Qualifications

Founded in 1999, Water's Edge Scientific LLC has analyzed hundreds of aquatic samples to date including phytoplankton, periphyton, zooplankton, and benthic macroinvertebrates. We have processed samples from Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York and New Jersey. We have served as both an independent laboratory and a subcontract service laboratory for larger consulting firms.

All taxonomic identifications are performed by trained Master's level aquatic biologists. The president/principal consultant of Water's Edge Scientific LLC, Debra L. Nieuwenhuis, has a Master's degree in Biology with a concentration in Limnology (Freshwater Biology), and she has completed additional post-graduate work towards a Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Oceanography and Limnology Graduate Program (Entomology minor). In addition, Ms. Nieuwenhuis has over 9 years experience as an aquatic biologist, specializing in algal and invertebrate taxonomy, lake management, and water quality analysis. Outside experts are sometimes consulted for taxonomic verifications and quality control purposes.

FACILITIES

The laboratory at Water's Edge Scientific LLC is fully equipped for biological sample processing. We have a variety of optical microscopes, including an inverted microscope equipped with phase contrast optics, a research compound microscope with darkfield, phase contrast, and fluorescence optics, and a high-power stereomicroscope. Supporting equipment includes a digital camera for photomicroscopy, a drying oven and an analytical microbalance with a resolution of 1 µg for performing dry-weight biomass measurements of invertebrates. Our ever-expanding library of taxonomic keys and other reference materials, coupled with our ready access to additional materials and reference specimens at the University of Wisconsin, insure that we are able to accurately identify specimens and maintain a current knowledge of the taxonomic status of organisms. Our taxonomists also receive periodic training at taxonomic workshops.

Data reports are provided to clients in both electronic and hard copy formats. Algae and zooplankton reports include autecological information about dominant taxa in each sample, and macroinvertebrate reports include standard benthic metrics and summary statistics. We are currently working with a computer programmer to develop our own custom database software, Aquatic Information Management System (AqIM), which includes formulas and taxonomic information for algae, zooplankton, and benthic invertebrates.

Please contact us for more information regarding services, pricing, and sample submission guidelines.