Station Chief, Lake Superior Biological Station.
I have studied aquatic plants, invertebrates, and fish from caves, springs, rivers, lakes and wetlands throughout the world. I am comfortable in uncomfortable places. I currently study recruitment dynamics of Lake Superior ciscoes (Bloater, Cisco, and Kiyi). I have a gift for data analytics and a fondness for voguish data graphics.
Professional Experience
1993-2008. Research Assistant Professor. Utah State University.
1988-1992. Hydrologist. U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 1998. Utah State University.
M.S. 1988. Idaho State University.
B.S. 1986. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Science and Products
Publications by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 38
Status and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2022
In 2022, the Lake Superior fish community was sampled with daytime bottom and surface trawls at 71 nearshore locations in May-June and 35 offshore locations in July, and at 51 Coordinated Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) locations in July-October with bottom trawls, surface trawls, mid-water trawls and acoustics that were previously sampled in 2011 and 2016. Nearshore bottom trawls collect
Authors
Mark Vinson, Daniel Yule, Lori M. Evrard, Sydney B Phillips
Status and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2021
The Lake Superior nearshore fish community was sampled in May-June 2021 with daytime bottom trawl tows at 45 stations located in USA waters. The 45 locations sampled were long-term monitoring sites that had been annually sampled since 1978. All comparisons to 2021 results were limited to past collections from USA waters, as compared to previous years, where comparisons included USA and Canadian si
Authors
Mark Vinson, Daniel Yule, Lori M. Evrard, Owen T. Gorman, Sydney B Phillips
Status and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2020
The Lake Superior fish community within Management Unit WI-2 was sampled in July 2020 with daytime bottom trawls at 11 nearshore stations. The 11 locations sampled were long-term monitoring sites that had been annually sampled since 1974. In 2020, the number of species collected at each site ranged from 0 to 13, with a mean of 6.3 and median of six. All comparisons to 2020 results were limited to
Authors
Mark Vinson, Lori M. Evrard, Owen Gorman, Daniel Yule
Lake Superior Kiyi reproductive biology
ObjectiveThe Lake Superior Kiyi Coregonus kiyi is an understudied species being considered for reintroduction into Laurentian Great Lakes where it no longer occurs. Herein, we provide descriptions of Kiyi reproductive biology with the intention of guiding potential gamete collections for propagation.MethodsData were collected on Kiyi spawning timing, spawning locations, spawning season catch rates
Authors
Mark Vinson, Matthew E. Herbert, Amanda Susanne Ackiss, Jamie A. Dobosenski, Lori M. Evrard, Owen Gorman, Joshua F Lyons, Sydney B Phillips, Daniel Yule
Subindicator: Native Prey Fish Diversity
No abstract available.
Authors
Brian C. Weidel, Mark Vinson, Darryl W. Hondorp, Ralph W. Tingley, Joseph Schmitt
Effects of warming winter embryo incubation temperatures on larval cisco (Coregonus artedi) survival, growth, and critical thermal maximum
Freshwater whitefishes, Salmonidae Coregoninae, are cold stenothermic fishes of ecological and socio-economic importance in northern hemisphere lakes that are warming in response to climate change. To address the effect of warming waters on coregonine reproduction we experimentally evaluated different embryo incubation temperatures on post-hatching survival, growth, and critical thermal maximum of
Authors
Taylor R. Stewart, Mark Vinson, Jason D. Stockwell
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
Authors
Brian C. Weidel, James A. Hoyle, Michael Connerton, Jeremy Holden, Mark Vinson
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
Authors
Hannah Lachance, Amanda Susanne Ackiss, Wesley Larson, Mark Vinson, Jason D. Stockwell
Quantifying status and trends from monitoring surveys: Application to Pygmy Whitefish (Prosopium coulterii) in Lake Superior
Population assessments of fish species often rely on data from surveys with different objectives, such as measuring biodiversity or community dynamics. These surveys often contain spatial–temporal dependencies that can greatly influence conclusions drawn from analyses. Pygmy whitefish (PWF, Prosopium coulterii) populations in Lake Superior were recently assessed as Threatened by the Committee on t
Authors
Adam S van der Lee, Mark Vinson, Marten A. Koops
Distribution, abundance and spatial variability of microplastic pollution on the surface of Lake Superior
In 2014, 94 paired neuston net samples (0.5 mm mesh) were collected from the surface waters of Lake Superior. These samples comprise the most comprehensive surface water survey for microplastics of any of the Great Lakes to date, and the first to employ double net trawls. Microplastic abundance estimates showed wide variability, ranging between 4000 to more than 100,000 particles/km2 with most loc
Authors
K Cox, E. Brocious, S Courtenay, Mark Vinson, Seth J. K. Mason
Shining a light on Laurentian Great Lakes cisco (Coregonus artedi): How ice coverage may impact embryonic development
Changes in winter conditions, such as decreased ice coverage and duration, have been observed in the Laurentian Great Lakes for more than 20 years. Such changes have been hypothesized to be linked to low Coregonus spp. survival to age-1 as most cisco (Coregonus artedi) populations are autumn spawners whose embryos incubate under ice throughout the winter. The quantity of light during winter is reg
Authors
Tara E. Stewart Merrill, Mark Vinson, Jason D. Stockwell
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
Authors
Bryan G. Mathias, Thomas R. Hrabik, Joel C. Hoffman, Owen Gorman, Michael J. Seider, Michael E. Sierszen, Mark Vinson, Daniel Yule, Peder M. Yurista
Data releases by this scientist
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
Multimedia related to this scientist
Science and Products
- Publications
Publications by this scientist
Filter Total Items: 38Status and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2022
In 2022, the Lake Superior fish community was sampled with daytime bottom and surface trawls at 71 nearshore locations in May-June and 35 offshore locations in July, and at 51 Coordinated Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) locations in July-October with bottom trawls, surface trawls, mid-water trawls and acoustics that were previously sampled in 2011 and 2016. Nearshore bottom trawls collectAuthorsMark Vinson, Daniel Yule, Lori M. Evrard, Sydney B PhillipsStatus and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2021
The Lake Superior nearshore fish community was sampled in May-June 2021 with daytime bottom trawl tows at 45 stations located in USA waters. The 45 locations sampled were long-term monitoring sites that had been annually sampled since 1978. All comparisons to 2021 results were limited to past collections from USA waters, as compared to previous years, where comparisons included USA and Canadian siAuthorsMark Vinson, Daniel Yule, Lori M. Evrard, Owen T. Gorman, Sydney B PhillipsStatus and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2020
The Lake Superior fish community within Management Unit WI-2 was sampled in July 2020 with daytime bottom trawls at 11 nearshore stations. The 11 locations sampled were long-term monitoring sites that had been annually sampled since 1974. In 2020, the number of species collected at each site ranged from 0 to 13, with a mean of 6.3 and median of six. All comparisons to 2020 results were limited toAuthorsMark Vinson, Lori M. Evrard, Owen Gorman, Daniel YuleLake Superior Kiyi reproductive biology
ObjectiveThe Lake Superior Kiyi Coregonus kiyi is an understudied species being considered for reintroduction into Laurentian Great Lakes where it no longer occurs. Herein, we provide descriptions of Kiyi reproductive biology with the intention of guiding potential gamete collections for propagation.MethodsData were collected on Kiyi spawning timing, spawning locations, spawning season catch ratesAuthorsMark Vinson, Matthew E. Herbert, Amanda Susanne Ackiss, Jamie A. Dobosenski, Lori M. Evrard, Owen Gorman, Joshua F Lyons, Sydney B Phillips, Daniel YuleSubindicator: Native Prey Fish Diversity
No abstract available.AuthorsBrian C. Weidel, Mark Vinson, Darryl W. Hondorp, Ralph W. Tingley, Joseph SchmittEffects of warming winter embryo incubation temperatures on larval cisco (Coregonus artedi) survival, growth, and critical thermal maximum
Freshwater whitefishes, Salmonidae Coregoninae, are cold stenothermic fishes of ecological and socio-economic importance in northern hemisphere lakes that are warming in response to climate change. To address the effect of warming waters on coregonine reproduction we experimentally evaluated different embryo incubation temperatures on post-hatching survival, growth, and critical thermal maximum ofAuthorsTaylor R. Stewart, Mark Vinson, Jason D. StockwellLake 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 reprAuthorsBrian C. Weidel, James A. Hoyle, Michael Connerton, Jeremy Holden, Mark VinsonGenomics 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 regioAuthorsHannah Lachance, Amanda Susanne Ackiss, Wesley Larson, Mark Vinson, Jason D. StockwellQuantifying status and trends from monitoring surveys: Application to Pygmy Whitefish (Prosopium coulterii) in Lake Superior
Population assessments of fish species often rely on data from surveys with different objectives, such as measuring biodiversity or community dynamics. These surveys often contain spatial–temporal dependencies that can greatly influence conclusions drawn from analyses. Pygmy whitefish (PWF, Prosopium coulterii) populations in Lake Superior were recently assessed as Threatened by the Committee on tAuthorsAdam S van der Lee, Mark Vinson, Marten A. KoopsDistribution, abundance and spatial variability of microplastic pollution on the surface of Lake Superior
In 2014, 94 paired neuston net samples (0.5 mm mesh) were collected from the surface waters of Lake Superior. These samples comprise the most comprehensive surface water survey for microplastics of any of the Great Lakes to date, and the first to employ double net trawls. Microplastic abundance estimates showed wide variability, ranging between 4000 to more than 100,000 particles/km2 with most locAuthorsK Cox, E. Brocious, S Courtenay, Mark Vinson, Seth J. K. MasonShining a light on Laurentian Great Lakes cisco (Coregonus artedi): How ice coverage may impact embryonic development
Changes in winter conditions, such as decreased ice coverage and duration, have been observed in the Laurentian Great Lakes for more than 20 years. Such changes have been hypothesized to be linked to low Coregonus spp. survival to age-1 as most cisco (Coregonus artedi) populations are autumn spawners whose embryos incubate under ice throughout the winter. The quantity of light during winter is regAuthorsTara E. Stewart Merrill, Mark Vinson, Jason D. StockwellTrophic 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-natAuthorsBryan G. Mathias, Thomas R. Hrabik, Joel C. Hoffman, Owen Gorman, Michael J. Seider, Michael E. Sierszen, Mark Vinson, Daniel Yule, Peder M. Yurista - Data
Data releases by this scientist
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 - Multimedia
Multimedia related to this scientist