Summary of the Most Significant Research and Training Accomplishments
Summary of the Most Significant Research and Training Accomplishments Attributable to the Lake Erie Center and its Scientific Advisory Board during the Last Five Years
NSF REU at the Lake Erie Center. Successful training and research discoveries in the Maumee Bay ecosystem by a host of undergraduate researchers.
Discovery of very high genetic diversity and tracing to multiple founding sources from the Ponto-Caspian region for Great Lakes invasions of zebra and quagga mussels and round gobies (Stepien et al. 2005, Stepien and Tumeo 2006, Brown and Stepien in review).
Identification of a new cryptic species of tubenose goby in the Great Lakes, as well as in rivers draining into the Black Sea (Stepien et al. 2005, Stepien and Tumeo 2006, Neilson and Stepien in review)
Establishment of high-resolution DNA microsatellite databases for resolving stock structure of major fisheries in the Great Lakes, notably walleye, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass (Borden and Stepien 2006, Strange and Stepien 2007 a,b, Stepien et al. 2007 and in review, Sepulveda-Villet and Stepien in review).
Prediction of ephemeral hypoxic events in western Lake Erie and failures of reproduction in mayfly populations (an important food source for Lake Erie fisheries) using NOAA surface temperature and wind data (Bridgeman et al. 2006, Moorhead et al. 2007).
The relationship of Maumee River flow, total phosphorus concentration, and turbidity to increasing frequency of blooms of toxic cyanobacteria Microcystis in Maumee Bay (Bridgeman and Mayer, in progress)
Quantification of Dreissena clarity and nutrient ratio effects using field data and experimental approaches (Zhu et al. 2006, 2007 (with Mayer), Johnson et al. (with Bossenbroek) 2007, Qin et al. 2007 (with Mayer), Bossenbroek et al. 2007)
Development of Phytoremediation techniques to remediate landfills and brownfields while restoring habitat for endangered and extirpated organisms (Dwyer et al. in progress)
Use of constructed wetlands to control the input of pathogens and contaminants to Maumee Bay while restoring endangered habitat via the use of native plants (Dwyer and Gottgens in progress, Spongberg et al. 2004 (with Gottgens)).
Development of models to predict the spread of the emerald ash borer due to the movement of fire work by campers (Bossenbroek, in progress, Iverson et al. in review (with Bossenbroek))
Assessment of the ability of wetlands to limit the spread of zebra mussels in lake-wetland systems using GIS and field studies (Bossenbroek et al. 2007 and in progress, Bobeldyk et al. 2005 (with Bosenbroek), Leung et al. 2007 (with Bossenbroek), Jerde and Bossenbroek in review)
The valuation of water quality improvements utilizing biological, chemical, and physical measures to optimally determine the best use of public funds for clean-up efforts (Egan et al., in progress).
On-site sampling control with individual level panel data for value of lakes (Egan et al.).
The impact of cap-type on the structure and activity of microbial communities in contaminated sediments (Gruden and Sigler)
Evaluation of potential for accelerated natural recovery in PCB contaminated freshwater sediments (Gruden et al. 2007 and in progress)
Assessment of changing spatial and temporal patterns of water quality in Maumee Bay using historic data collections 1928-2003 (Moorhead et al. 2007 in press).
Origin of Kelley's Island grooves are the result of subglacially pressurized, turbulent meltwater rather than glacial abrasion by debris-rich ice (Munro-Stasiuk et al. 2005 (with Fisher))
Lakes in the lee of sand dunes along Michigan's western coastline contain variable concentrations of sand which can be used as a proxy for lake level change in the Lake Michigan basin to ~6600 before present. (Fisher and Loope 2005, Fisher et al. 2007)
Static lake levels in the Lake Michigan basin between 8000-7000 before present may record a closed drainage basin at that time (Boudreau and Fisher, in progress).
