Michael Railling
Biology 3920
Research Proposal
Taxonomic Differences of Benthic
Macroinvertebrates in Pool and Riffle Habitats of
Michael Railling
Wildlife and Fisheries Science
Table of Contents
Project Summary
Introduction/Background
Methods
Materials
Expected Results and Benefits
Timelines
Resume
Literature Cited
Budget
Project Summary
Problem: Are the aquatic
invertebrates the same in pool and riffle habitats.
Objective: Show that the two
habitats should be comparably different by scoring the different taxa. Taxa Richness and Percent EPT’s
will be measured
Expected
Results: In the pool, more tolerant taxa will be found.
The Riffle will support taxa that are more
susceptible to poor water quality.
Introduction/Background
Stream macroinvertebrate
assemblage varies at both regional and local scales (Heino
et al. 2002). My experiment the
samples are taken only feet away from each other, however the Taxa Richness and Percent EPT’s
should be different. Lower water quality
is directly associated to diversity (Heino et al.
2002). The water quality of pool areas
is lower than that of Riffles causing less diversity.
Methods
Three Hester-Dendy
samplers were placed in pool habitats and three in riffle habitats.
Bugs will be scrubed
off the substrate with brushes individually, while keeping the pool and riffles
separate.
Bugs are identified to the genus
level and then scored on data forms.
The results will be compared using using Taxa Richness and Percent EPT’s(Tennessee
Department of Environment and Conservation 2002).
Data Form |
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Location: |
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Date: |
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Observer: |
Michael Railling |
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Pool |
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Riffle |
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Genus |
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Score |
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Genus |
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Score |
1 |
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1 |
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Total Taxa |
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Score Taxa |
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Total Taxa |
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Score Taxa |
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Total EPT's |
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Score EPT's |
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Total EPT's |
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Score EPT's |
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Taxa Richness |
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% EPT's |
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Materials
Six Hester-Dendy
Samplers with nine three inch plates on each.
One pint Formalin
One pint Isopropyl alcohol
One D-Frame net
12 bricks
Expected Results
Expected Results:
In the pool more tolerant taxa will be found. The Riffle will support taxa
that are more susceptible to poor water quality.
Benefits: Showing the importance of
habitat specific invertebrates.
Project Timeline
Title: 8/20/03-9/03/03
Objective: 9/10/03-9/17/03
Literature References:
Data Form:
Experiment:
Resume
Michael A. Railling
MARailling21@tntech.edu
931-252-4339
OBJECTIVE: Seeking a
challenging position which will utilize my interests and talents in the areas
of fisheries and environmental biology.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Dedicated individual possessing both lab and field experience in the environmental biology.
EDUCATION
1991-1995
1998-2003 Bachelor of Science, Wildlife/Fisheries Science Concentration: Fisheries
Minor: Biology
RELATED COURSE WORK
Fish Management, Limnology, Biostatistics, Ecology, Botany, Genetics, Invertebrate Zoology, Aquaculture, Systematic Botany, Ichthyology, Phycology, and National Wildlife Policy
ORGANIZATIONS
Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity
Structured Athletics for Challenged Children Volunteer
Special Olympics Volunteer
WORK EXPERIENCE
2003 Lab Technician, Pennington & Associates Inc., Responsibilities include
separating invertebrates from stream samples; constructing substrates used to
collect invertebrate animals and algae; invertebrate collection using D-frame kick
nets, kick screens, and Hester-Dendy artificial substrates; experience in fisheries
including, electrofishing and fish identification.
Literature cited
Budget
Research Budget |
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Salaries and Wages |
Year 1 |
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Year 2 |
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Professional |
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$
150.00 |
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$ 150.00 |
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Technician |
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$
65.00 |
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$
65.00 |
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Secretarial |
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$
90.00 |
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$
90.00 |
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Subtotal |
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$
305.00 |
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$ 305.00 |
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Benefits |
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$
- |
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$
- |
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Travel |
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$
25.00 |
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$
25.00 |
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Non-Expendables |
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$
100.00 |
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$ 100.00 |
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Expendables |
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Computer |
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$
700.00 |
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$
- |
Supplies and Expenses |
$
278.13 |
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$
6.94 |
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Copying and Telephone |
$
20.00 |
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$
20.00 |
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Subtotal |
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$
998.13 |
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$
26.94 |
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Indirect Costs |
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$
125.00 |
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$ 125.00 |
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Direct Costs |
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$1,303.13 |
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$ 331.94 |
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Total Cost |
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$1,428.13 |
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$ 456.94 |
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Total Research Cost |
$1,885.07 |
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