Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER)/NTL006: Pelagic Macroinvertebrates in North Temperate Lakes Primary Study Lakes

LTER - Long-Term Ecological Research Program/North Temperate Lakes (NTL)

LTER/NTL006 [Summary adapted from the LTER Core Data Set Catalog]:

Five vertical tows are done at the deepest point of each of the seven lakes (Allequash, Big Muskellunge, Crystal, Sparkling,Trout, and the bog lakes 27-02 and 12-15), using a 1-mm mesh net with a 1-m wide mouth. On Trout Lake four additional sites are sampled, at 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, and 25 m depths, with three tows done at each site. All samples are taken in darkness.

Samples are preserved and counted, yielding numbers caught. Derived data include density.

The North Temperate Lakes (NTL) site is affiliated with the Center for Limnology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The NTL site focuses its research on north temperate lake ecosystems in the Northern Highland Lakes District of Wisconsin. The Northern Highland Lakes District, has an area of approximately 10,000 sq. km. and has one of the highest concentrations of lakes in the world. Lakes range in size from 0.1 to 1,500 ha, in depth from 1 to 33 m, and in fertility from oligotrophic to eutrophic. Other representative limnological conditions include: rainwater dominated, groundwater dominated and drainage lakes; dystrophic lakes; lakes with varved sediments, winterkill lakes, temporary and permanent forest ponds, and reservoirs. Lakes are influenced by strong seasonality and are usually ice covered from late November to late April. Lakes within the Northern Highland exhibit near-natural water quality conditions. Nearly 80% of the land area and two-thirds of the lake frontage are protected.

Information about LTER is also available at 'http://lternet.edu/'