Geochemistry & Ecology of Red Mat
Systems (GERMS)
Undergraduate Summer Research Program
Week One – Practice
Representative Water Analysis
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Introduction |
Week 1 |
Site Documentation:
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pH 5.5 temp 19.9
°C |
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Methods
for collection: we filled two plastic 2
L bottles of moving river water. |
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Field Chemical Test Methods
and Results (AccuVac)
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Methods: For all samples fill a sample cell with 10
ml of sample to be used as a blank for each test. Fill a beaker with sample, add appropriate
reagents, and break off tip of AccuVac bottle in the bottom of the
beaker. Allow to stand for the
specified amount of time, and read. |
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Results: |
mg/L |
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Total Chlorine 3 min |
0.010 |
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Chromium 5 min |
0.010 |
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Molybdenum Add 4 drops of
CDTA to 40 ml to beaker 5 min |
0.200 |
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Nitrate shake 1 min, 5 min |
0.900 |
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Nitrite 15 min |
0.003 |
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Sulfate 5 min |
0.000 |
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Sulfide (non-Accuvac) Fill sample cell w/ 25 ml of sample, and
another w/ 25 ml of dH2O. Add 1 ml of
Sulfide Reagent 1 to each celll, swirl, add sulfide 5 min |
0.000 |
Filtrate Analysis
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Methods: Set
up plastic side-arm flask and ring stand mount, securing it with a
clamp. Wet ring stand mount, and
center filter on mount with sterile forceps.
Center 1 L chimney on mount, secure with the blue clamp and fill with 1
L of sample water. Turn on vacuum, and
let run until 1L of water has passed through the filter. Removing the filter: After removing chimney, pinch
filter with sterile forceps at the apex, and start rolling. Place roll in sterile 50 mL conical. Deep freeze conical. Repeat until all the sample water has been
filtered. |
FILTERING APPARATUS |
Representative Pigment
and Microscopic Analysis Methods and Results:
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Methods: In vivo extracts both the pigment and its
member bound protein. Methanol
extraction removes only the naked pigment.
The combination of peaks from both absorbency graphs allows us to
determine the type of bacteriochlorophyll present and the typical
phylogenetic lineage. |
IN VIVO- POD RED LAYER |
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Results: Peaks Methanol: 664.0 nm (0.093 ABS) 766.0 nm (0.042 ABS) In vivo: 667.0 nm (0.138 ABS) 733.0 nm (0.105 ABS) 797.0 nm (0.075 ABS) 880.0 nm (0.059 ABS) Bacteriochlorophyll possible: Bchl a Purple/proteobacteria Bchl g Gram + Heliobacteria Bchl d Green Sulfur Bacteria Bchl c-s Green non-Sulfur Bacteria |
METHANOL- POD RED LAYER |
Results:
Image – Visible Light
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10X |
40X |
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Image – F Fluorescence
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10X |
40X |
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Image – R Fluorescence
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10X |
40X |
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Discussion: The
microscopy pictures from week 1 were lost and never to be found.