FABE 652
Ecosystems for waste treatment

 

Examples of Student Projects from 2002 FABE 652

Portions of projects highlighted in BLUE either were not performed or did not work—These are possible areas for future research projects. Do not get discouraged if something similar to what you want to do has been done before—It is desired to compare some results from previous years to results from the current system.

Kevin -Energy Budget, Sludge accumulation

Includes electricity, light emitted, labor estimates, materials (both natural and man-made, list and costs). I have started an excel spreadsheet detailing materials to this point.

Weekly—monitor accumulation of sludge (how??).

Jason –Hydrology & Air Inputs

Includes all flowrates in the system (i.e. between each tank and overall), How does flow rate of whole system compare to recycling rates? What is the retention time of each tank?

What is the airflow rate into each tank? Calculate for the initial set-up, then check bi-weekly. Recalculate following any changes to the system.

Julie –Mollusks, inverts & Vegetation

Quantify initial and changes to species and amounts of mollusks and other species (not fish). Devise method to count snails etc. Quantify initial and changes to species and amounts of vegetation. Species counts weekly. Weigh vegetation biweekly. Calculate diversity indices for plants and animals.

Stewart –Microbes attached to Roots

Weekly quantification of microbes attached to roots of plants (3plants-different species/tank) in aerobic tanks. Also quantify size of root system for these plants (weekly).

Kerry –Suspended Microbes

Weekly quantification of suspended microbes in aerobic tanks.

Terry – Fish and River Inverts

Quantify initial and changes to species and amounts of fish throughout system. Devise method to count fish. Also track inverts in river.

WATER QUALITY

Initially-2 samples/week-First sample 4/19/02

After flushwater is added-more frequent sampling-one sample following addition, and other samples at longer intervals (i.e. 2hrs, 4hrs, 1 day). Since there are 4 people doing water quality you should be able to arrange samples throughout the week.

Mike – Nitrogen

NO3, NH3, TN performed by USDA lab—in 2003 these will be monitored with ‘chemstrips’

Calculate organic N and TKN following analyses

Dan-BOD, Total C

Total C performed by USDA lab

BOD- review methods and prepare/analyze samples. Use D.O. meter to analyze.

Twice, perform metabolism experiment similar to Oberlin (monitor D.O. decrease with no air input in aerobic tanks).

Becky- TSS, Fecal Coliform

TSS-review methods and prepare/analyze samples (pre-weighed filter paper, over, balance).

Fecal Coliform—Can we do this? —Review methods and see

Ryan- Phosphorus, Dissolved Oxygen

Use D. O. meter to track D.O. in each tank (different levels in anaerobic) weekly and more frequently following addition of flushwater.

Phosphorus performed by USDA lab