the lake is the more diverse and the higher of a quantity there will be in that section, and as the temperature increases so does the amount and variety of macro invertebrate will increase as well. This is supported by the website I mentioned earlier, it states that as the site gets deeper the variety of macro invertebrate and the quantity of them increase as well.
Method: In order to keep these sample locations constant I will use the same boat and use the same procedure for each location in order to keep my findings constant. To limit variability I will use the same net to collect the macro invertebrate and the same thermometer to collect data from each of the three location.
Procedures:
1. First go to a very shallow depth location on Seneca Lake.
2. Measure for temperature at this location.
3. In order to collect macro invertebrate information you will first need to make sure you have a firm grip on the nets rope.
4. You must next MUST make sure the clasp at the bottom of the net is closed.
5. Next lower the net over the side of the boat and walk from stern to bow, back and forth, slowly.
6. Bring the net back up and wash the remaining plankton into a cup at the end of the net.
7. Take plankton back to lab for analysis.
8. Next go to a medium depth in the lake and repeat steps 2-7.
9. Next go to deeper portion of the lake and repeat steps 2-7.
Question: What types of animals will we pick up with the net in Seneca Lake?
Citations: "Lake County Water Atlas." Seneca, Lake: Ecology. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
"Does Water Level Affect Benthic Macro-invertebrates of a Marginal Lake in a Tropical River-reservoir Transition Zone?" Does Water Level Affect Benthic Macro-invertebrates of a Marginal Lake in a Tropical River-reservoir Transition Zone? N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
"Seneca Lake." - A Guide to Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts in the Finger Lakes. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
For the second straight week no one has commented on my post. Am I not that popular? I don't know why, it makes me sad. But again I feel that my report was very good and I thank myself for commenting.
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