Mark Vinson is a Supervisory Research Fisheries Biologist based out of Ashland, WI.
I oversee research and administrative operations of the Lake Superior Biological Station. I have studied aquatic plants, invertebrates, and fish from caves, springs, rivers, lakes and wetlands throughout the world. I am a curious and dogged scientist and in my mind I'm an R-stats wizard with a fondness for ggplot.
Professional Experience
Research Assistant Professor (1999-2008) and Director National Aquatic Monitoring Center (1993-2008), Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University, Logan. UT.
Hydrologist, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Boise, ID. 1988‑1992.
Fish Ecologist, Lake Tahoe Research Group, University of California‑Davis. 1988.
Fireman, California Department of Forestry. 1978-1983.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Utah State University. Watershed Science with an emphasis in Ecology
M.S. Idaho State University. Biology with additional emphasis in hydraulic engineering
B.S. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Water Resources & Fisheries
Science and Products
Lake Superior Kiyi scale and otolith age estimates in 2014 with Kiyi sampling locations from 2003-2014
Age estimates of Lake Superior Kiyi (Coregonus kiyi) from scales and otoliths were compared from fish collected in 2014 and 12 years (2003 to 2014) of length frequency data were examined to assess year-class strength and validate age estimates. Data were obtained to (1) compare Lake Superior Kiyi ages estimated from scales and otoliths, (2) evaluate variability in year-class strength of Kiyis, and
Filter Total Items: 29
Lake Ontario cisco population dynamics based on long-term surveys
Prior to European settlement, cisco (Coregonus artedi) were likely one of Lake Ontario’s most abundant fishes but currently represent a small portion of the fish community. To understand how the population has changed over the past 70 years we compared trends in annual catch rates from gillnet and bottom trawl surveys and commercial fishery landings. In surveys, cisco were generally rare, and repr
Genomics reveals identity, phenology and population demographics of larval ciscoes (Coregonus artedi, C. hoyi, and C. kiyi) in the Apostle Islands, Lake Superior
We demonstrate, for the first time, the ability to reliably assign an assemblage of larval coregonines [Salmonidae Coregoninae] to shallow and multiple deepwater species. Larval coregonines from the Apostle Islands, Lake Superior, were genotyped using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) and were assigned to species using reference genotypes from adult corgonines from the same regio
Trophic transfer efficiency in the Lake Superior food web: Assessing the impacts of non-native species
Ecosystem-based management relies on understanding how perturbations influence ecosystem structure and function (e.g., invasive species, exploitation, abiotic changes). However, data on unimpacted systems are scarce; therefore, we often rely on impacted systems to make inferences about ‘natural states.’ Among the Laurentian Great Lakes, Lake Superior provides a unique case study to address non-nat
Status of siscowet lake trout in Lake Superior in 2017
No abstract available.
Trophic ecology
The trophic ecology of lake charr Salvelinus namaycush morphotypes from small and large lakes within their native and introduced ranges is reviewed over the past 50 years. The lake charr is an apex predator in most habitats it occupies, where it plays a significant role in defining food webs. While often considered piscivores, lake charr feed on a range of aquatic prey throughout their life histor
State of Lake Superior ecosystem in 2017
This report describes the status of fish species and their habitat in Lake Superior during the reporting period of 2012-2016 in response to achievement of fish community objectives (FCOs) established by fishery managers for the lake. The overarching goal for the FCOs continued to be met as the fish community remained diverse, self-regulating, dominated by indigenous species, and able to support su
Larval Coregonus spp. diets and zooplankton community patterns in the Apostle Islands, Lake Superior
With the exception of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), relatively little is known about the early life history of larval coregonines in the Laurentian Great Lakes. For example, our knowledge of the feeding ecology of larval coregonines (excluding lake whitefish) is based on only 900 stomachs reported in the literature. Here, we describe the diets and demographics of larval coregonines from
A synthesis of the biology and ecology of sculpin species in the Laurentian Great Lakes and implications for the adaptive capacity of the benthic ecosystem
The Laurentian Great Lakes have experienced recent ecosystem changes that could lead to reductions in adaptive capacity and ultimately a loss of biodiversity and production throughout the food web. Observed changes in Great Lakes benthic communities include declines of native species and widespread success of invasive species like dreissenid mussels in all but Lake Superior. Understanding the ecol
Gut contents from multiple morphs of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) at two offshore shoals in Lake Superior
Four lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush, Walbaum 1792 morphs occur in Lake Superior: lean, siscowet, humper, and redfin. Diets of lean and siscowet have been relatively well described. However, less is known about diets of humper and redfin, and overall few studies have been conducted at offshore shoals. We compared gut content data among mature (357–867 mm) sympatric lake trout morphs caught at two
Dietary versus nondietary fatty acid profiles of lake trout ecotypes from Lake Superior and Great Bear Lake: Are fish really what they eat?
Fatty acids are well-established biomarkers used to characterize trophic ecology, food-web linkages, and the ecological niche of many different taxa. Most often, fatty acids that are examined include only those previously identified as “dietary” or “extended dietary” biomarkers. Fatty acids considered as nondietary biomarkers, however, represent numerous fatty acids that can be extracted. Some stu
Niche partitioning among native ciscoes and nonnative Rainbow Smelt in Lake Superior
Several species of ciscoes Coregonus, subgenus Leucichthys that are native to the Laurentian Great Lakes are rare or extirpated. The restoration of Coregonus fishes is being actively pursued through stocking, and success may depend on the availability of unoccupied niche space. We described the spring–summer habitat occupancy and diets of three native cisco species (Bloater Coregonus hoyi, Cisco C
Status and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2019
The Lake Superior fish community was sampled in 2019 with daytime bottom trawls at 76 nearshore and 35 offshore stations distributed throughout the lake. In the nearshore zone, 25,131 fish from 24 species or morphotypes were collected. The number of species collected at nearshore stations ranged from 0 to 15, with a mean of 5.6 and median of five. Nearshore mean biomass was 5.7 kg/ha which was sim
Science and Products
- Data
Lake Superior Kiyi scale and otolith age estimates in 2014 with Kiyi sampling locations from 2003-2014
Age estimates of Lake Superior Kiyi (Coregonus kiyi) from scales and otoliths were compared from fish collected in 2014 and 12 years (2003 to 2014) of length frequency data were examined to assess year-class strength and validate age estimates. Data were obtained to (1) compare Lake Superior Kiyi ages estimated from scales and otoliths, (2) evaluate variability in year-class strength of Kiyis, and - Publications
Filter Total Items: 29
Lake Ontario cisco population dynamics based on long-term surveys
Prior to European settlement, cisco (Coregonus artedi) were likely one of Lake Ontario’s most abundant fishes but currently represent a small portion of the fish community. To understand how the population has changed over the past 70 years we compared trends in annual catch rates from gillnet and bottom trawl surveys and commercial fishery landings. In surveys, cisco were generally rare, and reprGenomics reveals identity, phenology and population demographics of larval ciscoes (Coregonus artedi, C. hoyi, and C. kiyi) in the Apostle Islands, Lake Superior
We demonstrate, for the first time, the ability to reliably assign an assemblage of larval coregonines [Salmonidae Coregoninae] to shallow and multiple deepwater species. Larval coregonines from the Apostle Islands, Lake Superior, were genotyped using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) and were assigned to species using reference genotypes from adult corgonines from the same regioTrophic transfer efficiency in the Lake Superior food web: Assessing the impacts of non-native species
Ecosystem-based management relies on understanding how perturbations influence ecosystem structure and function (e.g., invasive species, exploitation, abiotic changes). However, data on unimpacted systems are scarce; therefore, we often rely on impacted systems to make inferences about ‘natural states.’ Among the Laurentian Great Lakes, Lake Superior provides a unique case study to address non-natStatus of siscowet lake trout in Lake Superior in 2017
No abstract available.Trophic ecology
The trophic ecology of lake charr Salvelinus namaycush morphotypes from small and large lakes within their native and introduced ranges is reviewed over the past 50 years. The lake charr is an apex predator in most habitats it occupies, where it plays a significant role in defining food webs. While often considered piscivores, lake charr feed on a range of aquatic prey throughout their life historState of Lake Superior ecosystem in 2017
This report describes the status of fish species and their habitat in Lake Superior during the reporting period of 2012-2016 in response to achievement of fish community objectives (FCOs) established by fishery managers for the lake. The overarching goal for the FCOs continued to be met as the fish community remained diverse, self-regulating, dominated by indigenous species, and able to support suLarval Coregonus spp. diets and zooplankton community patterns in the Apostle Islands, Lake Superior
With the exception of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), relatively little is known about the early life history of larval coregonines in the Laurentian Great Lakes. For example, our knowledge of the feeding ecology of larval coregonines (excluding lake whitefish) is based on only 900 stomachs reported in the literature. Here, we describe the diets and demographics of larval coregonines fromA synthesis of the biology and ecology of sculpin species in the Laurentian Great Lakes and implications for the adaptive capacity of the benthic ecosystem
The Laurentian Great Lakes have experienced recent ecosystem changes that could lead to reductions in adaptive capacity and ultimately a loss of biodiversity and production throughout the food web. Observed changes in Great Lakes benthic communities include declines of native species and widespread success of invasive species like dreissenid mussels in all but Lake Superior. Understanding the ecolGut contents from multiple morphs of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) at two offshore shoals in Lake Superior
Four lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush, Walbaum 1792 morphs occur in Lake Superior: lean, siscowet, humper, and redfin. Diets of lean and siscowet have been relatively well described. However, less is known about diets of humper and redfin, and overall few studies have been conducted at offshore shoals. We compared gut content data among mature (357–867 mm) sympatric lake trout morphs caught at twoDietary versus nondietary fatty acid profiles of lake trout ecotypes from Lake Superior and Great Bear Lake: Are fish really what they eat?
Fatty acids are well-established biomarkers used to characterize trophic ecology, food-web linkages, and the ecological niche of many different taxa. Most often, fatty acids that are examined include only those previously identified as “dietary” or “extended dietary” biomarkers. Fatty acids considered as nondietary biomarkers, however, represent numerous fatty acids that can be extracted. Some stuNiche partitioning among native ciscoes and nonnative Rainbow Smelt in Lake Superior
Several species of ciscoes Coregonus, subgenus Leucichthys that are native to the Laurentian Great Lakes are rare or extirpated. The restoration of Coregonus fishes is being actively pursued through stocking, and success may depend on the availability of unoccupied niche space. We described the spring–summer habitat occupancy and diets of three native cisco species (Bloater Coregonus hoyi, Cisco CStatus and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2019
The Lake Superior fish community was sampled in 2019 with daytime bottom trawls at 76 nearshore and 35 offshore stations distributed throughout the lake. In the nearshore zone, 25,131 fish from 24 species or morphotypes were collected. The number of species collected at nearshore stations ranged from 0 to 15, with a mean of 5.6 and median of five. Nearshore mean biomass was 5.7 kg/ha which was sim