What is Core Lake?

Core Lake is an ecology laboratory simulation designed to bring many biological and ecological principles and techniques into one overall topic. Through investigations from the scientific method to conducting bioassays, students will learn how to collect, organize and interpret data and then apply their knowledge towards a specific goal of monitoring Core Lake.

The Core Lake simulation is based on a fictitious lake where biologists have conducted lake water quality monitoring at a number of stations.

About 10 stations are used in monitoring the lake in which students will be able to view the data collected and use that data to conduct investigations.

Parameters monitored include profiles of temperature, salinity, density, dissolved oxygen, light transmission, pH, as well as chemical samples at various depths for chlorophyll a, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, and Secchi disk depth. Samples were taken at various depths.

Measurement procedures vary significantly according to the parameter tested.

Take me to Core Lake Investigations!