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Publications

Welcome to the Great Lakes Science Center's Publications page.

Filter Total Items: 2650

U.S. Geological Survey Pollinator Science Strategy, 2025–35—A Review and Look Forward U.S. Geological Survey Pollinator Science Strategy, 2025–35—A Review and Look Forward

This “U.S. Geological Survey Pollinator Science Strategy, 2025–35—A Review and Look Forward” (“Pollinator Science Strategy”) describes the science vision of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to support management, conservation, and policy decisions on animal pollinators and their habitats. As the science arm of the Department of the Interior, the USGS has a primary role in providing...
Authors
Clint R.V. Otto, Tabitha A. Graves, Desi Robertson-Thompson, Ian Pearse, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Caroline Murphy, Lisa Webb, Sam Droege, Melanie Steinkamp, Ralph Grundel

First-year survival of Lake Sturgeon reintroduced to the Maumee River First-year survival of Lake Sturgeon reintroduced to the Maumee River

ObjectiveLake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens have experienced large population declines due to overfishing, habitat degradation, and pollution. Due to these factors, Lake Sturgeon were extirpated from the Maumee River watershed (Ohio, United States). In 2018, a 20-year reintroduction program began that aims to establish a self-sustaining population in the Maumee River. To understand the...
Authors
Jorden R. McKenna, Justin A. Chiotti, Christopher Vandergoot, Richard Kraus, Matthew Faust, Eric Weimer, Matthew Cross, William D. Hintz

Visioning and conceptual framework for coordinating Great Lakes connecting waters research and monitoring Visioning and conceptual framework for coordinating Great Lakes connecting waters research and monitoring

The Laurentian Great Lakes are connected via naturally occurring straits and rivers: St. Marys River, Straits of Mackinac, St. Clair-Detroit River System, Niagara River, and the St. Lawrence River. Despite the historical ecological and economic importance of these waters, international agreements (e.g., Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement) only recently explicitly named the Great Lakes...
Authors
Robin L. DeBruyne, Edward F. Roseman, Ashley H. Moerke, Lauren M Fry, Michael R. Twiss, Samantha N. Tank

Using complementary biomarkers to unravel fish lifetime exposure to hypoxia and mercury Using complementary biomarkers to unravel fish lifetime exposure to hypoxia and mercury

Aquatic ecosystems are losing oxygen due to climate change. This deoxygenation can favor microbial methylation of mercury (Hg). To understand the dynamics of Hg under increasing deoxygenation, we simultaneously quantified both Hg and hypoxia ( 2 mg O2/L) lifetime chronologies in fishes. We used a novel combination of chemical biomarkers in ear stones and eye lenses. We compared these...
Authors
Hadis Miraly, N. Roxanna Razavi, Richard Kraus, Ann Marie Gorman, Elizabeth Duskey, Matthew Altenritter, Karin E. Limburg

Status and trends of the Lake Huron prey fish community, 1976-2024 Status and trends of the Lake Huron prey fish community, 1976-2024

The U. S. Geological Survey-Great Lakes Science Center has monitored annual changes in the offshore (depth > 9m) prey fish community of Lake Huron since 1973. Monitoring of prey fish populations in Lake Huron is based on a bottom trawl survey that targets demersal species (i.e., those predominantly or intermittently associated with the lake bottom) and an acoustic-midwater trawl survey...
Authors
Darryl W. Hondorp, Robin L. DeBruyne, Cory Brant, Peter C. Esselman, Timothy P. O'Brien

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation induces escape hatching of Cisco (Coregonus artedi) embryos Exposure to ultraviolet radiation induces escape hatching of Cisco (Coregonus artedi) embryos

Cisco (Otoonapii in Ojibwe; Coregonus artedi Lesueur, 1818), is a widely distributed stenothermic freshwater fish whose embryos typically incubate under ice and in the dark. We used Cisco as a model organism for testing the potential of UV-induced escape hatching behaviour. Owing to reduced ice cover and increased water transparency in north temperate lakes, these experiments provide...
Authors
Nicole Lynn Berry, David Bunnell, Erin P. Overholt, Jennifer A. Schumacher, Addison Z. Almeda, Casey W. Schoenebeck, Peter C. Jacobson, Kristopher Dey, Jason B. Smith, Andrew Tucker, Thomas J. Fisher, Elizabeth M. Mette, Bradley N. Carlson, Gretchen J.A. Hansen, Tyler D. Ahrenstorff, Derek L. Bahr, Kevin Keeler, Brian Weidel, Abigail Lynch, Craig E. Williamson

Cardiac and behavioral responses to chemical and electrical immobilization in Lake Trout Cardiac and behavioral responses to chemical and electrical immobilization in Lake Trout

ObjectiveImmobilizing or anesthetizing fish is important for promoting fish welfare in numerous routine activities that involve handling. Electroanesthesia, an alternative to traditional chemical anesthetics, uses weak electrical current to immobilize fish while current is applied, resulting in near-immediate induction and recovery. The physiological effects of electroanesthesia appear...
Authors
Tyler Reid Funnell, Thomas R. Binder, Christopher S. Vandergoot

Field and laboratory evaluations of visible light as a cue for guiding downstream-migrating juvenile Sea Lamprey Field and laboratory evaluations of visible light as a cue for guiding downstream-migrating juvenile Sea Lamprey

ObjectiveWe evaluated white light as a potential guidance cue for juvenile Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus in a natural setting as well as the effect of water velocity (0.25-, 0.50-, 0.75-, and 1.0-m/s test velocities) on light guidance behavior in a controlled laboratory flume, and characterized emigration timing and movement rates in a small stream (∼10 m wide and 0.7 m deep)...
Authors
Alexander Haro, Scott M. Miehls, Nicholas S. Johnson, C. Michael Wagner

Variable phenology but consistent loss of ice cover of 1213 Minnesota lakes Variable phenology but consistent loss of ice cover of 1213 Minnesota lakes

Lake ice cover is declining globally with important implications for lake ecosystems. Ice loss studies often rely on small numbers of lakes with long-term data. We analyzed variation and trends in ice cover phenology from 1,213 lakes over 74 years (1949-2022) in Minnesota (USA), during which ice cover duration declined at a rate of 2 days per decade (14 days total) and became more...
Authors
Jake R Walsh, Christopher I. Rounds, Kelsey Vitense, Holly K. Masui, Kenneth A. Blumenfeld, Peter J. Boulay, Shyam M. Thomas, Andrew Edgar Honsey, Naomi S. Blinick, Claire L. Rude, Jonah A. Bacon, Ashley A. LaRoque, Tarciso C.C. Leao, Gretchen J.A. Hansen

Management strategy evaluation to assess trade-offs associated with invasive Blue Catfish fisheries and predation impacts Management strategy evaluation to assess trade-offs associated with invasive Blue Catfish fisheries and predation impacts

ObjectiveMany species are intentionally introduced beyond their native range to provide benefits to humans (e.g., food, recreation, or biocontrol). However, introduced species can become invasive and can harm native species, prompting resource managers to explore options to simultaneously conserve native biota and enhance fishing opportunities. Management of Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish...
Authors
Corbin David Hilling, Yan Jiao, Joseph Schmitt, Mary C. Fabrizio, Paul L. Angermeier, Donald J. Orth

Lake Ontario August gillnet survey and Lake Trout assessment, 2024 Lake Ontario August gillnet survey and Lake Trout assessment, 2024

Lake Ontario Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) rehabilitation has been assessed with fishery independent surveys to evaluate program benchmarks and compare observations with management objectives since 1983. These surveys provide information on the abundance, strain composition, and performance of stocked Lake Trout, as well as information on levels of natural recruitment, and Sea...
Authors
Brian O'Malley, Scott P. Minihkeim, Olivia Margaret Mitchinson, Scott David Stahl, Brian Weidel, Michael Connerton, Jessica Goretzke, Lucus Sunderland, Emma Bloomfield, Collin Farrell, Dimitry Gorsky

Sea Lamprey control reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic corresponds to rapid increase in Sea Lamprey abundance Sea Lamprey control reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic corresponds to rapid increase in Sea Lamprey abundance

The Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus control program in the Laurentian Great Lakes is one of the longest-running and most successful invasive species suppression programs in the world. Although several techniques are used to suppress Sea Lamprey, the control program relies heavily on regular application of lampricide to kill stream-dwelling larvae. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted...
Authors
Benjamin Marcy-Quay, Sean Alois Lewandoski, Ryan M. Booth, Michael J. Connerton, Aaron K. Jubar, Chris D. Legard, Brian O'Malley, Scott E Prindle, Alexandra W Sumner, Matthew J. Symbal, Andy Todd, Michael J. Yuille, Ted J. Treska, Michael J. Siefkes, Nicholas S. Johnson
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