The University of Toledo

Aquatic Ecology Lab

Research Assistants

Nathan Manning
Graduate Student
419.530.8378
nathan.manning@rockets.utoledo.edu

I am a Ph.D. student working in Dr. Mayer’s and Dr. Bossenbroek’s labs.  My main focus is spatial and temporal modeling of Yellow Perch populations in the Western Basin of Lake Erie, specifically the role of different types of turbidity.  Other research interests include wetlands ecology, effects of human impacts at the landscape scale, and invasive species. 

Jeremy Pritt
Graduate Student
419.530.8386
jeremy.pritt@rockets.utoledo.edu

MyPhD research focuses on the larval, juvenile, and adult fish communities of the lower Maumee River. My main project objective is to examine the effect of a major power plant on larval fish exiting the Maumee River into Lake Erie to determine if management steps are necessary to protect fish populations. As a part of this objective, I will quantify the spatiotemporal variability in larval fish densities and develop an appropriate protocol for future larval fish sampling. I will also assess the adult and juvenile communities that migrate between the Maumee River and Lake Erie using a variety of fisheries sampling and hydroacoustic techniques to better understand the interactions between the river and lake systems.

Mark DuFour
Graduate Student
419.530.8372
mark.dufour@rockets.utoledo.edu
2012 CV (PDF)

 My graduate research involves the description and quantification of larval drift in the Maumee River. Spatial and temporal variability in the drift may be influenced by environmental factors. Behavioral responses of larvae, which likely vary by species, may also contribute to variation in timing and distributions.The relationship between environment, behavior, and sample densities may be useful in the prediction of unsampled days, leading to estimates of total abundance. I hope to use estimates of abundance to examine production, mortality, export, and anthropogenic impacts of the larval community.

Jason Ross
Graduate Student
419.530.8386
jason.ross2@rockets.utoledo.edu

Inmy masters study I will be looking at characterizing the Lake Erie shoreline fish community in terms of diversity, abundance, biotic integrity, and possibly other metrics. In order to do so I need to explore different sampling methodologies and identify the best method that will allow me to successfully characterize this community. In addition, I will be looking at the different components of this ecosystem to determine how they may influence each other and/or respond to water quality issues.

 

Recent Graduates

Dr. Kristen DeVanna

Kristen's dissertation topic addressed ecological interactions between an important native species in the Great Lakes, burrowing mayflies (Hexagenia limbata and H. rigida), and invasive zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. bugensis respectively). Her Ph.D. work built on her master’s degree, for which she studied the interactions between Dreissena and Hexagenia, which are an important food web component in many temperate lakes.

Kristen is now a post-doctoral researcher working with Dr. Stuart Ludsin at The Ohio State University’s Aquatic Ecology Laboratory. For her post-doctoral research she is using a coupled biological-physical modeling approach to understand mechanisms that drive recruitment variation in fishes. Currently, Kristen is building and running an individual-based, coupled physical-biological model of walleye larvae for western Lake Erie. To find more information about Kristen’s current research and CV please see the OSU AEL website https://ael.osu.edu/people/devanna.

 

Patricia Armenio, M.Sc. 
patricia.cope@rockets.utoledo.edu
2010 CV 

Mygraduate research involved algae (Cladophora and Lyngbya) as well as zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena spp.). I worked to determine what resource Dreissena are providing for enhanced benthic algal growth, specifically their hard structure or some nutrient. The increased growth of this nuisance algae leads to increased algal mats washing onshore. I now work as a research technician in the Dept. of Environmental Sciences on UT's main campus.