usgs great lakes science center biological...
TRANSCRIPT
U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey
USGS Great Lakes Science Center Biological Research in the Great Lakes Basin
Jacqueline Savino, Deputy DirectorLEMN ConferenceApril 30, 2008
Co-authors
Leon Carl, Director, GLSC
Michael Bur, Chief, Lake Erie Biological Station
Sandra Morrison, Science and Communication Coordinator
GLSC – Meet the nation’sneed for scientific information for restoring, enhancing, managing, and protecting the living resources and their habitats in the Great Lakes basin ecosystem.
DOI Core Value Statement: Stewardship for America with Integrity and Excellence
Mission Lake Superior
Lake Michigan
Lake Huron
Lake Erie
Lake Ontario
GLSC Mandate and HistoryGreat Lakes Biological Laboratory
1927 originated to address collapse of lake herring (cisco) fishery in Lake Erie in 1925.
Part of DOI since 1939
Presidential Executive Order 11564 in 1970Mandates all Great Lakes fisheries and activities related to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to the GLSC.
Basin-wide Biological Research
5 Large Research Vessels Covering All LakesAnnual fish stock assessments (some bi-national)Ecosystem and invasive species studies
Basin-wide Biological Research8 Field stations
Broad spatial coverageStudies within and across lakes
Field Stations
GLSC Research ProgramsDeepwater Fisheries ScienceRestoration EcologyInvasive Species Aquatic Ecosystem HealthWetlands and Coastal Habitats
Partners Throughout the Basin
DOI Agencies – FWS and NPS, Tribes Great Lakes Fishery CommissionEPA, NOAA, USACE, OMNR, DFO Canada, EC8 GL States, Cities, Local, Universities, NGOs
Great Lakes Beach AssociationFWS - Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Erie Research
1) Lake Erie Biological Station (LEBS)2) Coastal Wetlands Restoration
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge3) Huron-Erie Corridor Initiative
1) LEBS Species abundance in relation to ecological changesYellow perch assessmentTrends in spring/fall forage fish abundance in western Lake Erie.
WESTERN LAKE ERIE
USGS trawl sites
Spring and Fall Forage Assessment
ODNR trawl sites
ODNR, OMNR, USGS
Since 1961 Since
2003
Coldwater Fish Restoration (1991-present)Eastern basin (lake trout, lake whitefish, burbot)Interagency effort (NYDEC, OMNR, PA F&BC)
Lower Trophic Assessment (Lakewide collaboration)
Track ecological changes and explain ecological shifts
1) LEBS (cont.)
1) LEBS (cont.)Double-Crested Cormorant DietsAssess Burrowing Mayfly Recovery (Heidelberg College)
DO Monitoring-central basin (EPA)
Assess Lake Trout Spawning HabitatSuitable sites/connectivity to assist lake trout recovery
3
35
15
2019
1420
13
18
13
20
11
22
19
15
20
17
19
19
20
18
16
17
16
12
17
15
16
14
1816
20
21
14
Le_substrate_osu.shpbedrockglacial tillmudsand/gravelsand/mud
Le_cnt_5m.shp1 - 67 - 1314 - 2627 - 4344 - 63
4 0 4 8 Kilometers
N
EW
S
This GIS image shows a region of Lake Erie where substrates and slope may be suitable for lake trout spawning.
2) Coastal Wetlands Restoration
Understanding relationships between natural coastal habitats and biota with environmental factors such as:
Water-level changeCoastal sediment dynamicsGround water contributions Global climate change and invasives (e.g. Phragmites)
Ottawa NWR Partnership
Agriculture
Diked Wetlands
Lake Erie
Crane Creek
Agriculture
Diked Wetlands
Hydrology
Historical and GIS Habitat
Fish
EPA Great Lakes National Program Office
Chicago, Illinois
2) Coastal Wetland (cont.) Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
Unique rehabilitation strategiesPortable Cofferdams
To re-establish wetland plants; Partners: FWS Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, U of Michigan researchers, and others.
Cofferdam
3) Huron-Erie Corridor Initiative
HEC includes Western Lake Erie.Pathway for fish larvae to Lake Erie (walleye, whitefish)Primary research focus
Fish spawning habitat restoration Connectivity from spawning to nursery areas.
3) HEC: Lake Whitefish Research
Identify and describe spawning areas in Detroit River and W. Lake Erie.Quantify egg and larval abundance, viability, survival, distribution.Assess spawning stock characteristics.Quantify mechanisms of downstream larval transport into Lake Erie.
Egg Mat
Opportunities for Collaboration
StudentsWork StudyStudent ContractsCooperative Agreements
Other ScientistsCollaboration on research projectsInitiative partnershipsCooperative agreements (universities)
2009 LE Intensive Monitoring GLSC Collaboration
Research interestTook part in Lake Huron intensive monitoring
Research platformsLarge and small vessels, crewLabs in Ann Arbor and Sandusky
ResearchersLake Erie Biological StationAnn Arbor
Center Contacts
Michael Bur, Station Chief, LEBS419-625-1976; [email protected]
Jacqueline Savino, Deputy Director734-214-7258; [email protected]
Ed Roseman, Scientist, Huron-Erie Corridor734-214-7237; [email protected]
Kurt Kowalski, Scientist, Coastal Wetlands734-214-9308; [email protected]
Sandra Morrison, Science/Communications734-214-9393; [email protected]