An interdisciplinary program in aquatic science focused on the Great Lakes ecosystem is being improved by this project. Using a 37 ft. research vessel, smaller boats and a field station on 3.5 acres of land at the mouth of Lake Erie a group of faculty from the Biology and Geoscience, Physics and Interdisciplinary Science (GPIS) Departments are teaching undergraduates how to conduct modern scientific research on freshwater aquatic systems. Both formal course work and independent student research projects are involved. Scientific equipment acquired is being used for quantitative experiments in aquatic ecology, microbiology and sedimentology. Unique research and instructional opportunities are being provided for undergraduates and high school teachers. Major items of equipment include a portable photosynthesis system for measuring primary productivity of emergent aquatic plants, an epifluorescence microscope for enumerating aquatic microorganisms, and a SediGraph 5000ET for textural analysis of fine grained sediments.
