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| OSU Ecotoxicology and Water Quality Research Laboratory |
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ANALYTICAL CAPABILITIES
The laboratory is equipped with a Perkin-Elmer AAnalyst 700 Atomic Absorption
Spectrometer that has both flame and furnace capabilities for performing trace
metals analyses of water, soil, and biological tissue samples. A Dionex DX 100
Ion Chromatograph is also available for rapid analysis of anions; chlorides,
bromides, fluorides, iodides, phosphate, sulfate, nitrite, and nitrates. For
analyses of organics, including pesticides, oil and grease and chlorinated hydrocarbons,
a Varian CP 3800 gas chromatograph and a Dionex GP50 HPLC are available. All
instruments are computer interfaced with specific software for control and data
reduction. The laboratory is equipped with a high temperature muffle furnace
for ashing biological samples and a safety hood.
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Perkin-Elmer AAnalyst 700 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer |
Varian CP 3800 Gas Chromatograph |
LIGHT MICROSCOPY
Equipment in this category includes two Olympus SZX12 dissecting microscopes
and an Olympus BX41 compound microscope. All scopes have the capability for
digital imaging through the use of a Spot Insight digital camera and associated
computer interface.
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Olympus BX41 compound (L) and SZX12 dissecting (R) microscopes with digital imaging capabilities. |
TOXICITY TESTING LABORATORIES
The EWQRL is a certified bioassay and basic environmental laboratory (Oklahoma
Department of Environmental Quality ID# 8123, United States Environmental Protection
Agency ID # OK 00016). All test procedures and analytical techniques follow
standardized US Environmental Protection Agency protocols. Bioassays are conducted
in temperature and light-controlled rooms and/or environmental chambers. Ancillary
equipment includes water quality meters (dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity,
ion-specific probes (ammonia and copper), a wet chemistry laboratory (for alkalinity
and hardness titrations) and a Sartorius analytical microbalance. A Photronix
Reagent Grade Water purification system is used to produce Millipore Milli-QR
equivalent deionized water.
Internet-linked computers are available for report preparation and data analysis. Data reduction for routine bioassays is accomplished through the use of Comprehensive Environmental Toxicity Information Systems (CETIS) software (Tidepool Scientific Software).
Separate laboratories are used for culturing aquatic test organisms. A fathead minnow rearing facility is used to produce larval fish, while cultures of daphnids (Daphnia pulex and Ceriodaphnia dubia) and Chironomus tentans provide organisms for water column and bulk sediment tests, respectively.
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| Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas, culture facility | Ceriodaphnia sp. |
FIELD ASSESSMENT/BIOLOGICAL MONITORING
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Macroinvertebrate, amphibian and fish surveys
In addition to standard laboratory bioassays, the EWQRL conducts site-specific
surveys to provide data on macroinvertebrate, amphibian and fish assemblages.
A suite of nets and other basic invertebrate sampling equipment (surber samplers,
Hess samplers, ponar dredges) are available to collect organisms from both lotic
(streams and rivers) and lentic (wetlands, pond, lakes) systems, and dedicated
laboratory space is available for macroinvertebrate sorting and identification.
Client-collected samples may also be shipped to OSU for sorting, identification
and enumeration. Drift fences, nets and recording equipment are also available
to conduct amphibian calling surveys and direct counts, while fish surveys are
usually conducted in collaboration with the Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and Wildlife
Research Unit.
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| Fish electroshocking on the Verdigris River, OK | ||
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| Macroinvertebrate sorting |
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