Geochemistry & Ecology of Red Mat Systems (GERMS)

Undergraduate Summer Research Program

Week Two – In Yellowstone

Water Chemistry:

Site: Hillside

Water Chemistry Methods & Results: Hillside

Bromine	0.870mg/L turned pink
Total Chlorine	0.330mg/L turned pink
Chromium	0.030mg/L stayed clear
Molybdenum	0.800mg/L stayed clear
Nitrate	2.100mg/L black on bottom
Nitrite	0.031mg/L light orange/yellow
Sulfate	9.000mg/L stayed clear
Sulfide (non AccuVac)	0.000mg/L stayed clear

Site and Mat Analysis: Hillside

Site Photography:

On our way to Hillside.
The beginning of the hot spring at Hillside.
Since the hot spring is on a hill it flows down and this is the run off.

Site Parameters: Hillside

Water temperature at collection site:	83.3 C
Water pH at collection site:	6.5-7.0
Mat temperature where core removed:	56.3 C
Mat pH were core removed:	8-8.5
	Picture to right is of me taking the water temperature at Hillside.

In Field Mat Sampling – Target Layer Samples: Hillside

**document any variation**

Mat to be collected
I collect mat at Hillside for dissection and freezing on site and then pigment analysis when we return home.

Mat Dissection: Hillside

**document any variation**

The core of the mat at Hillside
Beginning dissection.

Water Collection: Hillside

In field water collection by Nate and Liz using sterilized water collecting equipment.

Water Filtering: Water filtering was done when we got back to the cabins. To the right, Jana and I filter water collected from Fairy and Firehole.