Facilities

The OGFL operates out of 4 Main facilities on the UC Davis campus:

  1. Otolith Polishing and Image Analysis Facility (“Dry Lab“)
  2. Interdisciplinary Center for Plasma Mass Spectrometry (“Chem Lab“)
  3. Fish Dissection, Preservation, and Specimen Archive Facility (“Wet Lab“)
  4. Field Research Equipment Storage and Staging Facility (“CABA“)

Dry Lab – Otolith Prep & Image Analyis

Otolith mounting, polishing, imaging, and digital image analyses to assess age and growth are conducted in the OGFL Dry Lab. The Dry Lab houses multiple compound and dissecting microscopes, automated polishing wheels, and digital imaging and analysis stations. Digitized thin sections are annotated using ImageJ Software, which then generates increment counts (ages) and increment width profiles that correspond with historic growth rates. Once imaged otolith, sections are sonicated and transferred to petrographic chemistry slides for laser ablation microchemical analysis.

Thin-polished transverse cross-sections of sagittal otoliths from a juvenile (left) and adult (right) Longfin Smelt showing daily and annual rings, respectively.
Thin-polished transverse cross-sections of a sagittal otolith from a nine-year-old Central Valley Steelhead.

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Chem Lab – Geochemical Analyses

Justin Glessner (right) manages the UCD ICP-MS lab in the UCD Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences.

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is used to quantify time-resolved variation in element abundances (“trace elements” or “elemental fingerprinting”) and strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) in calcified otoliths, calcified fin rays (spines), and scales from a variety of fish species. Chemistry is conducted in collaboration with Justin Glessner at the UC Davis Interdisciplinary Center for Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. The Center operates two instruments, including (1) an Agilent 7500ce quadrupole ICP-MS for quantifying element abundances and (2) a Nu Plasma HR (Nu032) multiple-collection high-resolution double-focusing mass spectrometer ICP system capable of determining isotope ratios with external precision on the order of 10-20 ppm. Each ICP-MS is coupled to a laser ablation system capable of analyzing spot sizes of approximately 5 to 120 microns.

The ICPMS Facility is housed within the Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UC Davis.
The Quadrupole ICP-MS
The Multicollector ICP-MS
The Multicollector ICP-MS
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectometery (ICP-MS) methods

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Wet Lab – Dissections & Tissue Archive

Longfin Smelt being prepared for dissection.

Specimens are dissected and tissues archived at the OGFL Wet Lab in the UCD Aquatic Biology and Environmental Sciences (ABES) building. The Wet Lab contains a fume hood, dissecting tables, flammable cabinets, and a walk-in freezer. During a typical dissection, multiple tissues are extracted from each fish and preserved including otoliths (age, growth and chemistry), gonads (maturation and fecundity), stomachs (diets), and fin clips (genomics). Whole specimens and tissues are preserved and archived in ethanol, formalin, or by freezing for later use. 

Dissection of femaile Longfin Smelt showing ovary with ripe eggs.
Left ovary of Longfin Smelt containing mature eggs.

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CABA – Field Equipment

OGFL research vessels, vehicles, and field equipment are housed at the UC Davis Center for Aquatic Biology and Aquaculture (CABA). Research vessels include a 26 ft. aluminum Deep-V Workskiff Utility Series , 17 ft. aluminum flat-bottom Tracker Grizzly Jon Boat, and an 8-ft electric-powered Pond Prowler. Each vessel facilitates sampling in different types of habitats with a variety of gear types.

New Vessel Arriving in 2025 (Armor Marine Blackfish 21):

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