Winona State University
BIOL 420/520 - LIMNOLOGY LAB

Fun in a Boat!

During the Limnology lab this semester, we will attempt to examine six different aspects of limnology. These aspects will be incorporated into six different lab exercises that will require either 1 or 2 lab periods to complete. The lab exercises are listed below in their preferred order (keeping in sequence with lecture).

1 - Lake morphometry


2 - Physical and chemical limnology


3 - Phytoplankton and primary productivity


4 - Zooplankton community analyses


5 - Lentic and lotic benthos


6 - Fish in the Mississippi River & Lake Winona

Unpredictable fall weather may necessitate rearranging the order or the content of some or all of the exercises. We will have to work with Mother/Father Nature each week, so be flexible. It may be necessary to conduct the fieldwork for two different exercises during the same lab period, so come prepared. We hopefully will be able to examine Lake Winona and the Mississippi River backwater lakes, or other area lakes/ponds and streams as necessary during the semester.

Lab Exercises

At the completion of each exercise, students will be required to submit a data summary that contains the results of that exercise, including tables, figures, and a written description of the results. In essence, students will produce a "Results" section of a research report for each lab exercise. Students will produce and submit these data summaries either individually or in groups of two (2) students. Please follow the standard format for writing a research report "Results" section, as found in A Short Guide to Writing About Biology by J.A. Pechenik. Data summaries will be due on Wednesday the week following completion of the lab exercise. Be neat!! Remember, this is a senior/graduate-level class, so produce senior/graduate-quality products.

Lab Paper