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Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) was established in 2009 to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes. The USGS is collaborating with partners to provide science to meet GLRI Action Plan goals and inform resource management decisions.

News

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Newly Hatched Invasive Grass Carp Found in Maumee River, Ohio

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Students visit GLSC Chesterton lab to learn about microbiology applications

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Tree Swallow GLRI Story Map

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Publications

Turbidity and estimated phosphorus retention in a reconnected Lake Erie coastal wetland

Nearly all of the wetlands in the coastal zone of Lake Erie have been degraded or destroyed since the 1860s, and most of those that remain are separated from their watersheds by earthen dikes. Hydrologic isolation of these wetlands disrupts ecosystem benefits typical to Great Lakes coastal wetlands, particularly the ability to trap sediments and retain nutrients when inundated by runoff and lake w
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Glenn Carter, Kurt P. Kowalski, Michael Eggleston
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Great Lakes Science Center, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Histochemical evidence for nitrogen‐transfer Endosymbiosis in non‐photosynthetic cells of leaves and inflorescence bracts of angiosperms

We used light and confocal microscopy to visualize bacteria in leaf and bract cells of more than 30 species in 18 families of seed plants. Through histochemical analysis, we detected hormones (including ethylene and nitric oxide), superoxide, and nitrogenous chemicals (including nitric oxide and nitrate) around bacteria within plant cells. Bacteria were observed in epidermal cells, various filamen
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April Micci, Qiuwei Zhang, Xiaoqian Chang, Kathryn Kingsley, Linsey Park, Peerapol Chiaranunt, Raquele Strickland, Fernando Velazquez, Sean Lindert, Matthew T. Elmore, Philip L. Vines, Sharron Crane, Ivelisse Irizarry, Kurt P. Kowalski, David Johnston-Monje, James F. White
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Great Lakes Science Center, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Fungal endophyte effects on invasive Phragmites australis performance in field and growth chamber environments

Manipulating plant microbiomes may provide control of invasive species. Invasive Phragmites australis has spread rapidly in North American wetlands, causing significant declines in native biodiversity. To test microbiome effects on host growth, we inoculated four common fungal endophytes into replicated Phragmites genotypes and monitored their growth in field and growth chamber environments. Inocu
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Quynh N Quach, Thomas T Thrasher, Kurt P. Kowalski, Keith Clay
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Great Lakes Science Center, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
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Science

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Scientist using a gene sequencer and an infographic of the process

Invasive Phragmites Science: Using Cutting-Edge Genetic Approaches to Develop New Management Tools for the Control of Invasive Phragmites.

Invasive plants negatively impact our water, wildlife, and way of life. Current management tools are not cutting it, so a multi-agency research team is using molecular biotechnology to develop new species-specific treatments that help land managers improve the natural resources that we depend on and have more management options during droughts, floods, and other periods of plant stress. This...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Great Lakes Science Center, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
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Invasive Phragmites Science: Using Cutting-Edge Genetic Approaches to Develop New Management Tools for the Control of Invasive Phragmites.

Invasive plants negatively impact our water, wildlife, and way of life. Current management tools are not cutting it, so a multi-agency research team is using molecular biotechnology to develop new species-specific treatments that help land managers improve the natural resources that we depend on and have more management options during droughts, floods, and other periods of plant stress. This...
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Phragmites close up

Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework – Active Adaptive Management

Non-native Phragmites australis (Common Reed) has become established across the Great Lakes basin, outcompeting native plants and degrading natural habitats. Phragmites is managed using a variety of resource-intensive techniques, yet effectiveness of treatment may vary due to infestation level, application methods, environmental conditions, or other factors. With the goal to reduce uncertainty in...
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Great Lakes Science Center, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
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Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework – Active Adaptive Management

Non-native Phragmites australis (Common Reed) has become established across the Great Lakes basin, outcompeting native plants and degrading natural habitats. Phragmites is managed using a variety of resource-intensive techniques, yet effectiveness of treatment may vary due to infestation level, application methods, environmental conditions, or other factors. With the goal to reduce uncertainty in...
Learn More
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Maankiki Center Wildlife Refuge

Innovative Approaches for Wetland Restoration and Invasive Species Management

Coastal and wetland ecosystems provide critical habitat to birds, fish, wildlife, and a suite of other organisms, clean our water and mitigate flooding events, and offer tremendous recreational opportunities to visitors. However, the majority of coastal and wetland ecosystems in the Great Lakes basin have been significantly degraded or destroyed by ditching, draining, development, invasive species...
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Great Lakes Science Center, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
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Innovative Approaches for Wetland Restoration and Invasive Species Management

Coastal and wetland ecosystems provide critical habitat to birds, fish, wildlife, and a suite of other organisms, clean our water and mitigate flooding events, and offer tremendous recreational opportunities to visitors. However, the majority of coastal and wetland ecosystems in the Great Lakes basin have been significantly degraded or destroyed by ditching, draining, development, invasive species...
Learn More
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