OpportunityTitle: Using diatoms as biomonitoring tool to identify and interpret changes in water quality of Great Lakes Network parks
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: This is a &quot;Notice of Intent&quot; of a single source task agreement award to the Science Museum of Minnesota-St. Croix Watershed Research Station, St. Paul, Minnesota under the Great Lakes Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). Diatoms can be used for biomonitoring purposes because they preserve well in sediments and are sensitive indicators of changes in water chemistry. Senior Scientist at the St. Croix Watershed Research Station (SCWRS is recognized internationally for his expertise in the subject matter. The PI has extensive experience working in National Park units and has developed a diatom training set specific to the Great Lakes region that correlates diatom communities with known water chemistry conditions.    The SCWRS and the PI collaborated with the NPS-Great Lakes Network (GLKN) on a 5-year project that analyzed diatom communities in sediment cores to determine historical changes in diatom communities and document the natural range of variation over the past approximately 150 years. Additionally, GLKN collected surface sediment samples from all index lakes included in its long-term water quality monitoring program and the PI analyzed and related the diatom communities to known water chemistry conditions. The purpose of this previous collaborative project, which is nearing completion, was to develop a biomonitoring program using diatoms in conjunction with routine water quality monitoring. The current project, described herein, builds on the foundation of the prior collaborative effort and requires the knowledge gained previously for accurate interpretation of results. Together with GLKN&#146;s Senior Aquatic Ecologist, scientists at SCWRS wrote the diatom monitoring protocol.
Description: The purpose of the agreement is to add a biomonitoring component to the GLKN&#146;s water quality monitoring program. Long-term monitoring of vital signs is the primary purpose of the Inventory and Monitoring Networks, and water quality was ranked by GLKN park units as one of the most important vital signs to monitor. The use of diatoms as a bioindicator adds a robust integrator of what has happened in a lake and watershed over a short time period (months to years).
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Help Desk
GrantorContactText: Tonya Bradley &lt;br/&gt;Contract Specialist &lt;br/&gt;Phone 402-661-1656