Caring for Lab Animals

My name is Eunjae Jeon, and I am a senior majoring in Biology. This semester, I am interning at the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Aquatic Propagation Lab.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are the federally recognized confederations of three Native American Tribes—Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla. CTUIR is aimed at economic resources to achieve a sustainable economy and cultural identity through self-determination. Freshwater mussels and Pacific lampreys are significant to them because they have been served as the first food for a long time and because they do numerous services to the ecosystem.

As an intern, my primary responsibility is caring for lab animals, including freshwater mussels, lampreys, and other fish. My day routine at the lab starts with system checks—I check if the lab's facilities are working normally and ensure that the animals provide adequate temperature, clean air, and water.

Next, I check the condition of the mussels to see if they are alright. If I find any dead mussels, I remove them immediately because they may contaminate water and make other mussels sick. Then, I change the mussel pan water each week. After that, I feed the mussels- my favorite task at the lab. The basic recipe for the mussel food is to mix an algal food mix and a shellfish diet with a ratio of 1:2 into the well water. There are many mussels with different species, sizes, and ages of mussels, but their food shares this basic recipe.

After feeding the mussels, I scrub and siphon the waste or build algae in the mixing sump and the water tanks, clean the lab by wiping out all working surfaces, and sweep and mop floors.

If you intern at CTUIR Aquatic Propagation Lab in Springs, you can experience one great experience: lamprey spawning! This year's lamprey spawning season at the lab started in April since the breeding season of Pacific lampreys occurs between March and July. If you visit the lab during this time, you can see thousands of lamprey eggs, and you might also see them hatching and swimming for the first time! The lab has a 90% chance of hatching— maybe even higher than that. Isn't that amazing? To do this, we need to monitor the egg condition closely and see if molds or organic debris are growing in the tank.

Working at CTUIR Aquatic Propagation Lab is surely a valuable experience. You could gain lab work and fieldwork experience. Most of all, freshwater mussels and Pacific lampreys are currently under significant threat, and contributing to their research and restoration is rewarding work!