New water lab mimics sunlight and stream conditions
John Krudy
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: News
The recent Strosacker Science Center renovation project included an advanced water lab which contains a living stream and 30 aquarium tanks. Researchers will raise and study organisms in the tanks later this semester.
"Having a lab dedicated to this work will make it a lot easier to conduct research," Assistant Professor of Biology David Houghton said.
The aquariums are much like standard fish tanks, while the living stream allows researchers to manipulate temperature and water flow to study organisms in something like their natural habitat. Houghton currently conducts research on aquatic insects in a living stream in a standard biology lab, where he has to compete with other projects for space.
There will be no such struggles in the new lab. As wide as classrooms in Lane Hall, and longer, the high lab ceilings give a feeling of space. Houghton points out the long drains that stretch from one end of the room to the other.
"These are important - imagine what a mess it would be if the tanks leaked," he said. "It's a few hundred gallons - big enough to swim in."
The living stream and aquarium take half of the room's space. Houghton knocks against the thick, green plastic tank that holds the living stream. Two filter pipes rise vertically out of each end of the tank, pulling water through the false bottom. The setup continuously circles water through the tank, but doesn't disturb organisms living on the false bottom.
The 30 aquariums are sent up in an eight-foot high stack, and the edges of each tank make it look like window panels. Filtration and chiller equipment stand to the side, and hoses send clean air and bubbles into each individual tank. Assistant Professor of Biology Angie Pytel expects to use the tanks for raising and studying crayfish.
"It will be great for mass rearings," Houghton said. "It's very efficient. We have just the one filtration system, but it supplies each different tank."
Roller blinds cover the windows, perfectly sized to block all sunlight. Long, rectangular lights extend across the room, gently lighting every corner. Houghton explains the shades and lights will allow him and his students to create "photo periods" that will perfectly mimic the intensity and duration of sunlight organisms in the lab would receive each day in the wild.
Junior Charlotte Wolfe will use the living stream to study the materials that catus flies use to construct larva cases.
"I'm really excited about it," said Wolfe. "We'll be able to use the stream to recreate the conditions on the east branch of the St. Joseph River, where we're going to catch the flies."
Wolfe will work on the project with juniors Liz Klimas and Kate Hocquard.
"We can manipulate the water current, temperature, sunlight - we can change all those variables," Wolfe said.
Houghton said the lab may eventually include a living stream table and more aquariums for other research.
Hillsdale College Collegian 2008
"Having a lab dedicated to this work will make it a lot easier to conduct research," Assistant Professor of Biology David Houghton said.
The aquariums are much like standard fish tanks, while the living stream allows researchers to manipulate temperature and water flow to study organisms in something like their natural habitat. Houghton currently conducts research on aquatic insects in a living stream in a standard biology lab, where he has to compete with other projects for space.
There will be no such struggles in the new lab. As wide as classrooms in Lane Hall, and longer, the high lab ceilings give a feeling of space. Houghton points out the long drains that stretch from one end of the room to the other.
"These are important - imagine what a mess it would be if the tanks leaked," he said. "It's a few hundred gallons - big enough to swim in."
The living stream and aquarium take half of the room's space. Houghton knocks against the thick, green plastic tank that holds the living stream. Two filter pipes rise vertically out of each end of the tank, pulling water through the false bottom. The setup continuously circles water through the tank, but doesn't disturb organisms living on the false bottom.
The 30 aquariums are sent up in an eight-foot high stack, and the edges of each tank make it look like window panels. Filtration and chiller equipment stand to the side, and hoses send clean air and bubbles into each individual tank. Assistant Professor of Biology Angie Pytel expects to use the tanks for raising and studying crayfish.
"It will be great for mass rearings," Houghton said. "It's very efficient. We have just the one filtration system, but it supplies each different tank."
Roller blinds cover the windows, perfectly sized to block all sunlight. Long, rectangular lights extend across the room, gently lighting every corner. Houghton explains the shades and lights will allow him and his students to create "photo periods" that will perfectly mimic the intensity and duration of sunlight organisms in the lab would receive each day in the wild.
Junior Charlotte Wolfe will use the living stream to study the materials that catus flies use to construct larva cases.
"I'm really excited about it," said Wolfe. "We'll be able to use the stream to recreate the conditions on the east branch of the St. Joseph River, where we're going to catch the flies."
Wolfe will work on the project with juniors Liz Klimas and Kate Hocquard.
"We can manipulate the water current, temperature, sunlight - we can change all those variables," Wolfe said.
Houghton said the lab may eventually include a living stream table and more aquariums for other research.
Hillsdale College Collegian 2008
Be the first to comment on this story