Parameters characterizing the physical limnology of the eleven primary lakes (Allequash, Big Muskellunge, Crystal, Sparkling, Trout, bog lakes 27-02 [Crystal Bog] and 12-15 [Trout Bog], Mendota, Monona, Wingra and Fish) are measured at one station in the deepest part of each lake at 0.25-m to 1-m depth intervals depending on the lake. Measured parameters in the data set include water temperature, vertical penetration of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), dissolved oxygen, as well as the derived parameter percent oxygen saturation. Sampling Frequency: fortnightly during ice-free season - every 6 weeks during ice-covered season for the northern lakes. The southern lakes are similar except that sampling occurs monthly during the fall and typically only once during the winter (depending on ice conditions). Number of sites: 11
Please consult NTL's website for information on experimental lake manipulations and the DNR's website for management activities
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North Temperate Lakes LTER: Chlorophyll - Madison Lakes Area 1995 - current
Chlorophyll is measured at our permanent sampling station in the deepest part of the lake. Chlorophyll samples are collected from the four primary study lakes in the Madison area (Lakes Mendota, Monona, and Wingra and Fish Lake) at integrated depths and discrete depths for spectrophotometric analysis and fluorometric analysis. Due to a change in instruments starting in 2002 and lasting through 2007, chlorophyll analyses for the southern lakes had an uncorrectable bias, and are not included in this dataset. Analyses since then (2008 onward) have been determined to not have this bias. Sampling Frequency: bi-weekly during ice-free season from late March or early April through early September, then every 4 weeks through late November; sampling is conducted usually once during the winter (depending on ice conditions). Number of sites: 4
Please consult NTL's website for information on experimental lake manipulations and the
DNR's website for management activities
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- Award ID(s):
- 2025982
- PAR ID:
- 10493187
- Publisher / Repository:
- Environmental Data Initiative
- Date Published:
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Zooplankton samples for the 4 southern Wisconsin LTER lakes (Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Fish) have been collected for analysis by LTER since 1995 (1996 Wingra, Fish) when the southern Wisconsin lakes were added to the North Temperate Lakes LTER project. Samples are collected as a vertical tow using an 80-micron mesh conical net with a 30-cm diameter opening (net mouth: net length ratio = 1:3) consistent with sampling conducted by the Wisconsin Dept. Natural Resources in prior years. Zooplankton tows are taken in the deep hole region of each lake at the same time and location as other limnological sampling; zooplankton samples are preserved in 70% ethanol for later processing. Samples are usually collected with standard tow depths on most dates (e.g., 20 meters for Lake Mendota) but not always, so tow depth is recorded as a variate in the database. Crustacean species are identified and counted for Mendota and Monona and body lengths are recorded for a portion of each species identified (see data protocol for counting procedure); samples for Wingra and Fish lakes are archived but not routinely counted. Numerical densities for Mendota and Monona zooplankton samples are reported in the database as number or organisms per square meter without correcting for net efficiency. [Net efficiency varies from a maximum of about 70% under clear water conditions; net efficiency declines when algal blooms are dense (Lathrop, R.C. 1998. Water clarity responses to phosphorus and Daphnia in Lake Mendota. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Wisconsin-Madison.)] Organism densities in number per cubic meter can be obtained by dividing the reported square-meter density by the tow depth, although adjustments for the oxygenated depth zone during the summer and early fall stratified season is required to obtain realistic zooplankton volumetric densities in the lake's surface waters. Biomass densities can be calculated using literature formulas for converting organism body lengths reported in the database to body masses. Sampling Frequency: bi-weekly during ice-free season from late March or early April through early September, then every 4 weeks through late November; sampling is conducted usually once during the winter (depending on ice conditions). Number of sites: 4 Note: for a period between approximately 2011 and 2015, a calculation error caused density values to be significantly greater than they should have been for the entire dataset. That issue has been corrected.more » « less
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Chlorophyll and phaeopigments are measured at our permanent sampling station in the deepest part of each lake. Chlorophyll samples are collected from the seven primary study lakes (Allequash, Big Muskellunge, Crystal, Sparkling, and Trout lakes and bog lakes 27-02 [Crystal Bog], and 12-15 [Trout Bog]) in the Trout Lake area at two to 10 depths depending on the lake and analyzed spectrophotometrically. Sampling Frequency: fortnightly during ice-free season - every 6 weeks during ice-covered season Number of sites: 7more » « less
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Phytoplankton samples for the 4 southern Wisconsin LTER lakes (Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Fish) have been collected for analysis by LTER since 1995 (1996 Wingra, Fish) when the southern Wisconsin lakes were added to the North Temperate Lakes LTER project. Samples are collected as a composite whole-water sample and are preserved in gluteraldehyde. Composite sample depths are 0-8 meters for Lake Mendota (to conform to samples collected and analyzed since 1990 for a UW/DNR food web research study), and 0-2 meters for the other three lakes. A tube sampler is used for the 0-8 m Lake Mendota samples; samples for the other lakes are obtained by collecting water at 1-meter intervals using a Kemmerer water sampler and compositing the samples in a bucket. Samples are taken in the deep hole region of each lake at the same time and location as other limnological sampling. Phytoplankton samples are analyzed by PhycoTech, Inc., a private lab specializing in phytoplankton analyses (see data protocol for procedures). Samples for Wingra and Fish lakes are archived but not routinely counted. Permanent slide mounts (3 per sample) are prepared for all analyzed Mendota and Monona samples as well as 6 samples per year for Wingra and Fish; the slide mounts are archived at the University of Wisconsin - Madison Zoology Museum. Phytoplankton are identified to species using an inverted microscope (Utermohl technique) and are reported as natural unit (i.e., colonies, filaments, or single cells) densities per mL, cell densities per mL, and algal biovolume densities per mL. Multiple entries for the same species on the same date may be due to different variants or vegetative states - (e.g., colonial or attached vs. free cell.) Biovolumes for individual cells of each species are determined during the counting procedure by obtaining cell measurements needed to calculate volumes for geometric solids (e.g., cylinders, spheres, truncated cones) corresponding to actual cell shapes. Biovolume concentrations are then computed by mulitplying the average cell biovolume by the cell densities in the water sample. Note that one million cubicMicrometers of biovolume PerMilliliter of water are equal to a biovolume concentration of one cubicMillimeterPerMilliliter. Assuming a cell density equal to water, a cubicMillimeterPerMilliliter of biovolume converts to a biomass concentration of one milligramPerLiter. Sampling Frequency: bi-weekly during ice-free season from late March or early April through early September, then every 4 weeks through late November; sampling is conducted usually once during the winter (depending on ice conditions). Number of sites: 4 Several taxonomic updates have been made to this dataset February 2013, see methods for details.more » « less
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Aquatic macrophytes are sampled from a boat at stations located at depths from 1 to 4 meters at 0.5-m intervals along transects perpendicular to the lake shoreline of the four primary study lakes in the Madison area (Lakes Mendota, Monona, and Wingra, and Fish Lake) from June to August. A weighted, double-headed garden rake is cast off the front left, front right, rear left, and rear right of the boat and then dragged approximately 2 meters across the bottom by means of an attached line. For each rake cast, the total amount of filamentous algae and aquatic macrophyte species present is assigned a density rating from 0-5 based on the extent of coverage of the upper rake head. Determination of extent of coverage involves judgment of the surveyor as to the number of rake teeth and area of teeth covered. Ratings from the 4 rake casts at each station can be averaged to compute an overall density rating for the station In addition, the total plant mass and the total filamentous algae mass in each tow is measured. To the maximum extent possible, water is squeezed from the plants to minimize the amount of water present in the final weight. Weights are recorded in the boat using field scales. Weights from the 4 rake casts at each station can be averaged to compute overall average weights for plant mass and for filamentous algae mass at the station. A related data set (Macrophyte Rating --- Madison Lakes Area), contains rake ratings for individual macrophyte species. For each rake cast, filamentous algae and any aquatic macrophyte species present are assigned a density rating from 0-5 based on the extent of coverage of the upper rake head. Determination of extent of coverage involves judgment of the surveyor as to the number of rake teeth and area of teeth covered by each species. It is necessary to separate plants to assess individual species coverage. Ratings from the 4 rake casts at each station can be averaged to compute an overall density rating for each species found at the station. Sampling Frequency: annually during summer Number of sites: 4 Please consult NTL's website for information on experimental lake manipulations and the DNR's website for management activitiesmore » « less
