Reference no: EM133791717
Assignment - Fisheries Ecology
In this lab students will learn how to sample minnow populations using baited minnow traps and how to calculate a Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index to evaluate biological diversity of samples taken in the field. Students will learn the importance of species richness and evenness in contributing to this calculation. Students will also be able to relate the fish population to water quality parameters. The initial data collection will be conducted at Knox Pond. In week two students will receive a second data set from the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park pond.
Learning Objective 1: Reinforce use of water quality parameters learned at the beginning of the semester (pH, salinity, water temperature, and water turbidity. Know how these parameters relate to fish populations.
Learning Objective 2. Understand what a Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index is and identify factors that contribute to this index, including species richness and species evenness.
Learning Objective 3. Understand what a Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index is used for and why it is valuable in ecological studies.
Learning Objective 4. Learn to identify some common minnow and fish species.
Equipment
Baited minnow traps set prior to lab to capture minnows.
Data sheets for recording the number of each species caught per trap.
Buckets for holding each sample
Water sampler
Salinity meter
pH meter
Water Temperature meter
Secchi disk
Lab Procedures
1. Assessing water quality - Sample three locations - each in the general vicinity of the minnow traps.
a. Secchi Disk - Performed by two individuals so not to disturb the water surface.
i. Lower the Secchi Disk into the water (usually done from a boat) until it disappears, (note the depth on the cord).
ii. Slowly pull disk up until you see it again (note the depth on the cord)
iii. Average the two depths and record on data sheet
b. Water temperature, pH and salinity - Use the respective meters to collect readings for each of these parameters, follow the procedure explained in part a.
2. Assessing fish community
In this lab we will use the Shannon-Wiener Diversity index to compare the contents of threeminnow traps set in different areas of Knox Pond and the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park Pond. This will be done separately for each lab. Since the Knox pond is small you should expect that you will have similar species diversity (due to similar richness and evenness) in the three areas (i.e.three traps) of the pond. However, the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, we may have more diversity based on size of the pond and proximity to the Rio Grande and irrigation ditches.
Minnow traps will be baited with dog food the morning prior to thelab. Traps will be set at different areas (simulated habitat types) of the pond. Students will retrieve traps and empty contents into a large bucket. All minnows within each trap will be identified and counted. Data will be recorded on your data sheets. Minnows from that sample will be immediately released and contents of the next sample (trap) will be evaluated.
Week 1
Baited traps set out by TA's
Water quality measurements taken at all sites before traps collected
Traps collected - one at a time by FWCE 110 students
Contents of trap 1 is emptied into a bucket where minnows are counted, identified, numbers entered on to data sheet and released.
Same procedure is used for traps 2 and 3.
Week 2
Students review Shannon Wiener Diversity index in class and collectively calculate a diversity index for your class.
1. Create a table that illustrates the species caught & amount by class for each pond and the Shannon Wiener Diversity index for each class at each pond. Please also show in your text how you calculated this index.
2. Create a bar graph that shows the number of species caught for each class for each pond.
3. Create two pie charts that show the percentage of each species caught as a portion of the entire sample (i.e. all species caught for all classes) for each pond. These graphs should provide the reader with a summary of all the species caught and their respective proportions in each pond.
4. Create a bar graph presenting the mean water quality parameters for each class in the Knox pond compared to the Mesilla Bosque State Park.