Twelve students in the J-Term class “Paleolimnology” spent Wednesday on Lake Hallett in St. Peter collecting sediment cores. Taking full advantage of a heat wave (high of 10 deg F), and assisted by experts from the University of Minnesota’s Limnological Research Center, they got mud from three locations in the lake. Over the next few weeks, they will analyze the various biological and chemical indicators of environmental change stored in the mud records, in hopes of reconstructing the lake’s water quality history.
Paleolimnology is one of those seemingly obscure sciences that can tell us SO much practical (and interesting) information. The microscopic creatures and chemical makeup that the Gustavus students find in the mud cores can tell us what the weather, rainfall and erosion has been historically. That means we have an idea of what is “normal” for our little corner of the world, and can warn us if pollution or land use practices are comprimising the health of St. Peter’s environment. I think it’s great that they got to do this!!!
[…] Paleolimnology J-term class investigates local mud – Check out the Geology department blog for some stories on the research this class is doing with Dr. Laura Triplett. They’re investigating the mud from the bottom of Lake Hallett in St. Peter. […]
[…] St. Peter’s own Lake Hallett. More pictures and information can be found on the Geology blog here and the Environmental Studies blog […]