If you’re doing research on Lake Erie or its flora and fauna, Stone Laboratory’s setting in the Western Basin provides an ideal location for work throughout the year. Go out on the lake, hop nearby islands, or break it down in the lab — our equipment and facilities are available for your use, to make a request, use this form.
Laboratory Space
Research Vessels
Stone Lab has several research vessels with different capabilities. The R/V Erie Monitor and R/V GS-3 are smaller, fast vessels but cannot handle large waves, cannot deploy large equipment, and are limited to about five passengers. The R/V Gibraltar III and M/V BioLab are larger vessels that can carry larger crews, heavy equipment, handle larger waves, and pull a fish trawl, but they are slower.
R/V Gibraltar III
A 42’ aluminum trawler with an A-frame for deploying trawl nets or heavy equipment. Research vessel for open lake sampling and trawling. Carries up to 28 passengers.
M/V BioLab
A 37’ trawler vessel for near-island sampling.
R/V Erie Monitor
A 25’ aluminum Almar vessel with enclosed cabin. Ideal for long distance sampling, SCUBA, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV). Carries up to six passengers.
R/V GS-3
25’ fast boat for miscellaneous sampling and deploying medium-sized equipment. Includes an electric davit capable of lifting 500 pounds. Carries up to four passengers.
Cost Table
| ITEMS | Rate |
|---|---|
| Research vessels | $275/hour |
| └ Additional Deckhand (if necessary) | +$35/hour |
| Lab space | $55/week |
| Mesocosm facility | $50/tank/week |
| Lab staff support | $35/hour |
| OVERNIGHT HOUSING | Rate per person per night, week, month |
|---|---|
| Bunkhouse (no linens, shared living) | $15, $70, $210 |
| Cottages (linens provided, private living) | $40, $170, $500 |
| DISCOUNTS | Discount on total fee |
|---|---|
| OSU researcher | 10% |
| Federal employee | 10% |
Field and Lab Equipment
Stone Lab’s research spaces include a variety of equipment, including the list below. Please contact the research coordinator with specific questions about the research facilities.
- Two Remotely Operated Vehicles
- Dive equipment
- Flow-through aquaria with lake water
- Chemistry glassware
- Micropippetors
- FlowCAM
- FluoroProbe
- Fluorometer, 96-well plate reader, spectophotometer
- Abraxis Eurofins CAAS Cube
- SEAL Analytical continuous segmented flow analyzer
- Tuttnauer autoclave
- Eppendorf refrigerated centrifuge
- Mettler Toledo analytical balance and top loading balance
- Thermo Scientific 18×24 shaker table
- Freezer space of -20C and -80C
- 2 light and temp controlled incubation chambers
- Two underwater cameras
- Wire tagger
- Telemetry gear
- YSI EXO-2 water quality sondes
- A variety of nets and benthic sampling equipment
- Researchers are encouraged to bring any other specialized equipment they might need.
