Aquatic Ecology Lab - Areas of Research
Western Lake Erie and tributaries: critical fish habitat
Goal: Quantify habitat use by walleye, whitefish, sturgeon and other fish to assess areas critical to conservation and management of Lake Erie fisheries.
- The presence of walleye stocks in tributaries is important to lake-wide population stability. Increasing production from river stocks, which are currently smaller than the open-reef spawning stock could reduce fluctuations in the total population.
- Large scale habitat restorations in the Detroit and St Claire River System are being used by sportfish and other species. Long-term monitoring of restoration sites is critical for determining their value to lake-wide fisheries.
- The Maumee River provides spawning habitat for about 500,000 walleye each year. However, there may be a barrier to walleye migration to high quality upstream habitat.
- Larval fish diversity in the Maumee River is higher than the 1970s, suggesting partial recovery; consistent with improved water quality.
- The Maumee River has sufficient high-quality spawning habitat to support the reintroduction of Lake Sturgeon. Rearing and release of juvenile lake sturgeon is planned for 2018!
- Whitefish are now documented as spawning both on offshore reefs and in Maumee Bay. Ongoing research will help identify bottlenecks to recruitment and sensitive habitats.
UT Former Graduate Researchers: Jeremy Pritt, Mark DuFour, Brian Schmidt
Collaborators: DOW, USGS, NOAA, BGSU, OSU
Support: NOAA SeaGrant, OH DNR-DOW, USGS
Publications: Pritt et al. 2013
Nearshore community: shoreline habitat matters!
Goal: Quantify relationships between the nearshore fish community and shoreline features,
especially alterations such as armoring and vegetation removal.
- Partnership with Ohio DNR Office of Coastal Management and Division of Wildlife
- A statistically sound sampling protocol for nearshore fish community was developed for OH DNR Division of Wildlife
- More fish species at vegetated shorelines in protected areas
- Greater benthic invertebrate diversity with shoreline vegetation
- Working with Office of Coastal Management to designate Priority Management Areas.
UT Former Graduate Researchers: Jason Ross, Rachel Kuhaneck and Martin Simonson
Support: Ohio DNR Office of Coastal Management and Division of Wildlife
Collaborators: DOW
Support: DNR-DOW, GLRI
Grass Carp spawning and ecological impacts in Lake Erie
Goal: Provide information on the biology and ecology of non-native grass carp to agency partners to help inform management actions.
- Documented grass carp spawning in the Sandusky River in 2015. This is the first known instance of any of the suite of Asian Carp species verified to be spawning in the Great Lakes.
- Spawning was again detected in the Sandusky River in 2017, likely with higher numbers of eggs present than in 2015.
- Spawning documented in the Maumee River in 2017
- Locations where adult grass carp have been captured coincide with lower density of submerged vegetation, suggesting that grass carp herbivory impacts the nearshore plant community.
Dreissenid mussels as ecosystem engineers
Goal: Describe Dreissena effects on ecosystem function
- Dreissena donate resources to bottom algae
- Dreissena affect native mayfly habitat selection
Overview presentations:
UT Former Graduate Researchers: Kristen DeVanna, Patricia Armenio
Collaborators: Cornell, Suny-ESF, USGS, UT, Buffalo State
Support: NYSeaGrant, Lake Erie Protection Fund, EPA-GLRI
Publications: Burlakova et al. 2014; DeVanna et al. 2013; Mayer et al 2013; DeVanna et al 2011; Limburg et al. 2010; Cecala et. al 2008; Zhu et al 2008; Lohner et al 2007; Qin et al 2007; Zhu et al. 2007a; Zhu et al 2007b; Zhu et al. 2006; Mayer et al. 2001; Mayer et al. 2000