Taaja Tucker is an ecologist supporting the Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework (PAMF), a collective learning and participatory science program created by the Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative to find effective and efficient methods for managing invasive Phragmites australis (common reed) across the Great Lakes basin.
Professional Experience
Ecologist, 2020 – present, USGS – Great Lakes Science Center, Ann Arbor, MI
Lab and Field Technician, 2017 – 2020, University of Toledo (contractor based at USGS – Great Lakes Science Center, Ann Arbor, MI)
Project Liaison, 2012 – 2017, CSS Inc. (contractor based at USGS – Great Lakes Science Center, Ann Arbor, MI)
Education and Certifications
M.S. (Conservation Biology), Central Michigan University
B.S. (Fisheries and Wildlife), Michigan State University
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 15
Nearshore fish species richness and species–habitat associations in the St. Clair–Detroit River System
Shallow water riparian zones of large rivers provide important habitat for fishes, but anthropogenic influences have reduced the availability and quality of these habitats. In the St. Clair–Detroit River System, a Laurentian Great Lakes connecting channel, losses of riparian habitat contributed to impairment of fish populations and their habitats. We conducted a seine survey annually from 2013 to
Diet and bathymetric distribution of juvenile Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush in Lake Huron
Rehabilitation efforts for Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush in Lake Huron have resulted in increased capture of young wild Lake Trout in annual bottom trawl surveys conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey. To better understand the ecology of juvenile (
Determining habitat limitations of Maumee River walleye production to western Lake Erie fish stocks: Documenting a spawning ground barrier
Tributaries provide spawning habitat for three of four major sub-stocks of Lake Erie walleye (Sander vitreus). Despite anthropogenic degradation and the extirpation of other potamodromous species, the Maumee River, Ohio, USA continues to support one of the largest fish migrations in the Laurentian Great Lakes. To determine if spawning habitat availability and quality could limit production of Maum
Review of methods to repair and maintain lithophilic fish spawning habitat
Rocky reefs provide important spawning and refuge habitats for lithophilic spawning fishes. However, many reefs have been lost or severely degraded through anthropogenic effects like dredging, channelization, or sedimentation. Constructed reefs have been used to mitigate these effects in some systems, but these reefs are also subject to degradation which may warrant custodial maintenance. Monitori
Assessment of larval fish assemblages and nursery habitat in the St. Clair River delta
The St. Clair River delta, part of the St. Clair-Detroit River System (SCDRS), is the most fished coastal wetland area in the Laurentian Great Lakes and provides nursery habitat for a variety of fish species; however, few large-scale surveys of larval fish have been performed within the delta since the 1980s. Larval fish, zooplankton, and aquatic plants were sampled at 20 sites from May through Ju
Zooplankton dynamics in a Great Lakes connecting channel: Exploring the seasonal composition within the St. Clair-Detroit River System
The connecting channels linking the Laurentian Great Lakes provide important migration routes, spawning grounds, and nursery habitat for fish, but their role as conduits between lakes for zooplankton is less understood. To address this knowledge gap in the St. Clair–Detroit River System (SCDRS), a comprehensive survey of crustacean zooplankton was performed in both riverine and lacustrine habitats
Long-term assessment of ichthyoplankton in a large North American river system reveals changes in fish community dynamics
Larval fishes are sensitive to abiotic conditions and provide a direct measure of spawning success. The St. Clair – Detroit River System, a Laurentian Great Lakes connecting channel with a history of environmental degradation, has undergone improvements in habitat and water quality since the 1970s. We compared 2006–2015 ichthyoplankton community data with those collected prior to remediation effor
Evidence of repeated long-distance movements by lake charr Salvelinus namaycush in Lake Huron
Movements and dispersal distances of acoustically-tagged adult lake charr Salvelinus namaycush were estimated based on detections at acoustic receivers in Lake Huron during 2010–2014. Most lake charr were detected only at receivers proximate to their release location or were not detected at all, but 3–9% of tagged lake charr were detected at receivers located over 100 km from their release locatio
Status and trends of the Lake Huron offshore demersal fish community, 1976-2012
The USGS Great Lakes Science Center has conducted trawl surveys to assess annual changes in the offshore demersal fish community of Lake Huron since 1973. Sample sites include five ports in U.S. waters with less frequent sampling near Goderich, Ontario. The 2012 fall bottom trawl survey was carried out between 20 October – 5 November 2012 and included all U.S. ports as well as Goderich, ON. The 20
Observations of cocooned Hydrobaenus (Diptera: Chironomidae) larvae in Lake Michigan
Larvae of the family Chironomidae have developed a variety of ways to tolerate environmental stress, including the formation of cocoons, which allows larvae to avoid unfavorable temperature conditions, drought, or competition with other chironomids. Summer cocoon formation by younger instars of the genus Hydrobaenus Fries allows persistence through increased temperatures and/or intermittent dry pe
Islands in the ice stream: were spawning habitats for native salmonids in the Great Lakes created by paleo-ice streams?
Lake trout Salvelinus namaycush, lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis and cisco Coregonus artedi are salmonid fishes native to the Laurentian Great Lakes that spawn on rocky substrates in the fall and early winter. After comparing the locations of spawning habitat for these species in the main basin of Lake Huron with surficial substrates and the hypothesized locations of fast-flowing Late Wiscon
Factors associated with the deposition of Cladophora on Lake Michigan beaches in 2012
Deposition of the macroalgae Cladophora spp. was monitored on 18 beaches around Lake Michigan during 2012 at a high temporal frequency. We observed a high degree of spatial variability in Cladophora deposition among beaches on Lake Michigan, even within local regions, with no clear regional pattern in the intensity of Cladophora deposition. A strong seasonal pattern in Cladophora deposition was ob
Walleye (Sander vitreus) egg deposition and spawning habitat suitability in the Maumee River, OH (2014-2015)
Tributaries support spawning habitats for three of the four major sub-stocks of Lake Erie walleye (Sander vitreus). Despite a history of anthropogenic degradation and the extirpation of other potamodromous species, the Maumee River, OH continues to support one of the largest fish migrations in the Laurentian Great Lakes. To determine if spawning habitat availability and quality could limit product
Wild lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) diets from annual Lake Huron fall bottom trawl surveys (2008-2017)
Diet analyses were performed on juvenile lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) captured by bottom trawl during annual USGS Great Lakes Science Center demersal fish community surveys in mid-October to mid-November 2008?2017 in Lake Huron. This dataset contains lake trout capture information (e.g., location, depth) and diet item data (taxa consumed and their associated lengths).
Survey data of larval fish, zooplankton, and aquatic plants collected from the St. Clair River delta, MI (2010-2011)
The St. Clair River delta, part of the St. Clair-Detroit River System (SCDRS), is the most fished coastal wetland area in the Laurentian Great Lakes and provides nursery habitat for a variety of fish species; however, few large-scale surveys of early fish life stages have been performed since the 1980s. Larval fish, zooplankton, and aquatic plants were sampled at 21 sites in delta channels and bac
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 15
Nearshore fish species richness and species–habitat associations in the St. Clair–Detroit River System
Shallow water riparian zones of large rivers provide important habitat for fishes, but anthropogenic influences have reduced the availability and quality of these habitats. In the St. Clair–Detroit River System, a Laurentian Great Lakes connecting channel, losses of riparian habitat contributed to impairment of fish populations and their habitats. We conducted a seine survey annually from 2013 toDiet and bathymetric distribution of juvenile Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush in Lake Huron
Rehabilitation efforts for Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush in Lake Huron have resulted in increased capture of young wild Lake Trout in annual bottom trawl surveys conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey. To better understand the ecology of juvenile (Determining habitat limitations of Maumee River walleye production to western Lake Erie fish stocks: Documenting a spawning ground barrier
Tributaries provide spawning habitat for three of four major sub-stocks of Lake Erie walleye (Sander vitreus). Despite anthropogenic degradation and the extirpation of other potamodromous species, the Maumee River, Ohio, USA continues to support one of the largest fish migrations in the Laurentian Great Lakes. To determine if spawning habitat availability and quality could limit production of MaumReview of methods to repair and maintain lithophilic fish spawning habitat
Rocky reefs provide important spawning and refuge habitats for lithophilic spawning fishes. However, many reefs have been lost or severely degraded through anthropogenic effects like dredging, channelization, or sedimentation. Constructed reefs have been used to mitigate these effects in some systems, but these reefs are also subject to degradation which may warrant custodial maintenance. MonitoriAssessment of larval fish assemblages and nursery habitat in the St. Clair River delta
The St. Clair River delta, part of the St. Clair-Detroit River System (SCDRS), is the most fished coastal wetland area in the Laurentian Great Lakes and provides nursery habitat for a variety of fish species; however, few large-scale surveys of larval fish have been performed within the delta since the 1980s. Larval fish, zooplankton, and aquatic plants were sampled at 20 sites from May through JuZooplankton dynamics in a Great Lakes connecting channel: Exploring the seasonal composition within the St. Clair-Detroit River System
The connecting channels linking the Laurentian Great Lakes provide important migration routes, spawning grounds, and nursery habitat for fish, but their role as conduits between lakes for zooplankton is less understood. To address this knowledge gap in the St. Clair–Detroit River System (SCDRS), a comprehensive survey of crustacean zooplankton was performed in both riverine and lacustrine habitatsLong-term assessment of ichthyoplankton in a large North American river system reveals changes in fish community dynamics
Larval fishes are sensitive to abiotic conditions and provide a direct measure of spawning success. The St. Clair – Detroit River System, a Laurentian Great Lakes connecting channel with a history of environmental degradation, has undergone improvements in habitat and water quality since the 1970s. We compared 2006–2015 ichthyoplankton community data with those collected prior to remediation efforEvidence of repeated long-distance movements by lake charr Salvelinus namaycush in Lake Huron
Movements and dispersal distances of acoustically-tagged adult lake charr Salvelinus namaycush were estimated based on detections at acoustic receivers in Lake Huron during 2010–2014. Most lake charr were detected only at receivers proximate to their release location or were not detected at all, but 3–9% of tagged lake charr were detected at receivers located over 100 km from their release locatioStatus and trends of the Lake Huron offshore demersal fish community, 1976-2012
The USGS Great Lakes Science Center has conducted trawl surveys to assess annual changes in the offshore demersal fish community of Lake Huron since 1973. Sample sites include five ports in U.S. waters with less frequent sampling near Goderich, Ontario. The 2012 fall bottom trawl survey was carried out between 20 October – 5 November 2012 and included all U.S. ports as well as Goderich, ON. The 20Observations of cocooned Hydrobaenus (Diptera: Chironomidae) larvae in Lake Michigan
Larvae of the family Chironomidae have developed a variety of ways to tolerate environmental stress, including the formation of cocoons, which allows larvae to avoid unfavorable temperature conditions, drought, or competition with other chironomids. Summer cocoon formation by younger instars of the genus Hydrobaenus Fries allows persistence through increased temperatures and/or intermittent dry peIslands in the ice stream: were spawning habitats for native salmonids in the Great Lakes created by paleo-ice streams?
Lake trout Salvelinus namaycush, lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis and cisco Coregonus artedi are salmonid fishes native to the Laurentian Great Lakes that spawn on rocky substrates in the fall and early winter. After comparing the locations of spawning habitat for these species in the main basin of Lake Huron with surficial substrates and the hypothesized locations of fast-flowing Late WisconFactors associated with the deposition of Cladophora on Lake Michigan beaches in 2012
Deposition of the macroalgae Cladophora spp. was monitored on 18 beaches around Lake Michigan during 2012 at a high temporal frequency. We observed a high degree of spatial variability in Cladophora deposition among beaches on Lake Michigan, even within local regions, with no clear regional pattern in the intensity of Cladophora deposition. A strong seasonal pattern in Cladophora deposition was ob - Data
Walleye (Sander vitreus) egg deposition and spawning habitat suitability in the Maumee River, OH (2014-2015)
Tributaries support spawning habitats for three of the four major sub-stocks of Lake Erie walleye (Sander vitreus). Despite a history of anthropogenic degradation and the extirpation of other potamodromous species, the Maumee River, OH continues to support one of the largest fish migrations in the Laurentian Great Lakes. To determine if spawning habitat availability and quality could limit productWild lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) diets from annual Lake Huron fall bottom trawl surveys (2008-2017)
Diet analyses were performed on juvenile lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) captured by bottom trawl during annual USGS Great Lakes Science Center demersal fish community surveys in mid-October to mid-November 2008?2017 in Lake Huron. This dataset contains lake trout capture information (e.g., location, depth) and diet item data (taxa consumed and their associated lengths).Survey data of larval fish, zooplankton, and aquatic plants collected from the St. Clair River delta, MI (2010-2011)
The St. Clair River delta, part of the St. Clair-Detroit River System (SCDRS), is the most fished coastal wetland area in the Laurentian Great Lakes and provides nursery habitat for a variety of fish species; however, few large-scale surveys of early fish life stages have been performed since the 1980s. Larval fish, zooplankton, and aquatic plants were sampled at 21 sites in delta channels and bac - News