Fall Limnology at SPS

• The following slides are a snap shot of the lab, field, and project work that is being done this fall in Ecology at SPS:

• Nutrient flow through the Turkey River Watershed

• Rock Basket collection of macro-invertebrates for diversity study

• Biodiversity Study and Biomass Analysis through leaf proteins

• Thermocline analysis of Penacook Lake

Upper dam site

Above the dam ecotone- open field and mixed forest

The watershed has several ecotones- one is a temperate deciduous forest with white pine

Trees that remain in the watershed (below the dam) from the May 2006 flood

Upstream view of watershed from Saw Mill Road

Uprooted trees along the watershed

Even with water flow, debris collects in pockets along the

downstream

Evidence of nutrient load from fallen leaves into the watershed

Below the dam- slower water flow and shallow depth

Path along lower watershed- temperate deciduous forest with white pine

Forest nutrient load below the dam

Leaf bags were placed above and below the dam to sample types of leaves that enter the watershed

Same leaves will have their proteins analyzed for molecular biology biodiversity and biomass analysis

Stream flow was measured to determine potential mixing of dissolved gases (DO and DCO2)

Deployment of leaf bags for nutrient load study and rock baskets for macro invertebrate diversity lab

Ripple area just above Saw Mill Road bridge lowest site for rock basket deployment

Below Saw Mill Road bridge- a pool after the ripple area

New boardwalk around the LS pond – beaver activity (our keystone species!) causes spring flooding

Higher than normal rainfall has caused higher water levels within the watershed

Marsh area from beaver activity forms the northern side of Lower School Pond

Lower School Pond looking upstream back to Saw Mill Road bridge

The Lower School pond abuts the Chapel and Ohrstrom lawns

Water testing on the Lower School Pond

Our “maiden voyage” on Lower School Pond

Penacook Lake thermocline study

Penacook Lake is the city of Concord’s water supply

Winter term the water treatment facility will be toured

Team effort to ready all the canoes and equipment

Advanced Biology – Limnology group shot

The thermocline data collected for the fall turnover will be compared with spring data, and the ASP’s summer data

Penacook Lake also provides habitat for nesting loons

Shallow, low turbidity, little algae and no invasive milfoil

Paddling to the sample site on Penacook Lake