The Aquatic Ecology Laboratory is located on the 3rd Floor of the Dow Science Building at Hillsdale College. The laboratory is under the direction of Dr. Anthony Swinehart and is extremely well-equipped with all of the necessary tools for research in aquatic and wetland ecology and palaeoecology, including high-quality microscopes, analytical balance, drying furnace, muffle furnace, environmental chamber, fume hood, aquaria, refrigerator / freezer, computers, etc. Additionally, all necessary field equipment such as motor boats, row boats, paddle boats, inflatable boats, coring devices, dredges, digital water quality meters, GPS units, sonar, tripods & screens, water pumps, etc., is available. New equipment items are secured, as needed, for specific student and faculty research projects.

Several boats are available for student and faculty research and coursework, including a 18-ft Renken with a 125HP i/o motor, a 22-ft pontoon boat, a row boat, a paddle boat, and two zodiac-type inflatable boats.

Students also have access to the Biology Department's new JEOL Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Dr. Swinehart's students utilize the SEM mainly for examination of the ultrastructure of plant seeds and achenes to aid in identification of subfossils.