Kodiak Island Limnology Laboratory
Water Sample Processing

Water Sample Processing

The Kodiak Island Limnology Laboratory (KILL) uses a state-of-the-art multiple channel segmented flow autoanalyzer to determine nutrient concentrations of water samples. All nutrient analyses adhere to EPA-approved methods. Standard calibration curves, blanks, and blind nutrient checks are prepared using Type A glassware and ultrapure 18 megohm deionized water to evaluate the quality of the analytical data generated from experiments run by the KILL. Analyses run with the autoanalyzer include

  • Total phosphorous
  • Total filterable phosphorous
  • Filterable reactive phosphorous
  • Ammonia
  • Nitrate + nitrite
  • Total Kjeldahl nitrogen
  • Silicon

The autoanalyzer.
Manifolds of the autoanalyzer.

 

Juvenile Diaptomus with length measurements.
A Harpacticoid copepod from Orzinski Lake.

The photosynthetic pigments of chlorophyll a and phaeophytin a are analyzed using a separate spectrophotometer.

Zooplankton samples are keyed to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Biomass, density, and length are estimated by area and volume for each taxonomic group.

The KILL also determines color, pH, and alkalinity. Water samples are stored until processing on site in a dedicated walk-in freezer. All data generated by the KILL are housed in the ADF&G Westward Region limnology database.

Methods for lab operations can be found in the Westward Region limnology and Kodiak Island laboratory analysis operational plan.