The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center Algal Biomass Laboratory processes samples for chlorophyll-a and nutrients. The analytical data for chlorophyll-a and pheophytin provided by USGS [periphyton samples collected by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)] are used by IDEM for water quality assessment and nutrient management planning.
Each year, Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) samples approximately 70 randomly selected sites for nutrient concentrations and fish and invertebrate communities.
Once samples of seston and periphyton algae are collected by IDEM, they are analyzed for chlorophyll-a and pheophytin by the OKI algal biomass lab.
We conduct quality assurance which includes blanks, duplicates, calibration checks and comparison between results from the algal biomass laboratory and the USGS National Water Quality Lab.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Identifying nutrient reference sites in nutrient-enriched regions-Using algal, invertebrate, and fish-community measures to identify stressor-breakpoint thresholds in Indiana rivers and streams, 2005-9
Occurrence and distribution of algal biomass and Its relation to nutrients and selected basin characteristics in Indiana streams, 2001-2005
Relations of principal components analysis site scores to algal-biomass, habitat, basin-characteristics, nutrient, and biological-community data in the Upper Wabash River Basin, Indiana, 2003
- Overview
The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center Algal Biomass Laboratory processes samples for chlorophyll-a and nutrients. The analytical data for chlorophyll-a and pheophytin provided by USGS [periphyton samples collected by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)] are used by IDEM for water quality assessment and nutrient management planning.
Each year, Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) samples approximately 70 randomly selected sites for nutrient concentrations and fish and invertebrate communities.
Once samples of seston and periphyton algae are collected by IDEM, they are analyzed for chlorophyll-a and pheophytin by the OKI algal biomass lab.
We conduct quality assurance which includes blanks, duplicates, calibration checks and comparison between results from the algal biomass laboratory and the USGS National Water Quality Lab.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Identifying nutrient reference sites in nutrient-enriched regions-Using algal, invertebrate, and fish-community measures to identify stressor-breakpoint thresholds in Indiana rivers and streams, 2005-9
Excess nutrients in aquatic ecosystems can lead to shifts in species composition, reduced dissolved oxygen concentrations, fish kills, and toxic algal blooms. In this study, nutrients, periphyton chlorophyll a (CHLa), and invertebrate- and fishcommunity data collected during 2005-9 were analyzed from 318 sites on Indiana rivers and streams. The objective of this study was to determine which invertAuthorsBrian J. Caskey, Aubrey R. Bunch, Megan E. Shoda, Jeffrey W. Frey, Shivi Selvaratnam, Robert J. MiltnerOccurrence and distribution of algal biomass and Its relation to nutrients and selected basin characteristics in Indiana streams, 2001-2005
Algal biomass and nutrient data were gathered at 322 randomly selected sites on 261 streams in the West Fork White River, Whitewater River, East Fork White River, Upper Wabash River, Kankakee River, Lower Wabash River, Tributaries to the Great Lakes, and Tributaries to the Ohio River Basins in Indiana from May through October for years 2001 through 2005. Basin characteristics (land use and drainagAuthorsB. Scott Lowe, Donald R. Leer, Jeffrey W. Frey, Brian J. CaskeyRelations of principal components analysis site scores to algal-biomass, habitat, basin-characteristics, nutrient, and biological-community data in the Upper Wabash River Basin, Indiana, 2003
Data were gathered from May through October 2003 at 38 randomly selected sites in the Upper Wabash River Basin, Indiana, for algal biomass, habitat, nutrients, and biological communities (fish and invertebrates). Basin characteristics (drainage area and land use) and biological-community attributes and metric scores were determined for each sampling site's basin. Yearly Principal Components AnalysAuthorsDonald R. Leer, Brian J. Caskey, Jeffrey W. Frey, B. Scott Lowe