USGS Great Lakes Science Center Biological Research in the Great Lakes Basin

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1 USGS Great Lakes Science Center Biological Research in the Great Lakes Basin Jacqueline Savino, Deputy Director LEMN Conference April 30, 2008 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

2 Co-authors Leon Carl, Director, GLSC Michael Bur, Chief, Lake Erie Biological Station Sandra Morrison, Science and Communication Coordinator

3 Mission Lake Superior GLSC Meet the nation s need for scientific Lake Michigan Lake Huron Lake Erie information for restoring, enhancing, managing, and protecting the living resources and their habitats in the Great Lakes basin ecosystem. Lake Ontario DOI Core Value Statement: Stewardship for America with Integrity and Excellence

4 GLSC Mandate and History Great Lakes Biological Laboratory 1927 originated to address collapse of lake herring (cisco) fishery in Lake Erie in Part of DOI since 1939 Presidential Executive Order in 1970 Mandates all Great Lakes fisheries and activities related to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to the GLSC.

5 Basin-wide Biological Research 5 Large Research Vessels Covering All Lakes Annual fish stock assessments (some bi-national) Ecosystem and invasive species studies

6 Basin-wide Biological Research 8 Field stations Broad spatial coverage Studies within and across lakes Field Stations

7 GLSC Research Programs Deepwater Fisheries Science Restoration Ecology Invasive Species Aquatic Ecosystem Health Wetlands and Coastal Habitats

8 Partners Throughout the Basin DOI Agencies FWS and NPS, Tribes Great Lakes Fishery Commission EPA, NOAA, USACE, OMNR, DFO Canada, EC 8 GL States, Cities, Local, Universities, NGOs FWS - Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Great Lakes Beach Association

9 Lake Erie Research 1) Lake Erie Biological Station (LEBS) 2) Coastal Wetlands Restoration Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge 3) Huron-Erie Corridor Initiative

10 1) LEBS Species abundance in relation to ecological changes Yellow perch assessment Trends in spring/fall forage fish abundance in western Lake Erie. USGS trawl sites ODNR trawl sites WESTERN LAKE ERIE Since Spring and Fall Forage Assessment 1961 Since 2003 ODNR, OMNR, USGS

11 1) LEBS (cont.) 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

12 1) LEBS (cont.) Double-Crested Cormorant Diets Assess Burrowing Mayfly Recovery (Heidelberg College) DO Monitoring-central basin (EPA) Assess Lake Trout Spawning Habitat Suitable sites/connectivity to assist lake trout recovery Kilometers Le_cnt_5m.shp Le_substrate_osu.shp bedrock glacial till mud sand/gravel sand/mud W N S E This GIS image shows a region of Lake Erie where substrates and slope may be suitable for lake trout spawning.

13 2) Coastal Wetlands Restoration Understanding relationships between natural coastal habitats and biota with environmental factors such as: Water-level change Coastal sediment dynamics Ground water contributions Global climate change and invasives (e.g. Phragmites)

14 Ottawa NWR Partnership Fish EPA Great Lakes National Program Office Chicago, Illinois Hydrology Lake Erie Agriculture Agriculture Historical and GIS Diked Crane Diked Wetlands Creek Wetlands Habitat

15 2) Coastal Wetland (cont.) Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Unique rehabilitation strategies Portable Cofferdams To re-establish wetland plants; Partners: FWS Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, U of Michigan researchers, and others. Cofferdam

16 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.

17 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

18 Opportunities for Collaboration Students Work Study Student Contracts Cooperative Agreements Other Scientists Collaboration on research projects Initiative partnerships Cooperative agreements (universities)

19 2009 LE Intensive Monitoring GLSC Collaboration Research interest Took part in Lake Huron intensive monitoring Research platforms Large and small vessels, crew Labs in Ann Arbor and Sandusky Researchers Lake Erie Biological Station Ann Arbor

20 Center Contacts Michael Bur, Station Chief, LEBS ; Jacqueline Savino, Deputy Director ; Ed Roseman, Scientist, Huron-Erie Corridor ; Kurt Kowalski, Scientist, Coastal Wetlands ; Sandra Morrison, Science/Communications ;