THE BENTHOS 2004
              Not in the data is the qualitative view that the rounded gobies are still as numerous as ever. Summarize some of the data it can be easily seen that the spawning of the zebra mussels was far far less then in 2003 and it occurred much later.
The Byrozoan are still having a gay old time on the bottom being just as numerous as ever.
I thought from last years data the the Planarians would be making a comeback but they still are greatly reduced in numbers from earlier years. The colonial hydras were found this year more than in years past but not in any great numbers. The Peritechs were not found in anywhere near the numbers found in 2003. Sponges did not appear in any great numbers until the autumn ( though this is an iffy statement since the visibility was so bad this year on account of the increase in algae in the water that it was usually impossible to view the bottom over any great distance ( great in Lake Erie is 15 to 20 feet)).
              Lots of data here to compare with previous years so enjoy my children and would appreciate any interesting fact anyone can glen from all the data.
 

The following data is from samples taken from the bottom of rocks found on the reef . The area given for the
rock underside surfaces are only approximations, I never tried to calculated the odd shapes with any precision.
July 4  2004
Rock size 72 sq.cm.     Ablabs (midge larvae)  nests                7
                                    Hydra                                                37
                                    Z Mussels                                            1           4 mm.
                                    Byrozoan colonies                                2

Rock size 90 sq.cm.     Ablabs (midge larvae)  nests                15
                                    Hydras                                                10
                                    Zebra mussels (4mm. long)                    1

July 11, 2004
Rock size 99 sq.cm.      Ablab nests                                           16
                                     Hydras                                                  23
                                     Z mussels  ( from 3 to 5 mm)                 2
                                     .
Rock size   96 sq. cm.   Ablab nests                                          14
                                     Z mussels (from 3 to 5 mm.)                  7
                                      Hydras                                                30

Rock size 40 sq.cm.      Ablab nests                                            5
                                     Hydras                                                   70
                                     Z mussel                                                  1
                                     Byrozoan colony                                      1    Numerous loposphores present. about 40 holes
                                                                                                           colony cover an area of about 10 mm. sq.
Rock size  64 sq.cm.      Ablab nests                                             2
                                     z mussels (4 to 10 mm.)                           5

July 19  2004
Rock size 88 sq.cm.        Ablab nests                                            8
     clay                            Carchesium                                            12
                                        Zoothamnium                                        17

Rock size 60 Sq. cm.      Ablab nest                                             11
                                       Z mussels small  (from 5 to 12mm)          5
                                       Byrozoan colonies                                  This is either 3 different colonies or 3 that are spaced close
                                                                                                     together. Loposphores present, about 60 of them.
                                                                                                     Area covered is about 3 cm. by 1 cm.
                                       Zoothamniums                                        4
                                       Carchesium                                            12
                                        Annelid                                                  1

Benthic water   2.5 liters
                                       Harpactacoids                                        2
July 31
Rock size 132 sq.cm.       Ablab nests                                            45
                                        Bryozoan colony                                      2    Colony one   45 loposphores openings covers an
                                                                                                              area of 2 cm. by 1 cm.
                                                                                                              Colony 2    18 loposphore openings
                                        Hydras                                                     3
                                       Z mussels (7 to 10 mm. long)                     8
                                       Carchesium (at least they look like it)        52

Rock size 169 sq. cm
                                         Ablab nests                                             5
                                         Z mussels  ( 4mm. long)                           1
                                        Zoothamniums                                          2
                                        Carchesium                                              16

Benthic water 2.5 liters
                                              Harpactacoids          7
                                              Rotifers                    1
                                           Calanoid cope             2
                                           Cyclopoid cope           4
                                           Amphipod                   1
                                            Mayfly (Stenonema)   5
                                            Annelid                      1
                                            Hydra                        1
Aug 8 2004
Rock size 50 sq.cm.             Ablab nests                                          17
                                            Hydras                                                  5
                                            Colonial Hydra                                      1        6 heads
                                            Z mussels large  (1-3mm )                      2
                                            Byrzoan colonies                                    3 colonies  The largest covers a 2 cm. by 1.5 cm. area
                                                                                                                             with 42 lopospore openings present.Some
                                                                                                                                 have tentacles out.
                                            Carchesium                                          24

Rock size 77 Sq. cm
                                            Ablab nests                                            8
                                            Colonial hydra colonies                          2                16 Hydra heads in one colony
                                                                                                                            21 "                     second colony
                                            Carchesium                                           3
                                             Planarian                                              1
                                             Sponge                                                 1           Covers area 3cm. x 2 cm. Sponge is growing
                                                                                                                       over part of the byrozoan colony.
                                             Bryozoan colonies                                 2           At least 63 loposhore openings present.
 

Rock size 64 sq.cm.             Ablab nests                                            12
                                            Carchsium                                              12
                                             Z mussels   (4 to 7 mm.)                          7
                                             Byrozoan colonies                                   6     one colony cover a 4 by 4 cm. area
                                                                                                                   120 loposhore holes present
                                                                                                                    5 other colonies scattered on rocks surface.
                                             Hydra                                                     1
Benthic water
 2.5 liters in sample
                                Harpactacoids            2
                                Rotifers                       1
                                Calanoid cope             1
                                Cyclopoid cope           4
                                Zebra mussel               1
 

August 14
Rock size 49 sq. cm           Ablab nests                                           49
 

Rock size 35 sq.cm             Ablab nests                                          35

Rock size 70 sq.cm.            Ablab nests
                                           Byrozoan colony                                 2           F. sultana
                                                                                                                   2 colonies 1st 4mm.long
                                          Hyda americanus                                 5
                                           LIMPET                                            2
                                          Z mussels                                             6

Rock size 70 sq.cm.

                                           Ablab nests                                      10
                                           Colonial Hydras                                 3     Colonies C.lacrustris  one colony has 11 hydranths
                                                                                                                 the others 9 and 16 hydranths
                                           Zebra mussels                                    3

Benthic water  2.5 liters
                                Harpactacoids           5
                                Rotifers                     1
                                Stenonema                1
                                  Hydra                     6
                               Cyclopoid cope         4
                                Calanoid cope          2
                                Nauplius                   1
                                Nematode                1
                                L. kindti                    1

August 17     Sponges are in full bloom; saw 6 of them, the largest about  inches by 6 inches in size. They are a mixture ofgreen and off white or entirely brown. Rounded gobies are vary numerous. Water full of long strands of algae. the bottom is covered with algae that is not cladophora.

Rock size 84 Sq. cm
                                     Ablab nests                                          8
                                     Zebra mussels                                      4
                                     Byrozoan colony                                  1    small four loposphores

Rock size   64 sq. cm.
                                    Ablab nests                                           18
                                   Byrozoan colony                                    1        18 cm. sq. A large colony with about 105
                                                                                                                   loposphore openings
Rock size 105 Sq.cm.
                                    Ablab nests                                            8
                                    Bryozoan colony                                    1  5 X 2 cm. area
                                   Zebra mussels                                        1

Aug 24

Rock size  130 sq cm.
                                 Ablab nest                 22
                                 Z mussels  small         20
                                Sponge                        1         2 cm. diameter
                                Bryozoan colonies        4         F. sultana  One roughly 30 mm. in diameter 85 lopospore openings
                                                                                                         Tentacles seen
                                Carchesiums                20     estimate
Rock size 60 cm sq.
                                 Ablab nests                 4
                                 Hydra                         1

Rock size 85 cm. sq.

                                 Ablab nests                  6
                                 Z mussels (small)          7
                                 Bryozoan colony           1     Loposphores present
                                                                             colony covers an area of 6 cm. sq.
                                  Hydra                          1
                                  Carchesium                  25  estimate

Benthic water
                                 Harpactacoids          9
                                Rotifers                     1
                                Stenonema                2
                                Calanoid cope           1
                                Cyclpoid cope           5
                                 Stentor                     1

Aug 29
Rock size 120 cm. sq.
                                Ablab nests                14
                                Zebra mussel              17
                                Carchesium                 scattered
                                Bryozoan colonies       4           loposphore present; colonies scattered over rocks underside.
                                                                                .
Rock  size  100 cm sq.
                                Ablab nests                2
                                Z mussels                 15
                               .colonial hydra             1        Only one hydranth, can't see stolon
                                 Byrozoan colony       1        Large colony   covering a 5 by 10 cm. area. There is a lot of detritus mixed
                                                                            with the colony can't tell it density but loposhores are present.
Several Amphipods seen in the water. No benthic sample counted.

Sept. 1
Rock Size 40 sq.cm.
                                   Ablab nests               18
                                   Zebra mussels             4
                                   Bryozoan colonies       3       Each colony covers roughly a 10 mm.sq. area

Rock size  80 sq.cm.
                                    Ablab nests                35
                                    Zebra mussels             1
                                    Byrozoan colony         1    loposphore openings seen 18, no loposphores seen
                                                                            colony covers an 1 cm. X 1cm. area.

Rock size 96 sq.cm.
                                    Ablab nests                24
                                    Bryozoan colonies        3      Colony 1 densely packed. Because of thick detritus can't tell
                                                                                how many lopes are present, but I can see some tentacles present
                                                                                from some of the openings. Size 3 cm. X 4cm.
                                                                                Colony 2 - roughly 2 cm. X 2 cm. in area.  52 openings - some
                                                                                loposhores present.

In water  4 amphipods present.

Sept 12

Rock size  110 cm sq.
                                  Ablab nests                  55
                                  Bryozoan colonies         3        All the colonies are small. The largest is 1cm. X 1cm. having
                                                                                 45 openings, some loposphores seen. 2nd colony has about
                                                                                  35 openings.
                                 Hydopschye (caddis flies)
                                              nest                   3        One animal seen
                                  Z mussels                      3         Spawning has occurred; these critters are less than 1 mm. long.
rock size 90 Cm. sq
                                 Ablab nests                     14
                                  Z mussels                       12     large from 8 to 15 mm. long
                                  Z mussels small                3
                                  Harpactacoids                 1
                                  Colonial hydra                 3     All the colonies small having only between 2 and 4 hydranths
                                   Planarian                        1      About 5 mm. long; Dugesia body type
                                  Byrozoan colony             1      Colony appears dead, no lopospores seen. About 25 openings.

Benthic water 2.5 liters
                                   Stenonema (mayfly)        1
                                  Harpactacoids                 16
                                  Rotifers                           16
                                  Amphipods                      1
Sept 15
Rock size 99 cm. sq.   Ablab nests                     22
                                   Z mussels                        1         12 mm. long
                                   Z mussels small                3          < 1 mm.
                                   Bryozoan colony              1         Covers a 10 X 12 mm. area. Not very dense having about
                                                                                      30 loposphore openings, in several could see animal.
                                   Planarians                        2
Rock  size 72 sq. cm.
                                   Ablab nests                      5
                                   Z mussels                         3          small about 1 mm. in size
                                   Bryozoan colony              1          very small colony, about 5 mm. long, 5 openings, animals seen.
Rock size 45 cm. sq.
                                    Ablab nests                    2
                                    Planarians                      1
                                    Amphipods                    1
                                    Z mussels                       1          6 mm. long

 Benthic water 2.5 liters
                                    Amphipods                     12
                                    Cyclopoid cope                4
                                    Stenonema (mayfly)          2
                                    Harpactacoids                  7

Sept 21

Rock size 70 cm. sq.
                                     Ablab nests                     2
                                     Z mussels (large)             10          7 to 10 mm. long
                                     Z mussels (small)             42          About 1 mm. long
                                     Byrozoan colony              7           small colonies they all seem to be independent of each other.
                                     Planarian                          1           about 7 mm. long; Dugesia body type.
Rock size 120 cm. sq.
                                     Ablab nests                      8          That is all on rock

Rock size 117 cm. sq.
                                      Planarians                       2           Also that is all on the rock.