Chapter 3: Done (well mostly)

This week I finished a major section of the data collection for my microplastic microcosm experiment that I started this summer. While this project took a bit longer than expected because of nematode autofluorescence that interfered with particle visibility, I have finally finished counting all of the microplastics that the nematodes ate throughout the experiment. I am currently working on analyzing the data and writing up the results for this work, while simultaneously finishing other work. After this I will have a short break from experiments before the summer starts. However, I will likely be designing the plan for my summer experiment and running some tests since I have the time.

I also decided to collect some extra data for this microcosm experiment, hence why it is mostly done. I'm wondering if there is value in identifying the nematode genera that have eaten the microplastics in the experiment, so I am working on some nematode identifications. Thank goodness that I still have all of my drawings from my previous nematode ID work, as some of the genera are the same and the drawings make for quick identifications. On Tuesday I looked at one and immediately thought, "I have a drawing of this one, I know it." However, I couldn't find it right away so I made a note that I do have a picture of it and that I just need to find it in my notes. I will be interested to see if there are any new nematode genera in this batch, as North Bay is not a site where I did nematode identifications, and there could be unique taxa there. I also spent the time looking back through some old nematode samples to get pictures for a talk I am giving next month. Since most students in our biology department don't work with nematodes, I want to show how unique some of their features are, so I snapped a few shots.

Next week's focus is nematode IDs but with some meetings and good conversations sprinkled in as I prep for this summer and finish working on the nematode records for the St. Andrew Bay system. Although it seems like my work doesn't end, I have more free time now than I've had since I started the program, and it is really nice to sit back and write a paragraph here and there for projects and sit with my thoughts for longer than a few days. Stay tuned next week, as I see what new nematodes North Bay has to offer!

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