Collecting algae has motivated me to explore the great outdoors and visit numerous watering holes--large and small, lotic and lentic, eutrophic and oligotrophic. Large lakes are prominent features of the landscape but I find that small, inconspicuous water bodies can produce distinct forms. Here are some of the sites on the Keweenaw Peninsula that I have sampled.
Arnheim Sloughs
site #3
site #5
puddle #1
These man-made canals and isolated puddles produced
some memorable specimens, particularly euglenoids.
Dollar Bay
boat launch
from boat
This small bay on the Keweenaw
Waterway was a diversity hotspot. I have sampled it
frequently and still hope to re-encounter some of the rarer
flagellated greens.
Boston Pond
northern shore
Here is a lake located just out of
town that contained typical taxa for a lake.
Coles Creek
near mouth
attached algae
The clear and cool waters of this
creek did not support a visible diatom biofilm, but tuffs of
aquatic moss and filamentous algae were found attached to rocks
in riffles.
Moyle Concrete
pond
sampling
This small pond produced some
interesting algae. Moyle has always been
gracious in granting permission to sample.
Gratiot River
below falls
attached algae
Here is a clear and cool water
trout stream with low productivity, but tuffs of filamentous
algae were found attached to rocks in riffles.
old Laurium Dump
pond
creek
puddle
This small pond and stagnant puddle
was especially rich in xanthophyceans.
Swedetown Pond
pond
This small pond produced a few
specimens but rotifers usually overwhelmed the plankton samples.
Osceola
pond #2
pond #3
pond #1 marsh
These ponds tended to have greater diversity than
the nearby Swedetown Pond.
old Superior Mine
pond
vegetation
Here is another shallow and
eutrophic pond. Sometimes it stunk of decomposition.
Peeksock Trail
pond
algae in pond
lower stream
The aquatic vegetation of this pond
and its drainage to the Keweenaw Waterway held many forms,
particularly dinoflagellates.
Perrault Bog
kettle-pot basin
algae
pitcher plant
The acidic waters of this
Sphagnum bog was a diversity hotspot,
most notably for desmids and cyanobacteria, and I have
returned here repeatedly.
Pilgrim River
above US-41
below US-41
This river was a great place to
find diatoms attached to rocks and aquatic vegetation.
Keweenaw Waterway
MTU waterfront
South Entry from boat
This shipping canal bisecting the
Peninsula provides numerous sites for sampling. I have
often stopped at the waterfront for a quick sample.
Rice Lake
boat launch
northern shore
It was years later that I first
sampled this large but relatively shallow lake, and was quite
surprised to find its rich desmid community.
Scales Creek
beaver pond
In 2010, I expanding sampling to new locations.
Here are some of the exciting locations I have discovered.
Thirteen Mile Lake
Sphagnum bog
nearby bog
Twelve Mile Lake
lake proper
adjacent pond
Dover Creek
pool at US-41
Snowmobile Trail 17
marsh #1
marsh #3
Fulton Creek
beaver pond
Snowmobile Trail 3
pond #1
pond #2 site #1
pond #2 site #2