CURRENT PROJECTS

Research Summary: Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) have successfully returned to the waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan after years of stocking efforts.  During Spring, spawning runs of lake sturgeon occur in the Menominee, Oconto, Peshtigo, and Fox Rivers where the fish typically swim up to the first barrier to find suitable spawning habitat; small, well-aerated rock.  AEFL students have monitored larval drift events in the Menominee and Oconto Rivers to assess recruitment and to determine what environmental variables are associated with the onset of larval drift.

Research Summary: Despite being one of the most abundant species in the Great Lakes, there is little understanding of the movement, residency and life-history of spawning adult white sucker. Through passive integrated transponder (PIT) tagging, stationary antenna detections, field sampling and demographic data collection, this project aims to elicit greater understanding of white sucker spawning movements and life histories. The central objectives of this project are to (1) quantify the demographic structure of white sucker during spawning events in Baird Creek and estimate the size of spawning assemblages, (2) characterize movement and residency patterns of white sucker during and after spawning events, (3) quantify growth rates and age structures of adult white sucker in the Lower Green Bay system and (4) detect any length-age relationships among adult white sucker.

Research Summary: The ACDC (Ashwaubenon Creek and Dutchman Creek) project is a long-term aquatic monitoring program conducted through the Aquatic Ecology Fisheries Laboratory (AEFL) in partnership with NEW Water since 2018. The project evaluates the biological condition of two northeastern Wisconsin streams by monitoring fish communities, macroinvertebrates, habitat characteristics, and water quality over time. Seasonal sampling in streams such as Ashwaubenon Creek and Dutchman Creek provides critical information on stream health, ecological change, and the effectiveness of watershed management efforts. These long-term datasets support resource managers in identifying trends, assessing restoration outcomes, and improving conservation strategies for local aquatic ecosystems.

Research Summary: TBD

Research Summary: Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) are commercially, culturally, and ecologically vital to the Great Lakes and Green Bay region. While historically abundant, their populations have declined over the past century. However, Green Bay populations have shown growth and stabilization. As a cold-water species that undergoes a lengthy winter incubation, tracking lake whitefish during their earliest life stages is challenging. To bridge this gap, our lab utilizes otoliths, the inner ear bones or ear stones of fish. Much like the rings of a tree, otoliths lay down chronological growth bands that archive a fish's age, diet, and migratory history. Past research conducted by our lab has revealed that the core of a lake whitefish otolith reflects the mother's environment rather than the waters where the larvae were incubated. By utilizing otolith microchemistry, our lab aims to build upon past research to discover key life history traits and strengthen our understanding of lake whitefish migration patterns and spawning behaviors. 

Research Summary: The invasive Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) has rapidly expanded throughout the Great Lakes region. In partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Fox River Navigational System Authority, AEFL students monitor the spread of Round Gobies throughout the Lake Winnebago system using standardized hook-and-line sampling techniques. These surveys help identify the current distribution of gobies, track their movement through the Fox-Wolf watershed, and document changes in abundance over time. Information collected through this monitoring effort provides valuable insight into invasion dynamics, potential pathways of spread, and the effectiveness of management efforts aimed at limiting the expansion of this invasive species within Wisconsin waters.