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May 19, 2008
Outline for my project
There are two parts for my research stay here in Patna:
1) Zooplankton Sampling: the analysis of food web assessment via herniation rates
Objective:
Collect zooplankton samples in the vicinity of Patna (above the confluence with the Gandak) and at the Dolphin’s Preserve (Bhagalpur) to determine herniation rates and compare with existing data.
Methods:
- filter flowing river water with zooplankton net for a certain period of time for different sites
- assess the resulting samples through microscope and determine the hernia rates1)
- compare and perform statistical analysis of the assessment of the zooplankton hernia rates
1) Hernia: lesions on zooplankton first referred to as exophytic tumors and later determined to be herniations. Such abnormalities of various zooplankton taxa were confirmed to be lethal in many cases around the world. Consequently, herniation is disadvantageous in the zooplankton’s survival and has an implication for the bottom food chain composition. Unequivocally, fisheries and macrovetebrates depend on such trophic levels. Thus, a herniation rate is an indirect measurement of the living conditions of the bottom food chain that can support and sustain a typical aquatic ecosystem. (Jude et al, 2002)
2) Assessment of Microbiological Activity
Objective:
Collect microbe samples in the vicinity of Patna (above the confluence with the Gandak) and at the Dolphin’s Preserve (Bhagalpur) to have a multi-dimensional assessment of the water quality.
Methods:
- Collect water samples for different sites
- Isolate, and inoculate the microbes of interest for further analysis in the microbiology lab
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3) Hydraulic Mapping: the use of GPS and portable depth sounder
Objective:
Obtain a limited physical cross-section data on the Ganga River as part of the pre-survey for the data collecting by University of Michigan SNRE department next year with Doppler Sonar.
Methods:
- mount the depth finder on a boat
- take series of bank-to-bank transects (x,y,z coordinates, z being the depth)of sites
- take paired reading of latitude, longitude (both through GPS), and depth (through depth sounder); 20 or less equally spaced (if we were to cross-section the river at a comparably equal speed, times can be measured in between the equally spaced stations) at 5~6 transects
- The cross section transects should be at least 1kilometers apart
- The numbers of samples and transects can be determined accordingly to the schedule and conditions
Overview:
The two measurements of depth and zooplankton sampling can be done on the field on a boat as we are measuring the depth via making transects. Consequently, it would be an issue of hiring boats and determining which sites are suitable for such measurements. I would greatly appreciate if we would discuss such issues and would very much like to hear your inputs based on your expertise of this matter. Thank you very much.
References:
-D.J. Jude, M. Omair, R. Rediske, B. Naylor, T. Beals, S. Bellon, 2002, An Investigation in Great Lakes Zooplankton, Michigan Great Lakes Protection Fund Report
Posted by coyojon at May 19, 2008 12:18 PM