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Improving methods of nutrient
analysis
Field
assistants performing ammonium analysis at remote site in Venezuela.
I am interested in developing and improving
methods for measuring nutrient concentrations in natural waters. My collaborators and I have developed improvements
to the fluorometric ammonium method (Taylor et
al. 2007) that greatly enhances the use of this method. By using the method of standard additions
and Turner Designs field
fluorometers, we are able to measure ammonium concentrations in remote
areas, such as rafting down the Grand Canyon in Colorado,
the Venezuelan Andes, and the Amazonas region of the Orinoco
River in South
America. Moreover, the
approach offers improved accuracy and precision at very low nutrient
concentrations and does not require using high-quality deionized water,
which can be difficult to obtain in some field settings. Presently, I am working on developing a
fluorometric nitrate and phosphate method.
Support provided by the Turner Designs Instrument
Donations Program http://www.turnerdesigns.com/donations
Sampling stream
invertebrates with electroshocking techniques
W. Brown
electrobug sampling.
I am also interested in developing new and
improving existing methods for sampling stream benthic invertebrates. My collaborators and I have developed a
method that uses standard electrofishing equipment (e.g., Smith-Root) and techniques (e.g.,
depletion method) to effectively sample stream invertebrates (Taylor et al. 2001). The main advantage of the method is that
samples have little detritus and invertebrates can be sorted and identified
40% faster compared to standard sampling methods that rely on physically
disturbing the stream bottom.
Moreover, the method also allows a much larger area to be sampled so
better estimates of biological diversity can be obtained. Finally, the electrobug method works very
well for collecting large numbers of invertebrates for stocking experiments
or other purposes with minimal disturbance to the stream bottom (e.g., McIntosh et al. 2004).
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