Limnologists collect samples of aquatic life from Silver Creek near Davenport.
Limnologists collect and analyze samples of surface water, wastewater and groundwater throughout Iowa. They examine the physical, chemical and biological characteristics and processes of aquatic systems and their watersheds. The data from this work is used to assess long-term trends in water quality throughout the state.
The environmental specialists in the Limnology section are the foremost experts specializing in benthic macroinvertebrate taxonomy and are among the very best fish taxonomy generalists in Iowa. They have developed a Top Five stream bioassessment program in the United States in partnership with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Their efforts have resulted in comprehensive records of the benthic macroinvertebrate and fish communities in Iowa, and the documentation of many species not previously recorded in the state.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Performed 103 bioassessments in seven ecoregions across the state, which included collecting and identifying tens of thousands of fish and benthic macroinvertebrates and the measurement of greater than 50 physical habitat parameters along approximately 1,000 stream transects.
- Monitored 61 stream sites across Iowa on a monthly basis for ambient water quality parameters that included nutrients, bacteria, metals, chlorophyll, solids, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and stream discharge.
- Performed several special stream characterization studies and imparted subject matter expertise to federal, state and local agencies to assist their water quality analysis in rivers, streams, lakes and impoundments.
- Donated hundreds of hours to educate students in grade schools, high schools, colleges and universities about methods of water quality analysis (chemical, biological, physical) and the importance of being good stewards of the natural resources. This included assisting with the development of a water monitoring curriculum implemented in several elementary schools in Iowa.
- The article “Aquatic Coleoptera (Dryopidae, Dytiscidae, Elmidae, Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Helophoridae, Hydrochidae, Hydrophilidae, Noteridae, Psephenidae) of Iowa: Distributional Records and Notes” was published in The Coleopterists Bulletin.
- Todd Hubbard received the University of Iowa Outstanding Staff Award
- Chlorophyll
- Field pH
- Field Temperature
- Field Dissolved Oxygen
- Benthic macroinvertebrate collection and taxonomy
