Angelo Coast Range Reserve

03 Jun, 05 AM - 07 Jun, 10 AM

The proposed research at the Angelo Reserve would seek to continue work Mary Power, her lab, our collaborators with the National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics (NCED) such as Dr. Miki Hondzo, and with PI's associated with a new, closely related project (Power, John Schade, Jill Welter, Steve Thomas). The work is focused in two ecological research areas: 1) Investigations of interactions between physical and biogeochemical processes influencing the metabolism and nutrient dynamics of river biofilms. The proposed research seeks to develop understanding of river productivity controls at multiple scales, and the role that variation in productivity has on nutrient cycling and transfer through food webs. This work will enhance previous research to understand climate effects on river productivity and the causes of spatial heterogeneity in ecological processes, as well as exploring new research areas in nitrogen and carbon biogeochemistry. 2) Study of trophic interactions in food webs in the watershed. This research seeks general understanding of the strength of biotic and abiotic factors influencing species distribution and interactions in watersheds. This work builds on previous research in Power?s group by attempting to gather and synthesize empirical data towards development and testing of models of food web interactions in complex landscapes. These investigations would generally rely on mostly non-destructive measurement abundances of organic matter or organisms, rates of processes such as photosynthesis and respiration at various scales, and physical and chemical parameters such as river nutrient levels, water velocity, or stream geomorphology. Samples of water, organic matter, or algae would be processed at the Angelo laboratory facility; further analyses would be done on samples at the University of Minnesota. Sampling would occur continuously during the summer lead by UMN graduate students Jim Hood, Carrie Booth, Rebecca Stark, Joey Reid, and Martin Tsui. Sampling will occur along a gradient in stream size ranging from very small headwater streams such as Sugar, Skunk, McKinley and Fox Creeks to the larger streams at the reserve such as the South Fork Eel River, Ten Mile Creek, and Elder Creek. Multiple sites along the South Fork Eel, Elder, Fox, and McKinley Creeks will be sampled. Finlay is familiar with the Reserve?s ecosystems and use guidelines, and would seek to minimize the impact of the proposed research on the Angelo environment. Housing and laboratory access during this period would greatly facilitate the proposed research efforts. Finlay will make a early June and mid summer trip in 2008 to the reserve to help coordinate research. METHODS : Project Involves the removal of organisms or materials from the reserve Project Involves the use of radio-active isotopes or other chemicals (e.g., pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, tracers) Substances used: Nitrate, ammonium, phosphate to measure nutrient uptake; reagents for analyses of dissolved ammonium and phosphate Project Involves the Erecting Structures (e.g., markers, fences, enclosures, cages) or deploying long-term equipment (e.g., dataloggers, antennas, buoys) Description of Environmental Manipulations Small (>.5mx.5m)enclosure/exclosure experiments in tributary streams (Skunk, Barnwell, Fox, McKinley, Elder Creeks) and the SF Eel River

Visit #16198 @Angelo Coast Range Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 5284 | Research

NCED stream and watershed research

faculty - University of Minnesota

Reservation Members(s)

Jacques Finlay Jun 3 - 7, 2008 (5 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Computer lab 1 Jun 3 - 7, 2008
Day use 1 Jun 3 - 7, 2008
Lab 1 Jun 3 - 7, 2008