The ECH2O Lab and the Lab for Observing and Quantifying Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems (LOQATE) jointly operate a ~1,000 ft2 laboratory in the Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories (IATL), designed by famed architect Frank Gehry and built in 1992.
Our equipment
Growth chambers
We have eight Percival E-41L2 plant growth chambers, each of which have ~6 ft2 of grow space and can control temperature, humidity, CO2, and light levels.
Ashton Prairie flux tower
We operate an eddy covariance tower at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory, roughly 10 minutes from campus. The tower measures carbon, water, and energy fluxes of a newly-restored prairie system.
Portable photosynthesis system
We have two LI-COR LI-6800F portable photosynthesis systems with fluorometer. The LI-6800F measures leaf-level photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, fluorescence, and more.
Pressure chambers
We have two PMS 1505-D Scholander-type pressure chambers for measuring leaf water potentials.
Tree ring measurement
We have a Velmex tree-ring measurement system, along with a variety of increment borers.
Soil gas flux
We have a LI-COR LI-7810 trace gas analyzer with smart chamber for measuring soil CO2, CH4, and H2O fluxes.