First Visit (Oct. 6th):

• Set up monitoring equipment and take initial “vital signs” of Rhoads Pond and Mill Creek.
• Teams of 6 students will be divided up along the different responsibilities required.
• 2 students will be Data Collectors and deploy Leaf Packs.
• 2 students will map the sites and collect GIS data.
• 2 students will be Macro-invertebrate Samplers.
• Teams will visit either Phoads Pond or Mill Creek, complete the initial sampling, map the site, deploy Leaf Packs, and gather site data.

Benthic sampling protocol:

            Aquatic insects are adapted to avoiding predation in their environment. As a result, if we want to catch aquatic insects, we need to minimize disturbance to their micro-habitat prior to sampling. This means we students should approach stream sampling sites from downstream and avoid tromping in sampling areas. Sampling streams with a D-net requires two people working together. Transferring samples from net into zip-lock bags also works best with two people.

Protocol --Stream sampling

1. Approach the sampling site from downstream, minimizing splashing.
2. Take any depth measurement you might need at sample site.
3. Label ziplock bag with site identifying information.
4. Person 1: Place D-net on stream bed with opening facing upstream and net firmly pressing into stream bottom. Tilt net slightly back to permit access of net opening by person 2.
5.  Person 2: Disturb rocks in front of the net to dislodge stream insects and encourage flow of dislodged insects into the net. Steam insects have evolved to hanging on to substrate in fast moving water. For small streams like Mill Creek the best way to do this is:

• Use your hand or a rock to disturb the stream bottom in front of the net opening.
• Swirl water towards the net opening
• Pick up the surface layer of rocks in square area in front of the net opening for a distance upstream approx. equivalent to width of net.
• One by one scrub the surface of each rock with your hands to dislodge clinging insect larvae.
• Set aside each rock after scrubbing.
• Disturb sediment in lower rock layer, swirl water/bugs into net.
• Scoop net upwards so as it prevent insects from escaping.
• Invert contents of net into ziplock bag (preferably over a bucket or sieve/tray). Check net to make sure there are no stragglers.
• Add enough water to cover contents of sample (so that they survive the trip back to the lab)

Protocol --Pond sampling

1. Minimize splashing/disturbing the sampling site.
2. Take any depth measurement you might need at sample site.
3. Label ziplock bag with site identifying information.
4. Use D-net to scoop across the pond bottom, removing an area of sediment equivalent to width of net base squared. The majority of larvae we are interested in capturing will occur in the top layer of sediment so try to capture the top inch of sediment as you scoop.
5. Move the net to buckets of pond water and rinse contents by dipping the net bag into the water.  MAKE SURE TO KEEP NET OPENING ABOVE WATER WHILE YOU DO THIS.
• Try to rinse as much of the fine sediment from the net as possible, this will make sorting in the lab easier.


6. Invert contents of net into ziplock bag (preferably over a bucket or sieve/tray).  Check the net to make sure there are no stragglers.
7. If your gallon ziplock is less than 1/3 full of sediment you should scoop more. More than ½ full is probably overdoing it.
8. Add enough water to cover contents of sample (so that they survive the trip back to the lab)

Both stream and pond samples ziplocks should be placed in buckets, transported back to lab and kept cool, preferably refrigerated until after-lunch viewing.