On the airboat tours, students learned and directly observed the different habitats within the lake, local species (migratory and resident), and the invasive aquatic plants that are effecting the ecosystem.
In the electrofishing boat, students collected many species including; largemouth bass, red ear sunfish, black crappie, bowfin, channel catfish, and spotted gar. Collected fish were kept alive in an aerated live well and taken to shore where students recorded species type, total length, and the weight of each fish. The collected fish were released back in the lake after measurements were taken. The collected data will be used in the student's assessment of the health of the Sheldon Lake ecosystem.
Thanks to Mark, Mike, and Bill for their generosity and for sharing their expertise.