Weston resident, Hamilton College student Avery Lum conducts summer research on meromictic Green Lake in N.Y.

Lum is a rising senior biology major at Hamilton

Clinton, NY (08/16/2021) — This summer Weston resident and Hamilton College rising senior Avery Lum was one of four Hamilton biology majors who studied bacteria samples from Green Lake in Fayetteville, N.Y., in an effort to better understand its unique qualities. Green Lake, known for its stunning green-blue tint, is exceptional for being meromictic, meaning the layers of water never mix. This is different from more common holomictic lakes, in which the surface and deep-water layers turn over seasonally.

The lake is unusually deep for its size and also has high salinity in its basin waters, so it does not turn over. It was likely created due to a waterfall that receded as the glaciers melted, and this waterfall had a force similar to Niagara Falls, so the water carved out this extraordinarily deep lake.

To gather data about the water and its microbes, the team used underwater sensors to measure factors such as pH, turbidity, conductivity, and temperature. They also employed a remote-operated vehicle [ROV] to assist in the collection of microbial samples emerging from water seeps. The ROV, which is equipped with cameras, a voltage meter, and a water pump, provided the team with valuable visual images and physical samples.

The Hamilton team's research can be traced back to the early 2000s, when Associate Professor of Biology Mike McCormick began studying the unusual properties of Green Lake. In prior years, he has brought students with him to the lake both during semesters and on breaks.

The students' research comprised two kinds of workdays: those on which they went to the lake and those on which they stayed on campus. On lake days, they would meet at the lab around 6 a.m. to gather supplies before driving to the state park. Once on the water, they would explore and collect samples until the afternoon, when they would "start looking at data, preparing and preserving collected samples, examining water samples under microscopes, and preparing for the next day," Lum said.

On non-lake days, they would perform miscellaneous tasks including cleaning up the lab, preparing and analyzing samples, and helping McCormick design his projects. The collaborative nature of the project in all its stages was highlighted by the students as particularly enjoyable.

Avery Lum is a graduate of Weston High School

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