The Stone Lab Algal & Water Quality Lab, which opened in 2013, allows researchers to identify plankton, measure chlorophyll content and cyanobacteria toxins, analyze organic and inorganic suspended solids, and test for nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen.
These tests enable scientists to tackle the issue of harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie better than ever before.
A new buoy donated by Fondriest Environmental and upgraded with additional equipment through grant funding helps Stone Lab staff monitor water conditions, including harmful algal blooms, in Lake Erie’s western basin.
Buoy Data
Query station information and more variables at the HABS Data Portal station website hosted at glos.us
View StationAnalytical Equipment Available
The new water quality laboratory offers lake researchers the ability to analyze water samples for nutrient concentration, algal biomass, and cyanobacterial toxins. The growth chamber provides researchers the ability for controlled environment conditions for algal growth experiments. The lab is stocked with glassware, balances, filtering manifolds, and pipettes. Deionized water is available at most sinks. Freezer space (-20°C and -80°C ) is available.
- Barnstead Nanopure Water
- SEAL 5-Channel Nutrient Analyzer
- Geneva Growth Chamber
- Eppendorf Refrigerated Centrifuge
- Thermo Sci Drying Oven
- Thermo Sci Muffle Furance
- Fisher Sci Sonicator
- BioTek 96-well Plate Reader
- Shimadzu UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
- NAPCO Benchtop Autoclave
- Refrigerator & Freezers (-80°C)
- Adventure Analytical Balance
- Pipettes 0.2 µL to 10,000 µL
- Filter funnels and manifolds
- Vacuum pumps
- Mettler Toledo pH meter
- Stirring hot plate
- Hot water bath
- Beakers, flasks, and cylinders
- General lab supplies
Lake Erie Water Quality Data
Water samples were collected by charter boat captains and Stone Lab scientists in to track the water quality of Lake Erie. Samples were analyzed for chlorophyll a (an indicator of algae biomass), microcystins (a group of toxins produced by cyanobacteria), total phosphorus and nitrogen (indicators of maximum biomass potential), dissolved nitrate, phosphate, and silicate (nutrients available for algae), and total suspended solids (mass of all particulates in the water). The captains record GPS location, water temperature, and Secchi disk depth (indicator of water clarity). Ohio EPA Environmental Education Fund and Surface Water Improvement Fund, Ohio Sea Grant, Ohio Water Resources Center, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, the National Science Foundation, and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences have sponsored the data collection.
The HABs Grab was a high spatial resolution, one-day sample event in the western basin of Lake Erie conducted during early August of 2018 and 2019. Several groups participated in sample collection and sample analysis. NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science funded the HABs Grab data collection via the ECOHAB program.