Laserfiche WebLink
METHODS <br />Sampling <br />The initial sampling of the ephemeral side channel and seasonally inundated <br />wetland occured just after the river level peaked in early June. June samples for the <br />river channel and backwater were not collected because the river level was too high. All <br />four habitats were sampled during July and all but the ephemeral side channel were <br />sampled in August (T=ables 1-4). Fifty core samples were taken along a 30 meter transect <br />at each site. Each sample was collected with a clear acrylic tube, 450mm long x 47mm <br />in diameter (Shiozawa 1985). The tube was pushed into the substrate to a depth of 60- <br />80mm. The sediment from each sample was preserved in 5 % formalin with rose bengal <br />stain added to aid in sample sorting. <br />In addition to core samples, water chemistry values for each habitat type and <br />sample date were also measured. pH, salinity, conductivity, turbidity, hardness, and <br />alkalinity, were each sampled three times on the sample date. At each habitat type, a <br />min-max thermometer was placed near the benthic interface and left for ten days after <br />the sample date. <br />Sample Processing <br />In the laboratory, we washed each sample to separate organisms from sediment <br />using the following procedure. The formalin is drained and replaced with tap water. <br />Each sample is then gently rotated to resuspend the sediments and poured into a plastic <br />tray (36.5cm x 31.5cm x 6cm) through which a small volume of warm water is flowing. <br />The outflowing water, laden with small sand and clay particles, detritus, and benthic <br />6