About this Event
Please register so we can plan for space and supplies.
What can periphytic algae tell us about the health of a lake? Quite a lot, it turns out!
Join us at Niagara College for an evening with Karolina Charczynska, the McMaster University PhD student leading the research behind this summer’s nutrient pilot.
Karolina will share what she’s learned over the past few field seasons about periphyton, the algae that grow on underwater surfaces, and how it relates to nutrients and lake health. Then we’ll roll up our sleeves and try the volunteer-friendly method for processing periphyton slides ourselves.
Collected slides this summer? Come see what happens to them after they leave the dock. Didn’t get the chance to join the pilot? All Lake Erie Rangers volunteers are welcome. No lab experience needed, just curiosity!
Your feedback is a big part of the evening. We’ll be asking what worked and what was tricky as you try the method, and your input will help shape the new testkit and final test method.
Please note: we’ll be practising with samples from other sites. To keep results consistent, Karolina will process the slides from the summer pilot herself this fall. We’ll share the full pilot results in early spring!
EVENT DETAILS
Where: Niagara College (NOTL Campus)
When: Wednesday, October 21; 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Parking: Free parking is available on-site after 5 pm (front or back parking lot)
Building access: Main entrances will be open (i.e. front entrance and entrance at Marotta wing)
Room: E 303 (3rd floor)
What to bring: Your attention and curiosity!
Agenda
🕑: 05:30 PM - 05:45 PM
Introduction and workshop overview
🕑: 05:45 PM - 06:05 PM
Presentation
Info: Karolina will give a presentation on her research, covering why we are concerned about phosphorus, an overview of the testing method, and a summary of the key results to date.
🕑: 05:05 PM - 05:15 PM
Break
🕑: 05:15 PM - 06:00 PM
Periphytic algae extraction demo
Info: We'll demonstrate how to scrape the algae from the collected slides and extract the chlorophyll pigment from the algae using acetone. You'll then have the chance to try the method yourself!
🕑: 06:00 PM - 06:45 PM
Chlorophyll extract analysis
Info: We'll demonstrate a volunteer-friendly method for determining the red, blue, green (RBG) values of your now green solution (chlorophyll pigment) and discuss how to go from the colour value to an estimate for total phosphorus.
🕑: 06:45 PM - 07:00 PM
Feedback survey
Info: This test method is still being piloted to see how it can be used by communities so we need your feedback!
🕑: 07:00 PM - 07:30 PM
Open discussion
Info: Open discussion for questions and comments with other volunteers.
Event venue & nearby stays
Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, 135 Taylor Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
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