Invasive Species

Status and Trends in Benthic Macroinvertebrates in the Great Lakes

Principal Investigators:

Thomas Nalepa (GLERL), Allen Burton (CILER)

Changes in the abundance and composition of benthic populations provide a measure of environmental response to

Invasive Species

Status of Pelagic Crustaceans in Southern Lake Michigan/Food Web Dynamics in Southern Lake Michigan

Principal Investigators:

Steven Pothoven (GLERL), Gary Fahnenstiel (GLERL), Allen Burton (CILER)

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.

Invasive Species

Assessment of Coastwise Traffic Patterns and Management of Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Risk on NOBOBs and Coastwise Vessels of the Great Lakes and East Coast of the United States and Canada

Principal Investigators:

Thomas H. Johengen (CILER), Greg M. Ruiz (SERC), David F. Reid (GLERL)

This project explores the efficacy of salinity-based treatments of residual organisms (especially low-salinity tolerant organisms) in ballast tanks with no ballast on board (NOBOB). Investigators use detailed analyses of coastwise traffic to guide them in a risk assessment of the potential for transfer of low salinity organisms between the North American Atlantic coast and Great Lakes ecosystems.

Invasive Species

Status of Macroinvertebrates in Lake Ontario

Principal Investigators:

Stephen Lozano (GLERL), Allen Burton (CILER)

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.

Invasive Species

Enhancement of NOAA's Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS)

Principal Investigators:

Dave Reid (GLERL), Rochelle Sturtevant (MI Sea Grant)

Among the goals of GLANSIS are to 1) provide a comprehensive database source of authoritative up-to-date Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species (ANS) information, and 2) compile and update information relevant to the species in the database.

Invasive Species

Contact Us:

CILER
G110 Dana Building
440 Church Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1041
Phone: (734) 763-3010

Vision and Mission:

CILER's vision is to enhance the quality of the Great Lakes and its related ecosystem services, through a partnership of universities, NOAA scientists, and other stakeholders.

CILER's mission includes: 1) translating research into productive outcomes through outreach and education; 2) facilitating productive interactions between scientists in the Great Lakes basin, with a primary focus on NOAA partnerships; 3) identifying and characterizing emerging areas of concern for the Great Lakes ecosystem, with applications to all coastal ecosystems; 4) providing a forum for better linking ecosystem responses, sustainable ecosystem services, and decision-making, and; 5) advancing our understanding of, and ability to predict, complex ecosystem processes, responses, and dynamics.