For my internship I spent the summer working as a research assistant for the Freshwater Ecology Laboratory at Connecticut College, under the direction of Dr. Peter Siver. Our laboratory primarily focuses on the use of microscopic algae, such as scaled chrysophytes and diatoms, as bioindicators of change in environmental conditions. Environmental stresses resulting from acidic deposition and changes in land use are of particular interest. Currently, regions of Cape Cod, the Ocala National Forest in Florida, and North Carolina are under investigation. Physical, chemical, and biological data are incorporated into environmental models of algal habitats to relate species distribution to environmental gradients. Paleolimnological inference models quantify changes in properties and species diversity over time. These studies allow for a correlation of algal biodiversity with the diverse characteristics of lake habitats along the eastern United States. This information will be used to improve lake management and conservation practices.

As a research assistant, my primary responsibilities included sample collection, sample preparation for various chemical analyses, and data collection and analysis, as well as daily lab maintenance. The summer began with a sampling trip down to North Carolina to gather sediment cores, water samples, and various data from nearly thirty lakes. In the field I was responsible for organizing equipment as well as gathering and processing samples and data. Additionally, I prepared samples for light and scanning electron microscopy for both the lab and my individual research. Acid digests the organic material so that the microscopic algae can be clearly viewed and studied. Scanning electron microscopy provides a detailed three-dimensional view of the structure of the organisms' siliceous cell walls so that minute comparisons can be made among individuals and populations.

Gathering the sediment cores is an integral and time-consuming part of paleolimnological research. Each core is obtained with the aid of a gravity corer holding a plastic tube, hung awkwardly over the edge of an unsteady canoe. The tube is then brought to shore so the core may be sectioned by depth and labeled for future use. Back in the lab each section is weighed and either dried and ground for elemental analysis or digested with acid to remove organic material for light and scanning electron microscopy. Water samples are processed and analyzed for various properties.

In addition to microscopy techniques, throughout the past two summers I have become familiar with other common laboratory analyses, such as determining the amounts of chlorophyll and various elements in water and sediment samples. I also became proficient in the identification of several genera of algae. In the case of the diatom genus Brachysira, the subject for my senior thesis, identifications were made at the species level. During the countless hours I spent in the field, in the lab, and using the scanning electron microscope, I easily accomplished my goal of further developing my repertoire of technical, research, and analytical skills.

I discovered that summer research is an ideal learning environment, as information is absorbed on a daily basis without the formality of the academic year. I found it very refreshing to immerse myself wholeheartedly into my research for a long day without having to study for exams or meet other academic requirements. The sampling trip down to North Carolina allowed me the opportunity to experience the initial sample collection in the field, a component of the research that I had not been involved with the previous summer. As a member of a small research team I was always engaged in daily activities and challenged to complete tasks thoroughly and efficiently, while gathering as much information as possible to be applied to my own research.

My work at Connecticut College has given me a strong background in environmental science and the necessary variety of skills. My time spent at the Semester in Environmental Science program at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts prepared me for the intensive aspects of field work and independent research. My involvement with the Goodwin-Niering Center and the Freshwater Ecology Lab has integrated all of these experiences with a network of people who provide information, assistance, and constructive criticism whenever necessary. In this way my interests have remained organized and motivated throughout my time at Connecticut College. Additionally, through Dr. Siver I have made a contact at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Canada, where I plan to spend time in January collaborating on my thesis research.

My Honors Study will use scanning electron microscopy to correlate differences in the morphological structure of the diatom genus Brachysira with geographic distribution along environmental gradients. I will attempt to clarify current taxonomic distinctions and discrepancies within the genus. My senior project is a continuation of the work that I have accomplished as a part of the Freshwater Ecology Laboratory, demonstrating the extent to which this experience has influenced the direction of my studies. I hope that my individual research will complement and elaborate upon the data gathered by the lab over the last few years, illustrating the importance of a minute organism as an integral component of the freshwater ecosystems of the eastern United States.