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

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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; mbur@usgs.gov

Jacqueline Savino, Deputy Director734-214-7258; jsavino@usgs.gov

Ed Roseman, Scientist, Huron-Erie Corridor734-214-7237; eroseman@usgs.gov

Kurt Kowalski, Scientist, Coastal Wetlands734-214-9308; kkowalski@usgs.gov

Sandra Morrison, Science/Communications734-214-9393; smorrison@usgs.gov