Diatoms of North AmericaMark Edlund and Sylvia Lee taught the class. Students came from University of Iowa, University of Southern California Long Beach, University of Nevada Reno, and McGill University. Nick Schulte was awarded the Kingston Teaching Fellowship, and was joined by Ian Bishop and David Burge, bringing together the Kingston Trio. Adam Heathcote provided a paleolimnology lesson and lead the class on a coring expedition to East Lake Okoboji and Lake Minnewashta. Visiting researchers also included Lynn Brant, Evelyn Gaiser, and Steve Main.
Students investigated the morphology, allometry, and sexual reproduction of Encyonema reimeri from West Lake Okoboji, Iowa. Collections made on 18 May 2015 showed a bimodal distribution of cell sizes that extended the upper size range known for this taxon, a positive relationship between valve length and breadth, and no apparent relationship between striae density and cell size. The class returned to collect new material after two weeks and found that the size distribution of cells had shifted downward and that there was evidence that the population was undergoing sexual reproduction. Two gametangial cells were paired in a copulation mucilage and each produced two isogametes. Pairing and fertilization most likely followed Geitler's Normal Type 1c reproduction with no apparent relationship between gametangial cells and expanding auxospores.
A second project focused on the seasonal succession of diatom epiphytes on Cladophora at Triboji Beach, West Lake Okoboji from 13 May, 26 May, and 8 June 2015. Students practiced diatom enumeration methods and were introduced to ordination. They observed a shift in the epiphyte community, with diatoms from the earliest and latest collection dates exhibiting the most dissimilar assemblage composition.
The class prepared a poster for a scientific meeting, based on the class project:
Nick Schulte, Elaine Jordan, James Woodell, Mac Flack, Irene Tunno, Sabrina Kamae, Sergio Mendoza, Joanna Gauthier, Blamaki Behnaz, Eilleen Salas, David Burge, Sylvia Lee, and Mark Edlund. 2015. A closer look at Encyonema reimeri. North American Diatom Symposium, Beaver Island, Michigan.
This Kingston Trio (Nick Schulte, Kingston Fellow 2015; Ian Bishop, 2014; David Burge, 2013) provided campfire serenades.
