PE EIE[R-Rg RESEARCH ON - HJ Andrews Experimental Forest

Nutrient levels in stream and lake water a s
a function of seasonal variations and samplin g
location will be determined by Spyridakis .
Determinations will include temperature, conductivity,
suspended and dissolved solids ,
light penetration, turbidity, color, dissolve d
O 2 , pH, soluble and particulate C, chemical
oxygen demand, dissolved SiO 2 , Na, K, Ca ,
Mg, Fe, Al, Mn, chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate ,
and carbonate . In addition, the lake sediment s
will be characterized and their contribution t o
the overlying waters will be determined .
Welch will determine the annual and seasonal
primary production in the lake an d
relate it to the available nutrients . Special
attention will be directed to regulation an d
control dictated by the elements which may
be limiting. Attention will be directed to th e
phytoplankton cell size and their utilizatio n
by zooplankton . The zooplankton composition
and biomass will be determined on a
regular sampling schedule. The predatio n
impact upon zooplankton will probably b e
quite minimal, because of the lack of fish i n
the system ; however, observations will b e
made to determine the potential consumptio n
by insects and amphibians . A consideration
for the fourth year of study may be the introduction
of cutthroat trout into the lowes t
pond in the lake basin to determine th e
impact of predation upon the secondary production,
after a comparison of the pond t o
the lake for a period of time .
The contrast existing between the tw o
ponds and the lake presents an interestin g
study by itself. Both ponds are 0.4 ha in area
but have different depth profiles . The upper
pond is only 1 .5 m deep and with the loss of
the snowpack in midsummer will cease to
overflow and decrease to 1 .0 m in depth . The
lowest pond has not been accurately sounde d
but appears to be at least 10 m deep and continually
receives the overflow from the upper
lake. The shallow pond opens earlier in th e
summer, has a higher heat budget, and freezes
earlier in the fall. This contrast will provide an
interesting comparison in studies of decomposition,
lake bottom water interface, an d
growth and reproduction of amphibians an d
invertebrates .
One of the concerns in the aquatic area is
the self-sustaining capabilities within that are a
and the rapidity of recharge when the syste m
is limited in some important essential . Questions
that have been asked repeatedly in th e
past deal with the role or importance of
decomposition in the aquatic system. The
Findley Lake basin presents a unique opportunity
to measure the dynamics of decomposition
when light is abundant and when ligh t
is greatly reduced or eliminated for a 6 month
period by snow cover. Findley Lake will be
used primarily as a comparison to the othe r
three lakes in the system as discussed by Tau b
et al. (1972) . The flux and pool sizes of
carbon in the water column will be deter -
mined by Lighthart from a compartment
analysis of (1) dissolved inorganic carbon ,
(2) phytoplankton, (3) zooplankton ,
(4) dissolved organic carbon, (5) detritus, and
(6) heterotrophic bacteria using a C 14 technique.
This technique requires the measurement
of primary productivity as the initial
step in measuring exchanges between compartments.
The role of the aerobic, facultative
anaerobes, and anaerobic bacteria will be
determined by Matches .
The oxidation of organic matter in th e
water column to be done by Packard will be
estimated by means of an oxygen uptak e
method measuring enzyme activity (Packard
1969). By this method he will compare th e
seasonal changes in respiratory activity o f
phytoplankton and zooplankton . Pamatmat
will determine the annual deposition of
organic matter on the lake basin and its rat e
of decomposition . This will be determined by
placing in the sediment a bell jar equippe d
with oxygen probe, thermistor probe, and a
stirring mechanism (Pamatmat and Bans e
1969). The oxygen loss will be monitore d
with regard to time so that consumption rate s
may be determined. This will be related to th e
oxygen budget of the overlying water column .
Estimates of the contribution of detrital
biomass to the aquatic food chain will b e
determined by Taub . This will involve th e
biomass estimate, and its organic carbon ,
organic nitrogen, and caloric contribution t o
zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, an d
amphibians . In addition, Taub will investigat e
the biological aspects of nitrogen transforma -
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