Research Projects

The objectives of this research are to: 1) Conduct high-resolution mapping of the NGOMEX pelagic food web (including bacteria, phytoplankton, microzooplankton, mesozooplankton, and fish) in relation to hypoxia; 2) Integrate these ecosystem measurements through a variety of models designed to assess the effects of hypoxia on NGOMEX pelagic food webs and production; 3) Quantify habitat suitability for economically and ecologically important fishes; and 4) Provide tools to forecast food-web interactions, habitat suitability, and fish production in relation to hypoxia.

The broad goal of this research is to evaluate impacts of hypoxia and mercury on long-term sustainability of fish populations. The hypothesis is that mercury-polluted fish have a reduced ability to respond to hypoxic stress. The study serves the dual purpose of

1. Increasing our understanding of mechanisms underlying responses to hypoxia and mercury in fish, and
2. Identifying novel molecular/physiological markers than can be used to forecast early changes to animal health.

The current Great Lakes HAB bulletin depicts existing Microcystis accumulation based on satellite imagery, and relies upon multi-day projections of select physical parameters (e.g. wind velocity/direction and water movement) to predict passive bloom transport. Phytoplankton growth and loss and real-time responses to environmental factors are not incorporated into the bulletin. As a consequence, a more accurate prediction of active bloom initiation is lacking. Objectives of this project include:

This project is part of a research program that focuses on point source loadings of E.coli into coastal environments from particular river outflows, and their impact on beach closures. The objective is to develop a nested grid modeling system for Saginaw Bay based on a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model, which will provide temperature and advection fields for forecasting E.coli and Enterococci concentrations along coastlines.

Objectives of this study include: 1) Add sediment transport and water quality components to the Distributed Large Basin Runoff Model (DLBRM), 2) Improve DLBRM’s hydrology component to better reflect land use influence, and 3) Apply the

As waves move into near shore regions, the subsequent energy gradients cause additional near shore circulation. The wave could interact with the currents and contribute to local water level changes and vertical stratification mixing. The Grand River is the largest tributary entering Lake Michigan.

This study uses the combination of high-resolution Coupled Ice-Ocean Model and Princeton Regional Ocean Forecast (and Hindcast) System’s data-assimilation methodologies to improve our understanding of ocean and sea ice circulation in the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort seas.

This project assesses the current status of the primary producer community, pelagic crustacean community, and associated environmental variables in southern Lake Michigan. It also compares this information with historical data gathered since the 1980s. Data from this project will ultimately be used in food-web models to evaluate how non-indigenous invertebrates have altered the lower food-web structure, and to predict production of various components of the food-web of particular interest to resource managers. Some interesting results have surfaced.

Measuring optical properties of the lakes is important for hydro-optical model development to be used for satellite retrieval of major color producing agents. The purpose of this work is to analyze measurement data collected in 2007 and 2008 on the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes CoastWatch web site (http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov) provides near real-time and retrospective satellite observations, in-situ Great Lakes data, and derived products to federal, state, and local agencies, academic institutions, and the public. Data are used for monitoring algal blooms, ice cover, and water temperatures, to name a few.

Great Lakes sinkholes were formed as groundwater erosion resulted in the collapse of karst features formed up to 400 million years ago in shallow seas. Groundwater erosion continues today and contributes to these unique ecosystems within the Great Lakes. Input of groundwater, whose chemistry is drastically different from ambient lake water, can fuel unique biological reactions depending on the type of light environment.

Saginaw Bay has a long history of anthropogenic impacts that have compromised many of the ecosystem services that humans value. Current stressors influencing the Bay include excess nutrient inputs, invasive species (dreissenid mussels), and climate change effects (declining water levels). The combined effect of these stressors has resulted in nuisance and harmful algae production and changed the balance of the recreational fishery.

This project emphasizes obtaining current population data for Diporeia (a benthic amphipod) and Dreissena. Diporeia was formerly the most abundant species in offshore waters of Lake Ontario, and served as a major pathway by which energy was cycled from the lower to the upper food web. However, populations have dramatically declined over the past 10-15 years, and large areas are now completely devoid of this organism.