Follow Center for Limnology scientists and students as they head out in the field to ask and (hopefully) answer questions about our freshwater ecosystems and resources.

Taking Crayfish for a Walk

Enormous crayfish walking around after it had been “tethered.”

It is not every day that you get to take a crayfish for a walk on a leash. Well, unless you are part of Alex Latzka’s research team.

“This is going to be the best field day of your life!” promised Emily Hilts, his incredibly enthusiastic undergraduate assistant. And so far, it was true.

I was tagging along with Latzka and his two assistants, Hilts and Yuri Caldeira; spending the day studying how invasive rusty crayfish are affected by fish predation in various habitats. This particular morning started by pulling up crayfish traps (which are modified minnow traps baited with beef liver) all around Sparkling Lake. – Keep reading

How to Turn a Lake Blue

Ryan Batt dips a bucket into the lake, and pulls up a quarter-gallon of… Gatorade?

At the surface, Ward Lake is like any small bog: tall trees and sedges are reflected on the dark surface and beaver-gnawed branches stick out at odd angles.  Looking down into the water, the lake doesn’t seem that remarkable. But inside the white gallon bucket, the water is sapphire blue, like jell-o or a sports drink. This summer, Batt is turning a lake blue. -Keep reading

Bug Pickin’
“Alright. Who is ready to get messy?”

Zach Lawson’s question is greeted with incredible enthusiasm. It is all-hands-on-deck in the wet lab and, today, everyone is sorting bugs. -Keep reading

Gas in the Water, Carbon in the Sky

It is a cold morning with scattered showers and random peeks of sunshine between the dark clouds. Despite this, and a bit of hail, John Crawford and his two undergraduate assistants, Alex Johnson and Nick Jordan, work quickly to set up their equipment next to the Trout River, pulling out trash bags and plastic to cover their machines. – Keep reading