A multi-beam sonar image captured by Great Lakes Science Center researchers in June 2022.
Peter C Esselman, PhD
Peter Esselman, PhD, is a Research Fishery Biologist based in Ann Arbor, MI.
My research extends the theory and approaches of landscape ecology into large lake and river contexts to support natural resource decision making from local to continental scales. Since joining USGS in 2014, I have worked to apply emerging technologies and analytical approaches to the description of large-scale spatiotemporal variation in forage fish abundances and habitats that underpin Great Lakes commercial and recreational fisheries. I am also actively engaged in the detection, measurement and modeling of invasive and nuisance species distributions and abundances to support the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. I am a strong advocate for modernization of data collection methods, aquatic remote sensing, and improving bathymetric and habitat maps for the Great Lakes. Prior to joining USGS I worked extensively in Central America where I studied tropical river ecosystems and supported global and local conservation organizations. I have specialties in fish community ecology, landscape ecology, biological assessment, applications of machine learning models to ecological problems, field methods, and spatial planning.
Science and Products
Science pages by this scientist
Use of Advanced Technologies to Improve Fisheries Assessments on Lake Superior
The mission brings together state, federal, tribal, Canadian provincial, private, and non-profit partners using advanced fishery research approaches to enhance fishery assessment methods.
Development and application of a robot-assisted computer vision system to map Great Lakes bottom habitats and biology
Lake bottom environments are critical zones of interface between geology and biological processes that support health ecosystems and human well-being. Over the past thirty years, Great Lake food webs have become dominated by bottom dwelling invasive species and nuisance algae, that are poorly mapped and understood. USGS is developing a suite of new technologies to map habitat, invasive mussels and...
Multimedia related to this scientist
A Multi-Beam Sonar Image
A multi-beam sonar image captured by Great Lakes Science Center researchers in June 2022.
Tethys Visits the Great Lakes
Long-range autonomous underwater vehicle 'Tethys' upon retrieval after a 400 km mission in Lake Michigan to collect the environmental DNA (bits of DNA drifting in the environment) of pelagic prey fish through a partnership between the USGS Great Lakes Science Center and the Monterrey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Photo Credit: Peter Esselman, USGS.
Long-range autonomous underwater vehicle 'Tethys' upon retrieval after a 400 km mission in Lake Michigan to collect the environmental DNA (bits of DNA drifting in the environment) of pelagic prey fish through a partnership between the USGS Great Lakes Science Center and the Monterrey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Photo Credit: Peter Esselman, USGS.
Dark Skies While Returning to Port in Grand Haven, Michigan
After a day of deploying an autonomous underwater vehicle along the shore of Lake Michigan, the field team encountered dark skies while returning to port in Grand Haven, Michigan.
After a day of deploying an autonomous underwater vehicle along the shore of Lake Michigan, the field team encountered dark skies while returning to port in Grand Haven, Michigan.
Diver swimming a circular transect
This SCUBA diver is using a camera integrated with a scooter running a circular transect. The white line attached to the scooter is also attached to a pivot point at the center of the sample area.
This SCUBA diver is using a camera integrated with a scooter running a circular transect. The white line attached to the scooter is also attached to a pivot point at the center of the sample area.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) ‘Tethys’
The USGS along with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) funded a pilot study to use a long-range AUV to study limnology of Lake Michigan. The AUV is pictured here being deployed in Lake Michigan to document variation in algae productivity at a whole-lake scale and compare 3-D spatial patterns in chlorophyll a to satellite estimates.
The USGS along with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) funded a pilot study to use a long-range AUV to study limnology of Lake Michigan. The AUV is pictured here being deployed in Lake Michigan to document variation in algae productivity at a whole-lake scale and compare 3-D spatial patterns in chlorophyll a to satellite estimates.
Preparing to Collect Data in Lake Ontario
A camera integrated wth a dive scooter is lowered into the water in Lake Ontario
A camera integrated wth a dive scooter is lowered into the water in Lake Ontario
A Smallmouth Bass in Lake Ontario
A smallmouth bass swims near a diver in Lake Ontario.
A smallmouth bass swims near a diver in Lake Ontario.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle in Lake Huron near Alpena
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) in Lake Huron near Alpena preparing to dive on a transect.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) in Lake Huron near Alpena preparing to dive on a transect.
Science and Products
Science pages by this scientist
Use of Advanced Technologies to Improve Fisheries Assessments on Lake Superior
The mission brings together state, federal, tribal, Canadian provincial, private, and non-profit partners using advanced fishery research approaches to enhance fishery assessment methods.
Development and application of a robot-assisted computer vision system to map Great Lakes bottom habitats and biology
Lake bottom environments are critical zones of interface between geology and biological processes that support health ecosystems and human well-being. Over the past thirty years, Great Lake food webs have become dominated by bottom dwelling invasive species and nuisance algae, that are poorly mapped and understood. USGS is developing a suite of new technologies to map habitat, invasive mussels and...
Multimedia related to this scientist
A Multi-Beam Sonar Image
A multi-beam sonar image captured by Great Lakes Science Center researchers in June 2022.
A multi-beam sonar image captured by Great Lakes Science Center researchers in June 2022.
Tethys Visits the Great Lakes
Long-range autonomous underwater vehicle 'Tethys' upon retrieval after a 400 km mission in Lake Michigan to collect the environmental DNA (bits of DNA drifting in the environment) of pelagic prey fish through a partnership between the USGS Great Lakes Science Center and the Monterrey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Photo Credit: Peter Esselman, USGS.
Long-range autonomous underwater vehicle 'Tethys' upon retrieval after a 400 km mission in Lake Michigan to collect the environmental DNA (bits of DNA drifting in the environment) of pelagic prey fish through a partnership between the USGS Great Lakes Science Center and the Monterrey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Photo Credit: Peter Esselman, USGS.
Dark Skies While Returning to Port in Grand Haven, Michigan
After a day of deploying an autonomous underwater vehicle along the shore of Lake Michigan, the field team encountered dark skies while returning to port in Grand Haven, Michigan.
After a day of deploying an autonomous underwater vehicle along the shore of Lake Michigan, the field team encountered dark skies while returning to port in Grand Haven, Michigan.
Diver swimming a circular transect
This SCUBA diver is using a camera integrated with a scooter running a circular transect. The white line attached to the scooter is also attached to a pivot point at the center of the sample area.
This SCUBA diver is using a camera integrated with a scooter running a circular transect. The white line attached to the scooter is also attached to a pivot point at the center of the sample area.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) ‘Tethys’
The USGS along with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) funded a pilot study to use a long-range AUV to study limnology of Lake Michigan. The AUV is pictured here being deployed in Lake Michigan to document variation in algae productivity at a whole-lake scale and compare 3-D spatial patterns in chlorophyll a to satellite estimates.
The USGS along with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) funded a pilot study to use a long-range AUV to study limnology of Lake Michigan. The AUV is pictured here being deployed in Lake Michigan to document variation in algae productivity at a whole-lake scale and compare 3-D spatial patterns in chlorophyll a to satellite estimates.
Preparing to Collect Data in Lake Ontario
A camera integrated wth a dive scooter is lowered into the water in Lake Ontario
A camera integrated wth a dive scooter is lowered into the water in Lake Ontario
A Smallmouth Bass in Lake Ontario
A smallmouth bass swims near a diver in Lake Ontario.
A smallmouth bass swims near a diver in Lake Ontario.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle in Lake Huron near Alpena
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) in Lake Huron near Alpena preparing to dive on a transect.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) in Lake Huron near Alpena preparing to dive on a transect.