Ash-free dry mass

Knowledge graph centered on Ash-free dry mass with 70 nodes and 163 connections. Top connected: Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Crested Butte, Pekania pennanti, Diptera.

Method synopsis

Collection and processing of biofilm samples from natural and artificial substrates to quantify biomass, algal content, and nutrient content through AFDM, chlorophyll-a, and phosphorus analysis.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 4 papers using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — High-discharge disturbance does not alter the seasonal trajectory of nutrient uptake in a montane stream (2021), Hydrobiologia. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Sample natural rock biofilms
   Scrub top surface of 3-4 randomly selected softball-sized rocks with nylon Smoker's toothbrush, estimate rock surface area by photographing and calculating with ImageJ2 software
   Quantities: 3-4 rocks per sampling date, approximately bi-weekly sampling starting before first uptake measurement in 2018, began sampling rock algae approximately bi-weekly after flood in 2017Duration: Bi-weekly sampling throughout growing seasonsConditions: Sampling frequency adjusted based on biofilm development after disturbance events
   Equipment: nylon Smoker's toothbrush, ImageJ2 software for area calculation
2. Sample tile biofilms
   Scrub installed tiles in same manner as rocks, calculate total surface area using number of tiles scrubbed since all tiles had same dimensions
   Quantities: n = 3-7 tiles scrubbed per sampling dateDuration: Sampling conducted throughout growing seasons after tile installationConditions: Tiles scrubbed using same methodology as natural rock substrates
   Equipment: nylon Smoker's toothbrush
3. Process biofilm samples for chlorophyll-a analysis
   Transfer chlorophyll-a sub-samples to 25 mm Pall AE filters, freeze until analysis, extract with 3 mL MgCO3 buffered 90% ethanol for 6-12 hours, measure concentration with Turner Designs Trilogy Fluorometer Model #7200

Typical Equipment

• nylon Smoker's toothbrush
• ImageJ2 software
• 25 mm Pall AE filters
• MgCO3 buffered 90% ethanol
• Turner Designs Trilogy Fluorometer Model #7200
• K2S2O8

Output Measurements

• biofilm AFDM
• chlorophyll-a concentration
• percent phosphorus
• Chl-a to AFDM ratio

Papers Using This Protocol (4)

Species Studied With This Protocol

Places Where Used