Browsing by Author "Kartak, Jacob"
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Item The Effects of Fish Presence and Mixing Patterns on Water Clarity in Lakes: Arco, Deming, and Itasca(2010-04-12) Harren, Steven; Kartak, Jacob; Knight, Jonathan; Lehman, JustinIn the summer of 2009, in Itasca State Park, MN, samples of zooplankton, chlorophyll a concentrations, and Secchi disk readings were studied in three lakes with differing characteristics. Our study sites were Deming Lake (fish, meromictic), Arco Lake (fishless, meromictic), and Lake Itasca (fish, dimictic). Our variables of interest were the presence or absence of fish, and whether the lake was dimictic or meromictic. Our study showed that Arco Lake, a small meromictic fishless lake, had the highest Secchi disk reading. Along with a high level of water clarity there was an abundance of large zooplankton. We contributed this high level of clarity with the absence of fish, and its meromictic stratification. Lake Itasca showed its true dimictic characteristics in our data, showing relatively low fluctuations in temperature and dissolved oxygen levels.Item The Effects of Geomys bursarius Mound Building on Vegetation Diversity in Prairies(2010-11-30) Dexter, Sarah; Kartak, Jacob; Lindsay, Erik; Sevdy, KimIn June of 2009, in a dry prairie approximately 2 miles north of Itasca State Park in North-central Minnesota, we found that the building of mounds by Geomys bursarius significantly alters vegetation diversity. We collected our data by setting up a total of 1,200 meters of transects, which gave us an estimation of G. bursarius mounds. Additionally, we counted the species richness on 60 randomly selected mounds in our study area; we compared these to a control that lay within approximately 5 meters from the mound counted. Our data was also compared to data from previous years taken from the same area. Along with these studies we chose areas that exhibited unique vegetation and determined if their presence is linked to a disturbance to the prairie compliments of the G. bursarius. The results we found were statistically significant, proving the Geomys bursarius has great effects on prairie ecosystems.Item Small Mammal Diversity Within Communities In and Around Itasca State Park(2010-12-01) Kartak, JacobItasca State Park in north-central MN is home to many species of mammals of all sizes (Travel Wizard). We as a class set up to find out some population dynamics of these small animals and came up with some useful information. Some questions we considered were; are forests or are prairies more diversified regarding small mammals? Are there any common species in both prairie and forests, if so why, or why not? My predictions were that we would not find the same species in both areas. Originally when we set out I was unknowledgeable on what exactly we would trap, mostly due to lack of experience. Looking back now on the data we have accumulated, it makes sense. The animals we caught in prairie habitats are usually found in those habitats, same for forest habitats (Hazard 1982).