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Research
Aquarium Mimics Wave Action
By Leo Kob
Jim Zaleski of FMO gets many requests for assistance. One of the most unusual
was to recreate the New Jersey shore in Mendel Science Center. Marine ecologists
in the biology department sought the expertise of FMO’s staff to set
up a large-scale aquarium system for conducting a new set of laboratory
experiments. These researchers are studying the basic ecology of marine
invertebrates found on east coast beaches.
Coquina clams (scientific name = Donax fossor) are commonly found on wave-swept
sandy beach environments such as the New Jersey Shore. These small clams
live in the “swash zone” which is the area on the beach where
the waves break. Previous research documented that coquina clams display
an extraordinary behavior known as “swash riding.” The clams
migrate vertically up and down the beach front with the rising and falling
tides to remain in the swash zone. Recently, Joanne Dougherty, a graduate
student in the biology department discovered a “hitchhiker”
on the shells of some of these clams. A hydroid (a marine invertebrate similar
to a sea anemone) attaches to the posterior end of the shell and gets a
free ride and a place to live in this environment. The goal of her thesis
project is to assess if the presence of the hydroid affects any aspect of
the clam’s biology. One of the most interesting and technically difficult
aspects of her project is to quantify growth rates of clams with and without
hydroids.
The team’s task was to design and construct a recirculating aquarium
system to accommodate experiments using marine organisms in a setting that
simulates their natural habitats. This system is in Dr. Michael Russell’s
lab, located on the first floor of the Mendel Science Center. Sarah Carlson,
a graduate civil engineering student working part-time for FMO designed
a “sea table” that contains the experimental tanks. These tanks
are equipped with submersible pumps to simulate conditions in the swash
zone.
The sea table is sloped to allow the flow of seawater towards the drain
on one end. The water then drains into a 250-gallon reservoir. The reservoir
is thermally insulated and contains a gravel aquifer as the first step in
the water filtration process. Water then passes from the aquifer into a
particle filter and a UV sterilizer, the next two phases of the filtration
process. From the UV sterilizer the water is pumped up to a PVC-pipe suspended
above the sea table. This pipe is fitted with several faucets and flexible
hoses to regulate water flow into the experimental tanks. Temperature in
the system is regulated using a separate chiller pump that circulates water
within the reservoir. This unit is capable of simulating the natural changes
in ocean temperature throughout the year.
Chuck Gibson constructed the support framework for the sea table using the
schematics drafted by Sara Carlson. In addition he added a canopy around
the system which prevents seawater splashes from getting on other laboratory
equipment. Plumbers Eric Rafter and George Kincade secured the fittings
for the connections for the necessary water fixtures.
Creative contributions of the FMO team were critical in the design and construction
of this unique resource. The marine aquarium system expands the teaching
and research capabilities in the biology department and will be useful in
future undergraduate and graduate thesis projects. The collaborative efforts
between the marine ecologists in biology and FMO staff recreated a little
bit of the Jersey shore in Mendel Science Center. |
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