Geochemistry & Ecology of Red Mat Systems (GERMS) Undergraduate Summer Research Program Week Two – In Yellowstone: Imperial Runoff Elizabeth Jacobsmuhlen

Water Chemistry:

Site: Imperial Runoff, this picture is down-stream from where the mat samples were collected.

Water Chemistry Methods & Results:

Bromine (mg/L)	0.11
Total Chlorine (mg/L)	0.08
Chromium (mg/L)	0.04
Molybdenum (mg/L)	0.2
Nitrate (mg/L)	1.7
Nitrite (mg/L)	.043
Sulfate (mg/L)	21.0
Sulfide (non AccuVac) (mg/L)	0.01

Site and Mat Analysis:

Site Photography:

Water collection from Imperial Runoff (Maria and Monica).
Mat collection (Nate).
Mat collection (Elizabeth and Danny).

Site Parameters:

	Water temperature at collection site:	62.0^oC
	Water pH at collection site:	8
	Mat temperature where core removed:	49.5^oC
	Mat pH were core removed:	9

In Field Mat Sampling – Target Layer Samples:

Mat sample I collected from Imperial Runoff.
Mat sample II collected from Imperial Runoff.
Close-up of mat sample II from Imperial Runoff

Mat Dissection:

Mat dissection – Elizabeth is labeling and dissecting the green layer, while Nate is labeling and dissecting the red layer. Dissected mat samples were placed in tubes labeled with the site location, date, and the mat type (green or red).

Water Collection:

In field (Imperial Runoff) water collection performed by Maria and Monica.

Water Filtering:

Jana and Jen filtering water from the site they collected from, Fairy and Firehole.
Field water filtration apparatus.