Crayfish AQuaculture
Great news, one of our seven crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) is carrying eggs! Based on our email exchange with Dr. Keith W. Pecor (http://www.tcnj.edu/~pecor/) from the College of New Jersey, our female may have reproduced prior to us purchasing her from a local petstore and stored the sperm required to fertilize the eggs that she now carries! As Dr. Pecor stated, she is now "in berry!"
We will continue to study our small population of non-native crayfish in an attempt to learn about their behavior, reproduction, and breeding requirements. We hopefully will apply what we learn with Procambarus clarkii to culture a New Jersey native species of crayfish. We plan on setting traps this Summer in the Reservoir to determine if a native species is present. Stay tuned for our progress this Summer in regards to the Crayfish Aquaculture component of our Project!
And thanks again, Dr. Pecor for your willingness to assist us in learning more about crayfish!
We will continue to study our small population of non-native crayfish in an attempt to learn about their behavior, reproduction, and breeding requirements. We hopefully will apply what we learn with Procambarus clarkii to culture a New Jersey native species of crayfish. We plan on setting traps this Summer in the Reservoir to determine if a native species is present. Stay tuned for our progress this Summer in regards to the Crayfish Aquaculture component of our Project!
And thanks again, Dr. Pecor for your willingness to assist us in learning more about crayfish!
Crayfish Trap Construction
Fathead Minnow Aquaculture
On July 2, 2012 we moved 18 of our Project Reservoir raised fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) from their baby tank to a juvenile holding tank. We also transferred ~ 15 recently hatched fish to the baby tank that they left.
We also performed water changes on all of the aquariums in Aquaculture Room #1 (AQ1), move some males and females to different tanks, and changed the light cycle of the room. There are males in most of the tanks that are in reproductive colors. We hope this will result in eggs!
July 9, 2012....The tank that has ostracods was sampled and there appeared to be hundreds of them. We tried to see if the ostracods were another food source for our babies. Afterwards, the babies swam away because the ostracods were too big for their little mouths. We then fed them to the adult fathead minnows and they were eaten and didnt even get a chance to reach the bottom.
-Written by Cristy Rijo, 11:04 AM
Cattail propagation
Stay tuned for photos and information related to our "wild" cattails!
We have two chinampas that are currently floating in the Reservoir. One chinampa is stocked with cattails that we have grown from seed! The photograph to the left is of our three cattails that never made it to the chinampa....no room! They have been in the greenhouse for over a month and are doing great. We will use them to propagate more cattails.
July 9, 2012...We dumped a cup-full of ostracods a while ago before school ended, and when we recently did a checkup on the plants we noticed that the ostracods reproduced in large numbers.
-Written by Lexus Salmon 12:30 PM
We have two chinampas that are currently floating in the Reservoir. One chinampa is stocked with cattails that we have grown from seed! The photograph to the left is of our three cattails that never made it to the chinampa....no room! They have been in the greenhouse for over a month and are doing great. We will use them to propagate more cattails.
July 9, 2012...We dumped a cup-full of ostracods a while ago before school ended, and when we recently did a checkup on the plants we noticed that the ostracods reproduced in large numbers.
-Written by Lexus Salmon 12:30 PM
Cattails grown in the Greenhouse | |
File Size: | 61 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Cattail growth experiment
In our efforts to reestablish cattails at the Reservoir, we performed various experiments with cattails to determine the best possible conditions for their growth. As a result, we have populations of cattails growing in our greenhouse, chinampa #1, and chinampa #2. The chart below compares the height of the largest individual cattail in each of our growing stations.
cattailchart.docx | |
File Size: | 20 kb |
File Type: | docx |
microorganism aquaculture
Stay tuned for photos and information related to the microorganisms that we have been working with: paramecium, copepods, amphipods, ostracods, and now artemia!
July 5, 2012....Lexus and Jennifer analyzing population size in each of our microorganism culture tanks.
July 5, 2012....Lexus and Jennifer analyzing population size in each of our microorganism culture tanks.
reservoirmicroorganismchart.doc | |
File Size: | 38 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Aquaculture Room #2
Watch Cristy's video below to learn about our progress with AQ#2!
Project Reservoir Gaming
Stay tuned for information related to our progress in developing educational based games and applications to increase the Reservoir experience for all!
Brianna and Daniela remain hard at work in regards to the Educational Technology component of our project. Both team members continue to consult with another one of our team sponsors, Alex Britez of www.imaginemakers.org. Thank you for the support and assistance!
More great news for Project Reservoir....we are now in contact with Josh Sheldon of MIT's Center for Mobile Learning!
Brianna and Daniela remain hard at work in regards to the Educational Technology component of our project. Both team members continue to consult with another one of our team sponsors, Alex Britez of www.imaginemakers.org. Thank you for the support and assistance!
More great news for Project Reservoir....we are now in contact with Josh Sheldon of MIT's Center for Mobile Learning!
Reservoir Data
July 11, 2012...Exciting news... We will very soon be visiting the reservoir on July 13, 2012....thanks to Vinny from the Reservoir Alliance (http://www.jcreservoir.org/) for letting us in! We are going to the reservoir to test out our custom made fathead minnow and crayfish traps. About three months ago, during the channel 7 Above and Beyond (http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/feature?section=resources/lifestyle_community/community&id=8699475) video shoot, we took a class trip to the reservoir to release about 900 fathead minnows to hopefully decrease the mosquito population at the site. We want to use the minnow traps we created to see if any survived. Some could have been eaten by the large mouth bass because the fathead minnows are a food source for the bass. We will use the crayfish traps to see if there are any native crayfish in the reservoir.
-Written by Cristy Rijo 12:37....updated @ 10:10 PM
-Written by Cristy Rijo 12:37....updated @ 10:10 PM
Preparing for Data Collection
Exploratory Visit #1 : July 13, 2012
July 13, 2012... We visited the Reservoir to get data. First, we released the two crayfish traps and two fathead minnow traps. We could not place all five fathead minnows traps into the Reservoir water because the glue was not fully dry. We were trying to see if there were any fathead minnows from the time that we released them into the water in June. The Project Reservoir team were also trying to see if there was any signs of native crayfish in the water. After a try or two we caught baby bass in our crayfish traps. Afterwards we left the traps in the water and counted phragmites stems in one square meter. After that we sampled the Reservoir water and recorded our data for nitrate, pH, and dissolved oxygen levels. When we finished sampling the water we took a short trip to check out the chinampas we placed near an island in the Reservoir. We were happy to see that they are both doing great! We can't wait to "get out there" and measure them! When we all came back we checked the traps and we never caught any crayfish or fathead minnows. We also checked for mosquito larvae with our microscopes but found none in numerous samples. Soon, we will return to the reservoir with revised traps and our fingers crossed!
-Written by Cristy Rijo, Jennifer Segovia, and Carolina Bonetti 11:23 AM
-Written by Cristy Rijo, Jennifer Segovia, and Carolina Bonetti 11:23 AM
Exploratory Visit #2: July 31, 2012
On July 31, 2012, we (Jennifer and Dennis) went to the Reservoir with Mr. Naatus and Mr. O'Donnell. During our last visit we observed a garbage can that was left at the Reservoir that was partially filled with water. We assumed that it was filled with mosquito larva and after examination we found thousands and thousands of larva. Our plan was to add one of our fathead minnows into the garbage can to determine the rate at which mosquito larva would be consumed. We accomplished that experiment today, in addition to calculating the population density of mosquito larva present in the garbage can, identifying species of mosquitoes present at the Reservoir, fishing for fathead minnows and crayfish, and measuring the height of the cattails we planted on our chinampas. Another great day in our third home......the Jersey City Reservoir!
(written by Jennifer, 10:05 P.M.)
(written by Jennifer, 10:05 P.M.)
Exploratory Visit #3: August 16, 2012
On 8/16/2012, we visited the Reservoir with Mr. Naatus and Mr. O'Donnell. Although we didn't post, we visited the Reservoir the week before to check up on our fathead minnow and count mosquito larva. Within the past two weeks we observed the population of early stage mosquito larva decrease, but the population of advanced stage larva increased within the garbage can. We also noticed today that our larva-eating fathead was gone and the water level in the trash can was low and the temperature was very warm. We concluded that the can was not in the best place for our experiment so we collected some water and then Mr. Naatus put a hole in the bottom of the can to destroy the larva and prevent water from collecting in the trash can.
For the past two months we have actively searched for both our 900 fathead minnows and mosquito larva within the Reservoir and we have found none! It seems that the mosquitoes prefer sites around the Reservoir's banks that contain standing water and no fathead minnows! These sites are typically in garbage left or thrown into the site. Given our success with the "fathead in the can," we thought of an idea of placing artificial mosquito egg-laying sites in locations throughout the Reservoir. We termed this as our Mosquito Reduction Initiative (MRI). We began this initiative today by placing a water-filled garbage can in a mosquito populated area of the Reservoir. We will check for larva next week and then place a few of our fathead minnows in the garbage can to consume the larva and any mosquitoes that return to the site to lay eggs.
Stay tuned for data and progress associated with Project Reservoir's MRI!
(written by Cristy Rijo, 11:25 P.M.)
For the past two months we have actively searched for both our 900 fathead minnows and mosquito larva within the Reservoir and we have found none! It seems that the mosquitoes prefer sites around the Reservoir's banks that contain standing water and no fathead minnows! These sites are typically in garbage left or thrown into the site. Given our success with the "fathead in the can," we thought of an idea of placing artificial mosquito egg-laying sites in locations throughout the Reservoir. We termed this as our Mosquito Reduction Initiative (MRI). We began this initiative today by placing a water-filled garbage can in a mosquito populated area of the Reservoir. We will check for larva next week and then place a few of our fathead minnows in the garbage can to consume the larva and any mosquitoes that return to the site to lay eggs.
Stay tuned for data and progress associated with Project Reservoir's MRI!
(written by Cristy Rijo, 11:25 P.M.)
exploratory visit #4: August 23, 2012
On 8/23/12, Jennifer and I went with Mr. Naatus and Mr. O’Donnell on one of our weekly trips to the Reservoir. It’s been a week since we began our MRI and today was the day to add our fathead minnows to the MRI tank. Prior to adding 8 fathead minnows we estimated the amount of mosquito larva within the 30 gallon MRI tank. We counted 85 early and 30 late stage larva in our 2 quart collection container. With that, our estimate for the 30 gallon MRI tank is 5,100 early stage larva and 1,800 late stage larva. We were happy to put our minnows in and watch them begin eating the larva! We will check on them next week and take more samples. We’re looking forward to observing a decrease in mosquito larva within our first MRI tank.
(written by Ryan Roman, 9:25 P.M.)
9/18/12....seems like we forgot to update on 8/31/12! When we checked the MRI for larva the water was clear! Within a week our fathead minnows consumed all of the mosquito larva that we placed in the MRI tank. Now we had to figure out a way to supply our minnows with larva considering we weren't certain if adult mosquitoes would lay eggs in the MRI tank and supply the fish naturally with a food source. We could achieve this but that would mean placing the MRI tank right by the front entrance of the Reservoir. This is simply not an option because it would be vandalized by people that illegally enter the Reservoir for purposes other than environmental education. No worries.....we have a plan!
(written by Ryan Roman, 9:25 P.M.)
9/18/12....seems like we forgot to update on 8/31/12! When we checked the MRI for larva the water was clear! Within a week our fathead minnows consumed all of the mosquito larva that we placed in the MRI tank. Now we had to figure out a way to supply our minnows with larva considering we weren't certain if adult mosquitoes would lay eggs in the MRI tank and supply the fish naturally with a food source. We could achieve this but that would mean placing the MRI tank right by the front entrance of the Reservoir. This is simply not an option because it would be vandalized by people that illegally enter the Reservoir for purposes other than environmental education. No worries.....we have a plan!
Exploratory visit #5: September 13, 2012
On September 13, 2012, Jennifer, Lexus, Alexa, Brianna, Daniela, Ryan, Robert, Mr. Naatus, Mr. O’Donnell and I went to the Reservoir to not only give our fathead minnows a natural food source, but at the same time lower the mosquito population at the Reservoir.
We created MLCUs (Mosquito Larvae Collection Units), which have been the solution we’ve been experimenting with for some time now! We distributed several MLCU’S along the beginning of the Reservoir where the mosquitoes seemed most attracted too. Within minutes of entering the Reservoir I was attacked with mosquitos even with bug spray on. Jennifer and I shot a video explaining what they were and our plan for them for years to come.
We tested one MLCU for two weeks now and when we checked after one week it contained enough mosquito larvae to feed our MRI fathead minnows and keep them healthy for another week in the wild. Considering the weather has been chilly the last couple of days, there were not as many mosquito larvae in the MLCU as the week before. We hope to find more larvae in next week’s sample. If not, we will remove our fathead minnows from the MRI tank and store the MLCU devices for next season.
It took us some time and many trials but we will continue to pursue our primary goal next season, which is to reduce the population of mosquitoes at the Reservoir. We now have the innovative solution for battling mosquitoes, and both our MRI tanks and MLCU devices will be ready, willing, and waiting for the spring! The next generation of mosquitoes that hatch will finally have an enemy at the Reservoir…..Project Reservoir!
(written by Sophia Lugo, 10:45 PM on 9/17/12)
We created MLCUs (Mosquito Larvae Collection Units), which have been the solution we’ve been experimenting with for some time now! We distributed several MLCU’S along the beginning of the Reservoir where the mosquitoes seemed most attracted too. Within minutes of entering the Reservoir I was attacked with mosquitos even with bug spray on. Jennifer and I shot a video explaining what they were and our plan for them for years to come.
We tested one MLCU for two weeks now and when we checked after one week it contained enough mosquito larvae to feed our MRI fathead minnows and keep them healthy for another week in the wild. Considering the weather has been chilly the last couple of days, there were not as many mosquito larvae in the MLCU as the week before. We hope to find more larvae in next week’s sample. If not, we will remove our fathead minnows from the MRI tank and store the MLCU devices for next season.
It took us some time and many trials but we will continue to pursue our primary goal next season, which is to reduce the population of mosquitoes at the Reservoir. We now have the innovative solution for battling mosquitoes, and both our MRI tanks and MLCU devices will be ready, willing, and waiting for the spring! The next generation of mosquitoes that hatch will finally have an enemy at the Reservoir…..Project Reservoir!
(written by Sophia Lugo, 10:45 PM on 9/17/12)
ExPloratory visits #6 and #7:
September 12, 2012 & SepTember 19, 2012
Concordia Learning Center & St. Joseph's Home for the Blind
Having one aquaculture room is amazing, having two aquaculture rooms is unbelievable, having three aquaculture rooms is a great accomplishment. Project Reservoir is not only in P.S #28, but has recently created a mobile aquaculture program. The Concordia Learning Center is located right next to the Reservoir along with St. Joseph’s Home for the Blind. On the 12th of September, 2012 we added two tanks in a classroom for three year old students in Concordia and an additional two tanks in a classroom in St. Joseph’s Home for the Blind.
On the 19th, we plan to add our baby crayfish and baby fathead minnows into their tanks. Have you ever closed your eyes in a room that contains an aquarium and heard the bubbles and the water being filtered? Well that’s what the children with out the ability to see will experience with an aquarium in their classroom. For the special needs children, we want to add texturized models of the crayfish and fathead minnows, so they too can enjoy the animals and connect with them just like the little three year old students in Concordia.
We want to educate the youth of our community, especially those so close to it. Being the kids are so young, their brains are like sponges at this age. We want to educate them about the Hidden Jewel located right next to them so in the future they can be the next generation of Project Reservoir. Our project now includes special needs kids, allowing us to give them the same opportunity as others to help their community.
We are so excited for this opportunity and would like to thank the students and staff of both Concordia and St. Joseph’s Home for the Blind for allowing Project Reservoir to be a part of their amazing schools. For additional information regarding the above schools please follow this link: http://www.sjsnj.org/
(written by Sophia Lugo, 11:55 PM on 9/18/12)
On the 19th, we plan to add our baby crayfish and baby fathead minnows into their tanks. Have you ever closed your eyes in a room that contains an aquarium and heard the bubbles and the water being filtered? Well that’s what the children with out the ability to see will experience with an aquarium in their classroom. For the special needs children, we want to add texturized models of the crayfish and fathead minnows, so they too can enjoy the animals and connect with them just like the little three year old students in Concordia.
We want to educate the youth of our community, especially those so close to it. Being the kids are so young, their brains are like sponges at this age. We want to educate them about the Hidden Jewel located right next to them so in the future they can be the next generation of Project Reservoir. Our project now includes special needs kids, allowing us to give them the same opportunity as others to help their community.
We are so excited for this opportunity and would like to thank the students and staff of both Concordia and St. Joseph’s Home for the Blind for allowing Project Reservoir to be a part of their amazing schools. For additional information regarding the above schools please follow this link: http://www.sjsnj.org/
(written by Sophia Lugo, 11:55 PM on 9/18/12)
On 9/19/12, Mr. Naatus, Mr. O’D, Jennifer, Ryan, Victoria, and I went to Concordia Learning Center and St. Joseph’s School for the Blind to add their new additions to their classrooms. We added five fathead minnows to the larger tanks and three baby crayfish to the smaller tanks in both classrooms. For the children in St. Joseph’s School for the Blind we want to make brail signs so they can identify where the tanks are located and what is in each tank. We’re looking forward to learning more about that process and working with the teachers to make it happen for the students.
We hope the students in both classrooms are as excited as we are about their new tanks. We look forward to assisting them in learning about the natural beauty located right next to their school…..the Jersey City Reservoir!
We hope the students in both classrooms are as excited as we are about their new tanks. We look forward to assisting them in learning about the natural beauty located right next to their school…..the Jersey City Reservoir!
Exploratory Visit #8: September 20, 2012
Today was the last of our visits to the Reservoir for the season. We checked on our MLCUs, but due to low temperatures there weren’t any mosquito larvae in any of the 6 units. We will have to wait until the spring season to once again install our MLCUs throughout the Reservoir in an effort to reduce the mosquito population. We put eight fathead minnows into the MRI tank three weeks ago and 4 out of the 8 fish survived. Although we did lose 50% of our small population, we still look at the experience as a success because it was the first time the fish were able to live on a natural food source in the wild that we caught and supplied to them using innovative designs.
The remaining fathead minnows were removed from the MRI tank and will be returned to our aquaculture lab. We also removed all 6 of our MLCUs due to the fact that mosquito breeding has decreased and they will have no food to eat in the MRI tank.
It truly has been an inspirational and very productive summer season for Project Reservoir. We can’t wait for the spring….watch out mosquitoes!
(written by Sophia Lugo, 9:35 PM on 9/20/12)
The remaining fathead minnows were removed from the MRI tank and will be returned to our aquaculture lab. We also removed all 6 of our MLCUs due to the fact that mosquito breeding has decreased and they will have no food to eat in the MRI tank.
It truly has been an inspirational and very productive summer season for Project Reservoir. We can’t wait for the spring….watch out mosquitoes!
(written by Sophia Lugo, 9:35 PM on 9/20/12)