Project Title: Application of a continuous imaging flow cytometer for monitoring estuarine microplankton.
Principal Investigator(s): Michael Sieracki, Christian Sieracki.
Accomplishments
Scheduled Tasks:
- Monitor water column particles prior to harbor dredging operation by sampling in continuous flow mode.
- Monitor water column particles during dredging operation by daily sampling and analysis of discrete samples in the lab.
- Re-install FlowCAM instrument on the floating dock at Wells Harbor.
- Collect post-dredging data on water column particle populations in continuous flow mode.
Difficulties Encountered
The major impediment to our progress this spring has been the refusal of the Wells harbormaster to allow us to re-install the FlowCAM instrument on the new floating docks. These new docks were put in place in Feb/March 01, and FlowCAM has been out of operation since then. We did not go back to discrete sampling mode since that is labor intensive and we were optimistic that negotiations would allow us to re-install the instrument. Unfortunately, that negotiation got bogged down in late spring/summer.
We have a new plan for finishing the monitoring of the Wells harbor so that we get some useful post-dredging data through the 2002 spring bloom (see Goals below).
Tasks and activities for next reporting period
We have reached a conditional agreement with the Wells harbormaster to install the FlowCAM on a floating dock. We can only locate the instrument under the ramp. He does not want the instrument cable to run down the ramp as it did before, so we will have to re-engineer an arrangement with the cable under the dock to take up the slack due to tide. The height of the FlowCAM instrument is a concern under the ramp at extreme high tide. We estimate that an instrument about 6 inches lower in height would survive a storm tide. We have another instrument that has been operating here at Bigelow that has a lower profile, so we have decided to exchange instruments for the duration of the Wells project. The two instruments are almost identical, so the exchange should not take too much effort. The primary effort will be in re-configuring the cable under the dock so that it operates safely with the normal tidal variations. We plan to do this work in early September and have FlowCAM online from then through the spring bloom (April 02). That will give us data from the spring and fall seasons both before and after the dredging operation.
Work plan to accomplish tasks
To accomplish maintenance of the FlowCAM, we shall visit the site up to twice a month and shall provide phone assistance to the Wells NERR personnel. This is reflected in the revised budget.
Budget Justification
The proposed budget below is our plan for spending the residual funds in our grant. This is based on a no-cost extension due to issues noted above.
Salary
Two months of salary, with established Bigelow fringe and overhead, is allocated for the PI, Mike Sieracki. During this time, the PI will oversee the project, work on data interpretation and writeup, and writing the final project report.
Travel
We plan to make 2 trips to Wells to observe operations there and meet to discuss the results.
Subcontracts
Subcontracts will be used for instrument operation and maintenance at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, for NedCorp for engineering and re-installation of the instrument, and for FIT to fund the coPI, Chris Sierackis participation. Chris will oversee the instrument installation and operation which will necessitate regular (ca. monthly) trips to Wells.
| Wells NERR | $7,500 |
| NedCorp | 6,500 |
| Fluid Imaging Techn. | 6,000 |
| |
| Total | $20,000 |
Other
Other direct costs will include computer supplies, phone and copy machine costs associated with the project.
| CICEET Budget Sheet | YEAR 1 | |||
| A. Senior Personnel | ||||
| 1 | M. Sieracki | 2 | 15341 | |
| 6 | Total Senior Personnel | 15341 | ||
| B. Other Personnel | ||||
| Total Salaries and Wages | 15341 | |||
| C. Fringe Benefits | 0.45 | 6904 | ||
| Total Salaries, Wages and Fringe | 22245 | |||
| D. Permanent Equipment | ||||
| Total Perm. Equip | 0 | 0 | ||
| E. Travel | ||||
| Domestic | 140 | |||
| Foreign | 0 | |||
| F. Participant Support Costs | ||||
| Total | 0 | |||
| G. Other direct Costs | ||||
| Materials and Supplies | ||||
| Publications/Page charges | 0 | |||
| Consultant Services | ||||
| Subcontracts | 20000 | |||
| Other | 200 | |||
| Total Other Direct Costs | 20200 | |||
| H. Total Direct Costs | 42585 | |||
| I. Indirect costs | 0.460 | 10389 | ||
| J. Total Direct + Indirect | 52974 | |||
| K. Residual funds | 52976 | |||
| L Amount of Request | 0 | |||