Journal Entry
Arctic Tundra Field Sampling toolik lake panoToolik Lake Pano! Photo by DJ Kast

Today, we sampled the inlets or main water sources of Toolik Lake. Today's research team included: Jason Dobkowski, Graham Stewart, Chris Cook, Johanne Albrigtsen, Dr. Kim Bernard, Dr. Byron Crump, and myself.

Researchers in the tundraArctic Tundra researchers marching on the boardwalk to their water sample sites. Photo by DJ Kast

The inlets are right behind the camp less than a kilometer!

BoardwalkBoardwalk on the Arctic Tundra to water sample sites. Photo by DJ Kast

We have to wear bug gear in the field.

Bug FaceSelfie with bug gear on to prevent mosquito bites. Photo by DJ Kast

We stopped at four main sites: i7-i9 Inlet, i8-i9, Milky Way Lower, and Toolik Inlet.

Sample Site mapThe sites at which water samples and analysis occur as part of the Long Term Ecological Research program (LTER) in Toolik. Photo by DJ Kast

First sample site: i7-i9 Inlet.

Second Sample Site: i8-i9

DJ i8-i9 inletStanding in the i8-i9 inlet waiting to collect samples. Photo by DJ Kast i8-i9 inletThe i8-i9 inlet. Photo by DJ Kast

Third Sample site: Milky Way Lower

Milky WayMilky Way coming in! Photo by DJ Kast

Fourth sample site: Toolik Inlet

Toolik Inlet StreamToolik Inlet Stream Photo. Photo by DJ Kast

Graham, Chris and Jason collected water samples for chemical purposes, which includes filtering them for nitrogen, phosphates, carbon, chlorophyll, cations/anions, alkalinity, temperature and conductivity.

Graham and Chris sciencingChris measuring flow rate at half meter intervals while Graham records the data. Photo by DJ Kast

They collected data from stream’s hydrology by collecting the depth and flow rates. They used these data points to create a 2-dimensional data visualization of what the stream looks like at a particular transect.

Dr. Byron Crump, Dr. Kim Bernard, Johanne Albrigtsen, and myself collected water samples from midstream (where water was flowing) with a brown Nalgene bottle.

Kim with SyringeDr. Kim Bernard filtering water samples with syringes. Photo by DJ Kast Pouring water sample Pouring water sample into syringe to prepare for filtering. Photo by DJ Kast

We used syringes with 3-way stop-cocks, to collect the microbes in the water onto a filter. This process get microbes stuck on the filter and the water runs through. We then add a buffer to kill them and preserve their DNA for later processing in the lab.

DJ with DNA filterDJ Kast filtering water samples with a syringe and filter. Photo by DJ Kast Toolik Inlet with 2 peepsToolik inlet with Dr. Kim Bernard and Johanne A. Photo by DJ Kast

The two research teams work together! Dr. Crump uses the water chemistry information help identify why various groups of microbes. The chemistry of the water affecting the diversity of microbial species along the watershed.

Within the watershed, streams and lakes have different bacteria, and have different chemistry. They have different bacteria because their food is different. Streams have more organic matter coming from the soil. Lakes have more organic matter coming from algae. For example, some of the lake bacteria eat the organic matter that algae leak. These ideas are crucial when studying microbial biogeography and understanding how quantities/ diversity of microbes change around different parts of the watershed and why.

DJ on boardwalkWalking on the boardwalk in the Arctic Tundra. Photo by DJ Kast. YSP Flag

Fourth graders from Ms. Morris's classroom at Vermont Elementary's flag at Toolik Inlet.

Vermont Morris FlagRepresenting the polar flag of the fourth grade students in Ms. Morris' classroom (with YSP TA Alison Kamikawa) at Vermont Elementary. Photo by DJ Kast

Fifth graders from Ms. Bernato's classroom at Norwood Elementary flag at Toolik Inlet.

Norwood Bernato FlagRepresenting the polar flag of the fifth grade students in Ms. Bernato's classroom (with YSP TA Michael Qian) at Norwood Elementary. Photo by DJ Kast

Comments

Stanley Skotnicki

What a great facility, brings back nice memories from last summer. Have you taken a hike up Jade Peak yet from camp? Really nice views and well worth the effort.Great photos.

Byron Crump

IT was a beautiful day for squeezing DNA samples through filters. The boardwalks make the walking a lot easier. It was a lovely hike, and the mosquitos really loved having D.J. over for supper.